Niaz, Sagar off to good start in Classical Chess

DHAKA, June 30: Country’s ace chess players Grand Master Niaz Murshed and International Master Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar started their Classical Chess run with a wining note in the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games, which is now being held in Incheon in South Korea.

In the Classical Chess of the Men Individual category, both GM Niaz and IM Sagar won their respective first round matches on Sunday.

Niaz beat Celis Chang Joel of Macau and Sagar beat Ashraf Ahmed of Maldives in the day’s play.

In the Women Individual category, country’s Women International Master Shamima Sultana also won her first round match against Cho Yeonhee of South Korea.

Another Bangladeshi participant Women Fide Master Sharmin Sultana Shirin lost her first round match to GM Zhao Xue of China.

Some 43 players, including three grandmasters, five women grandmasters, from 22 countries are taking part in the Classical Chess category of the tournament.