Bangladesh emerge champions open, women’s section

Dhaka, 18 March -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 on Tuesday.

International Master Manon Reja Neer became unbeaten champion in the open section and woman FIDE Master Wadifa Ahmed became unbeaten champion in the women’s section.

International Master Manon Reja Neer clinched the title in the open section by getting seven points from nine games and women's FIDE Master Wadifa Ahmed clinched the title in the women's section by getting seven points from nine games.

In the Women section, WFM Wadifa Ahmed and WIM Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini both earned seven points each, in tie-breaking system WFM Wadifa Ahmed became champion with better opponent’s average rating then WIM Gunawzrdhana.

International Master Manon Reja Neer will get the opportunity to participate in the World Cup Chess starting from October 31 as zonal champion.

WFM Wadifa Ahmed will directly get the title of Woman International Master and at the same time. She will get the opportunity to participate in the Women's World Cup 2025 to be held in Batumi, Georgia in July.

In open section four players earned 6.5 points each. In tie-breaking system FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia became runner-up, International Master Liyanange Ranindu Dilshan of Sri Lanka became third, International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman became fourth and FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman became fifth position. FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia achieved one International Master norm from this event, it was his second IM norm.

In women section, WIM Rani Hamid became 7th with 5.5 points, WFM Noshin Anjum became 12th eighth with 4.5 points and Ashiya Sultana became 22nd with three points.

In open section, FM Sakline Mostafa Sajid became 22nd and Kazi Afsan Rawnak Anan became 24th with 4½ points each. Amit Bikram Roy became 32nd with 3½ points and Tanvir Alam became 37th with three points.
 
9th or last round games of both section were held today (Tuesday). In 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 defeated FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman. In women’s section WFM Wadifa Ahmed drew with WIM Rani Hamid and WFM Noshin Anjum defeated WCM Jayasumdara Theruni of Sri Lanka.

A total 40 players including four International Masters from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the open section and twenty three players including two Women’s International Masters from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took part in the women's section.