The Bangladesh Chess Federation is all set to host the Asian Cities Chess Team Championship 2019 also known as Dubai Cup for the first ever time and the tournament is scheduled to get underway at Fars Hotel and Resorts in the capital on Wednesday.
A total of 14 teams from 11 countries – India, Iran, Afghanistan, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh – will be taking part in the nine-day event including three teams from the host country and two from Nepal.
The hosts, who have one of the strongest teams among the other participating nations, set their target to win the title after 29 years. Bangladesh last time clinched the title in Dubai in 1990.
Bangladesh may face tough contest from the Iran’s side that has three Grandmasters and one International Master. Among Bangladesh’s three participating teams – Gopalganj, Dhaka and Chattogram – the former team, Gopalganj, has four Grandmasters and one International Master.
The five members of Gopalganj team are GMs Ziaur Rahman, Abdullah Al Rakib, Enamul Hossain Razib, Reefat Bin Sattar and Fide Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman. Dhaka team comprised of IMs Mohammad Minhaz Uddin, Abu Sufian Shakil, FMs Ahmed Sheikh Nasir, Khandokar Aminul Islam and CM Subrota Biswas.
Ziaur, who was also the member of 1990 champion team, and BCF general secretary Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim both expects to face strong challenge from Iran’s side in order to become champions.
The budget of the tournament is approximately 80lacs tk where KN-Harbour Consortium Ltd are the title sponsors and co-sponsors are Saif Powertec Ltd, Rupayan Group, Abul Khair Group, Standard Bank Limited and Mercantile Bank Limited.