Reigning champions Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd made a winning start beating title contenders Bangladesh Navy Chess Team by 3.5-0.5 points in the first round of the Rupahali Sarees Premier Division Chess League at the hall room of the Bangladesh Chess Federation yesterday.
Mohammedan, powered by Tajikistan GM Amonatov Farukh and Russian GM Volkov Sergey shrugged off the challenges as Farukh beat FM Taibur Rahman, Volkov outplayed GM Reefat Bin Sattar along with Bangladeshi GM Ziaur Rahman’s win against GM Abdulla Al-Rakib. GM Enamul Hossain Razib of Navy drew with Mohammedan’s IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar. KM Shahidullah, vice-president of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Shafiullah Al-Munir, the CEO of INDEX Group inaugurated the league.
In the other matches of the day Titas Club beat Pritam-Prism Chess Club, Narayanganj, 4-0. Leonine Chess Club beat Access Group Chess Club by 3-1 while Gopalganj Chess Club beat Faith Chess Club by 3.5 -0.5 points.