DHAKA, May 2, 2023 (BSS) - Bangabandhu Asian Zone-3.2 Chess Championships, Open and Women's Championships inaugurated today (Tuesday) in the city's local hotel.

The event is the qualifying for FIDE Cup chess-2023 and FIDE women's cup chess-2023.

Dr. Benazir Ahmed, BPM (Bar), president of South Asian Chess Council (SACC) and president of Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) inaugurated the meet as the chief guest. 

Heroic Freedom Fighter Brigadier General Shahidullah Chowdhury, ndc (Retd), executive director of Abul Khair Group and Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, president FIDE Zone-3.2 and general secretary of BCF were present as special guests.

K M Shahidullah, vice-president of BCF presided over the opening ceremony.

Dr. Shoeb Reaz Alam, Addition DIG of Bangladesh Police and joint-secretary of BCF and BCF's joint secretary Masudur Rahman Mallick were also present there.

In the day's women's first round matches, top seeded WFM Tanima Parveen lost to Sri Lankan WCM Sanudula Dahamdi, Wadifa Ahmed defeated Sri Lanka's Wijesuriya and WCM Jannatul Ferdous defeated Fatiha Eyenoon Dia. International master of Bangladesh Mohammad Fahad Rahman won against Md. Masum Hossain in open category, candidate master Naim Haque Sheikh Rashedul Hasan and Shafiq Ahmed Dr. Ratan defeated Kumar Pal. 

A total of 56 players in open section and 22 players in women's division are participating in the nine-round Swiss-League format of zonal chess.
 
A total of three thousand six hundred and two thousand four hundred US dollars will be awarded to the open category and women's category.
The open and women's second round matches will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) from 3 pm at the same venue.