The Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) is all set to revive the Grand Master Chess Tournament after eight years by holding the biggest-ever tournament in terms of participation of Grand Masters from March 2 to 10 in Dhaka. The tournament, likely to be named after Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be held in Swiss League format

The newly-elected committee of the game's governing body has already started preparation by asking for entries for foreign players. The committee has Bangabandhu International Conference Centre as the tentative venue and it is waiting for a final approval for the name of the tournament from the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.

"Preparation is going on in full swing.  The sponsors have been all but confirmed. We are just waiting for an approval from Bangabandhu Memorial Trust as we want to name the tournament after Sheikh Kamal," BCF joint secretary Moniruzzaman Palash informed. "Though it is too early to say, but some 20 to 25 Grand Masters are expected to participate in the tournament."

It has been learnt that Grand Masters from Russia, India, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Egypt, Uzbekistan Mongolia and Bangladesh are expected to take part in the tournament, which is expected to offer 25,000 dollars of prize money apart from participation money for players over rating of 2400. 

The last time a GM tournament was organised by the BCF was the United Insurance and Leasing GM Chess Tournament in 2009. However, three more GM tournaments were held by other oganisations – two by Six Seasons and once by Chittagong Jilla Krira Sangsha in 2015.

And due to the lack of GM tournaments, Bangladesh haven't seen a new GM since Enamul Hossain Razib became the fifth and last one during the 2009 national championship. No chess players have even managed to win a GM norm since.

So this upcoming tournament is expected to be the platform for IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar, IM Abu Sufian Shakil, FM Mohammad Fahad Rahman, FM Taibur Rahman FM Mehdi Hasan, FM Sk Nasir Ahmed  and others to impress and win norms.