Bangladeshi emerged champions in both open and women’s section in the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championships Open and Women qualifying events of World Cup Chess and World Women Chess Championship that concluded on Monday in Kathmandu, Nepal.
GM Mollah Abdullah Al Rakib became unbeaten champion in the open section. He earned 8 points out of 9 games and received gold medal. This is his maiden zonal champion title.
Besides, last year champion GM Ziaur Rahman became runner-up with 7.5 points to receive silver medal while GM Niaz Murshed finished 3rd with 6.5 points to bag bronze medal.
In women’s section, WIM Rani Hamid became champion. She earned 8 points out of 9 games to clinch the title and received gold medal. WIM Rani Hamid and last year zonal woman champion Shamima Akter Liza both earned 8 points each, their championship was decided by Individual results.
In women section, WIM Liza became runner-up with 8 points and received silver medal. WFM Nazrana Khan Eva became 3rd with 6 points to receive bronze medal. She also achieved a 9 round International Woman Master norm from this event and it’s her 2nd norm, she needs one more norm for earning the WIM title.
GM Rakib for becoming champion has qualified to participate in the first round of world Cup chess scheduled to be held in Georgia this year and Women’s Section champion WIM Rani hamid qualified to take part in the first round of World Women’s Chess Championship in 2018.
