Dhaka: The inaugural ceremony of the Leonine 3rd Grand Masters Chess Tournament was held at the Red Tomato Restaurant at Ranks Nasim Square in Dhanmondi today. Organized by the Leonine Chess Club in collaboration with the Bangladesh Chess Federation, this prestigious event was graced by the presence of prominent television personality, social worker, and debater Dr. Abdun Nur Tushar, who formally inaugurated the competition as the chief guest. Niaz Murshed, the first Grand Master of the subcontinent, was present as a special guest.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the opening ceremony was presided over by Leonine Chess Club's acting president, Jebel Rahman Gani. Other notable speakers included the club's general secretary, Manjur Hossain Jimmu, international chess arbiter Md Harun ur Rashid, and chief organizer Tasmin Sultana Labanya. Following the inauguration, a press conference was conducted to elaborate on the details of the tournament.
The competition is set to begin tomorrow, featuring three grand masters, four international masters, and three FIDE masters from Bangladesh, India, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The tournament will follow a round-robin league format, with a total prize pool of US$1,000. The champion will receive US$500, the runner-up will be awarded US$300, and the third-place finisher will take home US$200.