Sports Reporter :
GM Ziaur Rahman of Dhaka Mohmammedan Sporting Club Limited became unbeaten champion in the Gazi Habibur Rahman International Rating Chess Tournament on Tuesday. Zia earned 8½ points from nine matches to clinch the title.
Bangladesh Chess Federation arranged the chess meet at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room. FM Mehdi Hasan Parag of Leonine Chess Club emerged as the runner-up of the competition and his teammate Uten became 3rd. Parag and Uten earned 7½ points each. Their tie was broken by tie-breaking system. Dewan Shahidul Amin of Sonali Bank Sports & Recreation Club became 4th and Mohammed Sherajul Kabir of Mir Chess Club became 5th with 7 points each. Eight players earned 6½ points each. Their positions are: 6th-IM Minhaz Uddin Ahmed of Bangladesh Navy, 7th-CM Sohel Chowdhury of Leonine, 8th-Shawkat Hossain Pollab, 9th-Md Masum Hossain of Bangladesh Navy, 10th-FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman Emon of Janata Bank, 11th-S M Sharon of Bangladesh Navy, 12th-Gyusuddin Mithu of Dabanal Chess Club and 13th-Md Matiur Rahman Mamun of Pradip Sangha.
The prize-distribution ceremony was held yesterday (Tuesday) at the same venue after the last round games. Md Shirajul Islam Mollah, MP distributed the prizes among the winners as the chief guest.
The 9th or last round games were held yesterday (Tuesday).
In the last round: Zia beat Pollab, Parag beat Sohel, Uten beat Enayet, Sharon drew with Emon, Shahid beat Lavlu, Sheraj beat Rabiul, Minhaz beat Parvej, Mamun beat Golam Mostafa, Masum beat Saimon Siddiqur Rahman, Mithu beat Ikramul Haq Siam, Javed beat Amir Hossain, Reza beat Sabya Sachi, Sharif beat Md. Manik, Sagar beat Badrul Alam, Sarwar beat Almasur Rahman, Anata beat Arun Chandra Sarker, Shahadat beat P J Bakul Barua, Mohanto beat Hedayet, Subrata got walk-over against Abdullah Al-Saif and Jamal got walk-over against Belal Hossain.