The Bangladesh women’s chess team registered their second victory while the open chess contingent conceded points for the first time when they drew against a higher seeded Belgian side in the third round of the 41st World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway on Monday.
GMs Abdullah Al Rakib and Niaz Murshed won their respective matches but the other Grandmaster, Ziaur Rahman, and International Master Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar went down to defeats as the Bangladesh open chess team, seeded 55th, drew with 40th seeded Belgium by 2-2 points.
Al Rakib (Rating-2522) beat GM Michiels Bart (Rating-2535) and Niaz (Rating-2453) defeated IM Docx Stefan (Rating-2491), both from Belgium. However, Ziaur (Rating-2523) lost to Belgian GM Winants Luc (Rating-2545) while Sagar (Rating-2418) suffered a loss against Belgian IM Ringoir Tanguy (Rating-2508).
The Bangladesh open team slipped to joint-second position after the draw, tied with 19 other teams. Following the conclusion of the third round, the open side gathered five match points and eight game points.
Meanwhile in the women’s section, the Bangladesh team returned to winning ways beating Sri Lanka by 3-1 points. WIM Shamima Akter Liza (Rating-2147) beat WFM Chanrasiri S.A.K (Rating-1777), WFM Nazrana Khan (Rating-2001) beat Yashora Tiumi (Rating-1715) and WFM Sharmin Sultana Shirin (Rating-1984) beat WFM Thilakawardana Supeshala (Rating-1729), all from Sri Lanka. The only loss was suffered by Bangladeshi WFM Zakia Sultana (Rating-1964) against Sri Lankan WCM Methmali Y (Rating-1727).
The Bangladesh women have so far earned four match points and seven game points.
