DHAKA, May 20, 2026 (BSS) - International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman 
(rating 2424) moved within touching distance of a Grandmaster norm after 
defeating Iran's International Master Pour Agha Bala Amirreza (rating 2453) 
in the eighth round of the FUBY Academy Norm Chess Tournament Series 3 
Grandmaster Event in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Fahad Rahman now leads the standings alone with 6.5 points from eight games 
and needs only half a point in the final round to secure a Grandmaster norm.
 
A draw in the last round will be sufficient for him to achieve the milestone 
in this nine-round event.

Playing with the black pieces, Fahad employed the Sicilian Defence and 
secured victory after 59 moves in a well-fought encounter in the penultimate 
round.

With one round remaining, the Bangladeshi IM remains on course for one of the 
most significant achievements of his chess career.