Bangladesh’s Monon Reza Neer Triumphs at Asian Zonal Chess 3.2, Earns Spot in Chess World Cup

Monon Reza Neer, Bangladesh’s International Master and national chess champion, has made his country proud by securing victory at the Asian Zonal Chess 3.2 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This win has earned him the right to represent Bangladesh at the upcoming Chess World Cup, a prestigious event in the world of chess.

Neer’s triumph in the Open category, along with Wadifa’s win in the Women’s category, guarantees Bangladesh representation in both divisions at the Chess World Cup. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that this is the first time Bangladesh will be participating in the competition without a Grandmaster.

Wadifa needed only a draw to claim her title, which she secured by drawing with fellow International Woman Master Rani Hamid. In the Open category, the final round saw Neer draw with Sri Lankan player Dilshan, while Fahad Rahman defeated FIDE Master Imon. Neer’s impressive seven-point score left him as the sole champion of the event.

Neer, a rising star in Bangladesh’s chess community, became national champion last year and earned the International Master (IM) title. Despite a less-than-ideal performance at the World Junior Chess Championship in Montenegro, Neer proved his mettle by emerging victorious at the Asian Zonal event.

In the Open category, FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia, son of the late Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman, put up a strong performance but ultimately finished in second place after losing to Neer in the eighth round. Tahsin’s second-place finish earned him his second International Master norm, bringing him one step closer to achieving the coveted IM title.

Overall, Bangladesh’s success at the Asian Zonal Chess 3.2 is a testament to the talent and dedication of its chess players. With Neer set to represent the country at the Chess World Cup, the future looks bright for Bangladesh in the world of chess.