Young Fide Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman is all set to fly for Russia Saturday night to take part in the Fide World Cup for the first ever time as the 2019 edition will get underway in Khanty-Mansiysk, Western Siberia Monday.
The competition is part of the World Championship cycle where a total of 128 players from 47 countries will participate in the seven-round elimination tournament.
Fahad got one of the tournament favorites, top-ranked Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, in the opening round Tuesday with white pieces and Wednesday with black pieces.
The 25-year-old Anish is not only ranked fourth in the world, but also has a distinct rating of 2,780, which is 530 more than that of Fahad (2,250).
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The 16-year old Bangladesh chess prodigy is well aware of his opponent.
“I know him (Anish). There is a huge difference between our ratings, but I’ll try my best to play a good game, not to lose the game anytime soon and fight as long as possible. My target will be to take the game into the playoff Thursday. Whatever the result is, it will be a big experience for me,” said Fahad.
Fahad has been preparing for this competition under the coaching of GM Enamul Hossain Razib in the last one month.
Razib participated in the World Cup in 2007 where he reached the second round after beating the then world No 19 Pavel Eljanov but since then none from Bangladesh managed to overcome the first-round obstacle.
Razib will not be accompanying Fahad in Russia but international arbiter Haroon Or Rashid, who will serve as the arbiter of a World Cup for the first time.
#Fahad earns IM norm https://t.co/W4o4VN9hE7
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“It’s a knockout basis tournament and his (Fahad) opponent is one of the world’s best. So it will be really difficult,” said Haroon.
Haroon, who will be arbiter for the first two rounds, added, “I was the arbiter of Chess Olympiad six times since 2000 and twice in the Asian Championship, including once as chief arbiter this year. There will be a total of 14 arbiters in the World Cup and I’m happy to be selected among two from Asia.”
