Candidate Master Md Sajidul Islam of Bangladesh Open School and Safayet Kibria Ajan of South Point School & College emerged unbeaten champions in their respective categories at the Centenary Celebration International Rapid School Chess Tournament, held at the historic IET Government High School in Narayanganj.
The tournament was organised to commemorate the school's 100-year anniversary. Sajidul dominated the Class VI-X category with a flawless 7 out of 7 score, while Safayet also claimed victory in all seven rounds in the Class I-V division.
The event was presided over by Murtaza Shariful Islam, Convenor of the Centenary Celebration Committee. Dr Shoeb Riaz Alam, DIG of Bangladesh Police and Vice President of the Bangladesh Chess Federation, attended as Chief Guest and handed out trophies, cash prizes, and certificates to the winners.
Special guests included Mahmud Hossain Khan Dulal, the Editor of Krirajagat, and Mrs Anjuman Ara Aksir, Acting President of the Bangladesh Women's Sports Association.
Grandmaster Abdullah Al Rakib inaugurated the tournament earlier in the day.
The top 12 players from each division were awarded. Among the Class I-V category, runners-up to twelfth place included Joena Mehbiss, Md. Mabrur Raad, Niamul Kanchan Ayat, Aranyo Roy, Arian Samir Anan, Nilav Kumar Gupta, Anupria Saha, Talib Ahmad Mahroos, Shahrid Shayan, Taskin Rahman, and Azman Yusuf Ayan.
In the Class VI-X category, runners-up included Rayan Rashid Mugdho, Fahad Bin Abu Ahsan, Woman Candidate Master Nilava Chowdhury, and others.
Sponsored by Heritage School, the tournament featured attractive trophies, medals, certificates, and a total prize pool of BDT 60,000. It followed a 7-round Swiss League format with 80 players from various schools. Matches were officiated by International Arbiter Haroon-or-Rashid and FIDE Arbiter Mohammad Shamim.
