After five years, WFM Sharmin Sultana Shirin regained the National Women's Chess Championship title when she beat Aahelee Sarker in the ninth and final round at Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room yesterday.

Shirin, who tasted her first defeat of the competition against Shamima Akter Liza in the penultimate round, later returned to winning ways and ensured the national championship title with eight points from nine matches. This is her third national title after winning the tournament twice before, in 2009 and 2012.

Four-time national champion Shamima also had a good opportunity to regain the title but had to be content with a second-place finish with 7.5 points after drawing against WFM Tanima Parveen in the final round. Tanima and 18-time national champion WIM Rani Hamid finished third and fourth respectively with seven points each.