Newcomers Bengal Chess Club became unbeaten champions of the SA Group Premier Division Chess League, beating a stiff challenge from holders Saif Sporting Club, following their final round victory over Fire Services team yesterday.

Bengal won the 11th and final round by 3.5-0.5 points to finish with 19 points as Saif SC ended with 18 points from 11 rounds. This is the second top-tier title in their second appearance for Bengal, who had won the First Division title in 1985, the then top-tier competition, in their maiden appearance before moving out of the game.

Niaz Murshed, the first grandmaster of the sub-continent who was behind bringing the team back to chess, said the title was a bit unexpected as Saif SC were the favourites.

"We didn't form a team with the target of becoming champions. We just wanted to form a spirited team," Niaz said. "Our target was to win the third and fourth boards, which we did successfully. The two Georgian GMs played really well.

"Saif Sporting were the favourites as the players of that team had 100 rating points more than our players on average. But our tactics worked well," added Niaz, who has been in the winning team in six of the seven premier league editions.

Bengal's debut success in the premier league continues an interesting trend of debutant champions. Saif SC had become champions on their debut season last year following on footsteps of Sheikh Russel MSC, who took the title in their maiden appearance the year before. Bangladesh Navy had won the title in their second season in the previous edition of the league. Mohammedan Sporting Club had won the first three editions of the league in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Niaz, however, is confident they can pose challenge next year too as Bengal plan to do something big for chess. "Mr. Abul Khair wants to do something for chess. He wants to set up a chess academy," Niaz said, adding that the federation should enforce a pool system so that no team can just come and win the title by poaching all the big players.