Zia, Liza emerge unbeaten champions in chess

Dhaka, Feb 8 (risingbd24.com)--Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman and WIM Shamima Akter Liza emerged as the unbeaten champions in the Open and Women’s section of the Asian Zonal Chess Championship-2013, Zone-3.2 to qualify for the World Cup Chess on Friday.

Liza is first Bangladeshi female player who has qualified in the first round of Women World Championship.

Zia will be playing in his third World Cup after 2007, 2012.

In the last and 9th round, Zia beat CM Anuruddah of Sri Lanka to earn 7.5 points while Liza earned 8.5 points by beating Faiha Aminath of Maldives to become the champions.

Earlier on Thursday night Zia beat IM Mahmood Lodhi of Pakistan in his 8th round games GM Reefat Bin Sattar of Duranto Rajshahi and GM Niaz Murshed became 3rd. Reefat and Niaz both earned 7 points each. GM Enamul Hossain Razib finished 4th with 6 points.

Both the Open and Women were held in 9 round Swiss-League system and Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the event.