Fahad, Jannatul secure Chess WC tickets

International Master Fahad Rahman and Women Candidate Master Jannatul Ferdous emerged unbeaten champions in their respective events of Bangabandhu Asian Zone-3.2 Chess Championships in Dhaka yesterday.

The feat also gave both players direct entry into the Chess World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 30 July to 24 August.

It will be the second World Cup appearance for Fahad, who first played in the World Cup in 2019 after becoming champion in Asian Zonal Championship held in Dhaka in March, 2019. It will, however, be a maiden appearance in World Cup for Jannatul, who also earned Women's International Master norm by becoming champion.

However, Jannatul will have to take her rating to over 2000 from current 1704 to have the WIM title as offical.

It was an interesting contest in open section in which three Grand Masters – Ziaur Rahman, Enamul Hossain and Niaz Murshed, who later pulled out of the tournament midway through -- could not finish among the top three positions with Fahad (7.5 points), FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia (7 points) and Sri Lankan FM Liyanage Ranindu Dislhan (7 points). Enamul (6 points) became fourth ahead of Sheikh Nasir Ahmed (6 points) and Zia (6 points).