Bengal Chess Club is all set to return to top flight chess after 31 years when the 17th edition of the Premier Division Chess League gets underway today with 11 clubs taking part.

Having last played in the premier league in 1986 after becoming champions in their debut participation in 1985, Bengal Chess Club have re-entered the top flight after buying Masud Sporting Chess club. They have formed a strong squad with three GMs including the sub continent's first GM Niaz Murshed and two from Georgia while the other three players are: WIM Shamia Akter Liza, Monir Hossain and Shams Ud Duha.

"As far as I know, Niaz was the man behind who brought Bengal into chess some 32 years ago and it is again Niaz who has inspired the group to return to top flight," chess arbiter and chess federation official Haroon-Or-Rashid said.

"Bengal emerged champions in 1985 and became runners-up in 1986, but they did not take part since Niaz's departure for the United States after he became a GM in 1987," Rashid added. 

The club's captain Shams Ud Duha said it is part of the many good deeds for society that are undertaken by the group.      

"Bengal Group is always involved with many good deeds. They arrange intellectual things such as classic music festivals, and chess is also a part of intellectual ventures rather than just a game. Bengal came to chess to inspire the game again," said Duha, who is also a lecturer of English at the Brac University where Niaz is working as an adviser of its chess club.  

Meanwhile, defending champions Saif Sporting Club have formed a formidable squad too with five GMS featuring Ziaur Rahman, Abdullah Al Rakib, Enamul Hossain, Russia's Aleksey Goganov and Ukraine's Martyn Kravtsiv. FIDE master Tayebur Rahman is the sixth player of Saif Sporting, who are likely to face challenge from Bengal Chess Club, Bangladesh Navy and Sheikh Russel Chess Club, who roped in country's third Grand Master Reefat Bin Sattar.

Apart from Reefat, who is returning to chess after a four-year gap due to his professional commitments, Sheikh Russel also included IM Abu Sufiyan Shakil, FM Mehedi Hasan Parag, FM Showkar Hossain Pallab and two Indian rated players while Bangladesh Navy signed up IM Minhaz Uddin, FM Sk Nasir Ahmed, FM Kh Aminul Islam, SM Sharon, Sharif Hossain and FM Mohammad Javed.