Zia unbeaten champion
GM Ziaur Rahman ponders his next move against GM Enamul Hossain Rajib (not in picture) in the Mercantile Bank 35th National Chess Championship at the federation hall room yesterday.Photo: STAR
Grand Master Ziaur Rahman added another feather to his crown when the number one chess player of the country lifted the Mercantile Bank 35th National Chess Championship in style at the Federation hall-room yesterday.
Enjoying the pole position from the word go, Zia went into the final round with an intent to avoid defeat so that he could become the unbeaten champion. He did it without shedding much sweat against fellow Grand Master Enamul Hossain Rajib. Playing with black pieces, Zia adopted the familiar French Defence that Rajib found to hard to penetrate and agreed to draw after 25 moves.
With this draw, Zia's second in 12 games, he finished with highest 11 points. Rajib on the other hand finished third with eight points.
Zia's long-time rival Grand Master Reefat Bin Sattar won his last game against Aminul Islam. But he had to be content with a runner-up slot with eight and a half points. Playing with Black pieces, Reefat adopted the Sicilian Defense against Polash's Closed variation and won after 32 moves.
Fide Master Abu Sufian Shakil finished fourth on 7½ points while Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan claimed the fifth position with 6½ points.
Although at the of the meet the order was restored, the only disappointment was country's first Grand Master Niaz Murshed, who withdrew from the meet after the third round citing that he could no longer enjoy the game that earned him fame.
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