Colombo: Bangladesh retained its titles by becoming the champions in both the open and women’s sections of the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championships, qualifying for the World Cup Chess and Women’s World Cup Chess held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, International Master Manon Reja Neer emerged as the unbeaten champion in the open section, while Woman FIDE Master Wadifa Ahmed secured the title in the women’s section. Both players clinched their respective titles by scoring seven points from nine games each.
In the women’s section, both Wadifa Ahmed and Women’s International Master Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini earned seven points each. However, WFM Wadifa Ahmed was declared the champion due to a superior opponent’s average rating in the tie-breaking system.
International Master Manon Reja Neer will have the opportunity to participate in the World Cup Chess starting from October 31 as the zonal champion. Meanwhile, WFM Wadifa Ahmed will be granted the title of Woman Internationa
l Master and will also compete in the Women’s World Cup 2025 to be held in Batumi, Georgia, in July.
In the open section, four players scored 6.5 points each. Using the tie-breaking system, FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia was named the runner-up, followed by International Master Liyanange Ranindu Dilshan of Sri Lanka in third, International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman in fourth, and FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman in fifth place. FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia also achieved his second International Master norm from this event.
In the women’s section, WIM Rani Hamid finished 7th with 5.5 points, WFM Noshin Anjum placed 12th with 4.5 points, and Ashiya Sultana ended in 22nd place with three points.
In the open section, FM Sakline Mostafa Sajid and Kazi Afsan Rawnak Anan both scored 4.5 points, securing the 22nd and 24th positions, respectively. Amit Bikram Roy and Tanvir Alam achieved 32nd and 37th places with 3.5 and three points, respectively.
The ninth and final round games of both sections took place on Tuesday.
In the open section, IM Manon Reja Neer drew with IM Liyanange Ranindu Dilshan, FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia defeated Nanayakkara Sanuk of Sri Lanka, and IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman triumphed over FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman. In the women’s section, WFM Wadifa Ahmed drew with WIM Rani Hamid, and WFM Noshin Anjum defeated WCM Jayasumdara Theruni of Sri Lanka.
A total of 40 players, including four International Masters from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, participated in the open section. In the women’s section, 23 players, including two Women’s International Masters from the same countries, competed for the titles.