Bangladesh fails to secure norms, India’s Varshney leads

The Leonine 3rd Grandmasters Chess Tournament, aimed to provide Bangladeshi players an opportunity to achieve Grandmaster (GM) and International Master (IM) norms. However, after the seventh round, Bangladesh’s participants fell short of their goals.

International Masters Tahsin Tajwar Zia, Manon Reja Neer, and FIDE Master Sakline Mostafa Sajid were unable to secure their IM norms. IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman, who had a chance for a GM norm, lost on Friday and now sits on 4 points after seven rounds. Even if he wins his remaining two games, he can reach only 6.5 points, below the 7 points required for a GM norm.

In contrast, India’s International Master Aaryan Varshney is on the brink of achieving his GM norm. Leading the standings with 6 points, Varshney needs just one more point from the final two rounds to secure the norm.

Thursday’s seventh round produced some decisive results. IM Aaryan Varshney, playing Black, defeated GM Reefat Bin Sattar in 21 moves using the Caro-Kann Defense. IM Manon Reja Neer beat IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman in 38 moves with the King’s Indian Defense. IM Abu Sufian Shakil overcame FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia in a 50-move encounter, playing White against the Sicilian Dragon. GM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam defeated FM Sakline Mostafa Sajid in 50 moves using the Sicilian Closed Variation.

The tournament continues 8th or penultimate round will begin Saturday at the same venue. 8th round games are: FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia Vs. IM Aaryan Vashney. FM Panesar Vedant Vs. GM Reefat Bin Sattar, FM Sakline Mostafa Sajid Vs. GM Abdisalimov Abdimalik , IM Manon Reja Neer Vs. GM Nguyen Duc Hoa and IM Abu Sufian Shakil Vs. IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman.