Chess of potential, chess of despair

Divya Deshmukh sowed the seeds of dreams for many aspiring Indian chess players at Batumi in Georgia. At the age of 19, she became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE World Cup. Born at Nagpur in Maharashtra, she also received the Grandmaster (GM) title along with the World Cup. She is the fourth woman to become a GM in India. The total number of GMs stands at 88 including both men and women.

The country received its first GM in 1988. The journey into chess’s elite club began with former world champion Viswanathan Anand. In 2018, the number of GMs crossed 50, and by July 2025, it reached 88. Bangladesh last produced a Grandmaster 17 years ago, in 2008. While India, once lagging, has risen remarkably, Bangladesh’s chess has surprisingly declined. What is the reason for this backward movement? Mentioning the reasons behind Bangladesh’s regression in chess, Abu Sufian Shakil, one of Bangladesh’s International Masters (IM) and a chess coach, said, "The development of chess cannot be achieved by the efforts of the Bangladesh Chess Federation alone. It requires a collective effort involving the government, the chess federation, and various public and private institutions.

Regrettably, such an effort has never been witnessed." In 1987, when Niaz Murshed earned the GM title, not only India but the entire subcontinent had not seen a GM. The following year, India received its first GM and brought about a revolutionary change in the game; the result of which is global champions like Divya Deshmukh!

There was a time when chess was a game full of promise. School chess competitions under Bata’s sponsorship were quite popular in the country. Many of today’s established players emerged through the Bata school chess competitions. Although Bata, which supported school chess for a long time, later withdrew, another multinational company, Standard Chartered Bank, came forward to organise school competitions. Eventually, this banking institution also withdrew from chess. It would be incorrect to say they left; rather, the Bangladesh Chess Federation failed to retain the institutions. In this way, the Bangladesh Chess Federation has lost one ally after another. Over time, many changes have occurred. Bata and Standard Chartered’s withdrawal from chess is a part of that process. The vacuum created by their exit has not been filled.

On this subject, chess player and arbiter Mohammad Shamim said, "Each national federation is essentially an institution. Such an institution should be operated following specific policies and a structure. But the Bangladesh Chess Federation has not evolved into such an institution. Instead, activities here are person-centric. As a result, coordinated work has not been visible here." Adding to Mohammad Shamim’s words, Abu Sufian Shakil said, "In the past, various individuals led chess who managed to ensure the game’s financial security. Even then, there was always a lack of skilled personnel to use that money to plan and implement on the ground. It was seen that the person raising funds for chess was also the one planning and implementing. When that individual stepped aside, a void was created. Over time, chess in Bangladesh has regressed in this manner."

The condition of the game had become so fragile that, at one point, united players themselves contested the Bangladesh Chess Federation’s election. In the 2012 election, the ‘Players-Organisers Unity Council’ enjoyed the blessing of the district and divisional Sports Organisers’ Forum. On the other hand, the alliance of chess players was called the ‘Players Unity Council’. This alliance, comprising players like Niaz Murshed, Khandakar Kayes Hasan, and Tonima Parveen, lost the electoral battle. The alliance backed by the forum, known in the sports arena as a malignant force, won all 24 positions with an absolute majority.

With that 2012 election, the Bangladesh Chess Federation came under the control of the forum. Gazi Saiful Tarek became general secretary with the forum’s support, contesting against the Players Unity Council. Later, Syed Shahabuddin Shamim occupied the same position in a similar fashion. Both faced criticism as general secretaries. The poisonous tree of the forum was uprooted after August 5, 2024, with the formation of an ad hoc committee. However, after assuming responsibility, this committee’s chapter of disappointment began to grow rapidly. Within just a few months of activity, the committee made it clear that chess was taking a reverse path, surpassing even previous committees.

Many domestic competitions lack cash prizes as there is no sponsor. Where there is no lure of money, interest naturally declines. Over time, many chess players are losing enthusiasm. Interest could have been maintained even without financial rewards if players had been given the opportunity to participate regularly in international competitions. But even in this area, the current chess authorities are failing to make any positive progress. Though Bangladesh registered for the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship held in London from June 10 to 16, it ultimately failed to send a team. Recently, there has been significant discussion about not being able to send a team to the World School Chess Team Championship. Chess players themselves have expressed their anger over this on social media.

The frustration and disappointment among those involved in chess are growing due to the Bangladesh Chess Federation’s failure to keep promises. There was no cash prize for the national school team chess competition held in the country. The organising Bangladesh Chess Federation had announced that the champion team of the national school team chess competition would be sent to the World School Chess Team Championship. South Point School qualified to compete on the world stage by becoming the champion of the domestic school competition. The South Point team, comprising promising players like Rayan Rashid Mugdho, Siam Chowdhury, Warsia Khushbu, Safayat Kibria Ayaan, and Nilava Chowdhury, was deeply disappointed by not being able to participate in the global event. Those involved in chess were also irritated.

Siam Chowdhury and Warsia Khushbu vented their frustration on the social media platform Facebook. There, legendary chess player Rani Hamid also spoke out. Since the formation of the current ad hoc committee, both Niaz Murshed, the first Grandmaster of the country and the subcontinent, and Rani Hamid have expressed their frustration. In the comment box of Warsia Khushbu’s Facebook post regarding the World School Chess Team Championship, Rani Hamid wrote, "We have to speak up, raise our voices; much has been said, but nothing is happening. This is very unfortunate for our chess."

Experts of the game believe that immediate effective steps must be taken to calm the growing frustration over various chess activities at home and abroad. Otherwise, the game will fall further behind, and the gap between players, officials, and stakeholders will widen. In the past, leaders of the Association of Chess Players Bangladesh were quite vocal on player-related issues in the federation; but now, for mysterious reasons, the leadership of the chess players’ organisation remains silent—this too is a cause for growing resentment.

Promising and talented players like Fahad Rahman, Manon Reza Neer, Tahsin Tajwar Zia, Saklain Mostafa Sajid, Swarnavo Chowdhury, Warsia Khushbu, Wadifa Ahmed, and Nilava Chowdhury need proper guidance; but is the Bangladesh Chess Federation at all able to ensure that?

Bangladesh has five Grandmasters; but Ziaur Rahman has left the world. The remaining four are not actively involved in regular activities. All in all, the current disorganised state of chess fails to offer hope to the upcoming generation. After emerging as promising players, Fahad Rahman, Manon Reza Neer, Tahsin Tajwar Zia, and Saklain Mostafa Sajid continue their struggles in their own ways. If successful in that struggle, the number of titleholders in Bangladesh may increase; but will the desired progress in chess ever truly arrive—as the stakeholders hope?

Mahbub Sarkar: Writer and sports journalist