DHAKA – Joytu Sheikh Hasina International Online Chess tournament begins tomorrow (Thursday) on the occasion of the 74th birthday celebration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) president and also president of South Asian Chess Federation Benazir Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the opening ceremony of the tournament as the chief guest at the Canadian University Auditorium at 2.30 pm.
Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, chairman of Canadian University and vice president of BCF will present as the special guest along with Asian Chess Federation general secretary Hisham Al Taher, who is also expected to join virtually in the opening ceremony as the special guest.
A total of seventy four chess players – 49 players from Bangladesh and 25 players from fifteen countries will take part in the prestigious tournament, sponsored by Canadian University of Bangladesh and organised by South Asian Chess Council in association with Golden Sporting Club.
The participating countries, Russia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, The Maldives and host Bangladesh.
The total prize money of the tournament is U$$ 6,000.
Twelve grandmasters from different countries have already confirmed their participation in the tournament. They are GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly and GM R. Laxman of India, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong of Vietnam, GM Ziaur Rahman, GM Reefat Bin Sattar, GM Enamul Hossain Razib of Bangladesh, GM Serkey Volkov of Russia, GM Megaranto Susanto of Indonesia, GM Antonio Rogelio and GM John Paul Gomes of Philippines, GM M Amin Tabatabaei of Iran and GM Villamayor Buenaventura of Singapore.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell MP is expected to present in the prize distribution ceremony of the tournament scheduled to be held on September 27 at Hotel La Meridian at 11 am.
Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nehyan will virtually present in the prize distribution ceremony as the special guest along with Canadian University Chairman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, who will also present as the special guest in the prize distribution ceremony.
BCF president Benazir Ahmed will preside over the prize distribution ceremony of the tournament.BSS
