Grandmaster Reefat Bin Sattar’s decision to not participate in the Berger Paints 39th National ‘A’ Chess Championship has shattered International Masters Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar and Abu Sufian Shakil’s hopes of garneringa Grandmaster norm from the tournament which begins today.
According to FIDE rules, a GM norm can be reached in a tournament where the average rating of the participants is at least 2380. Reefat’s presence would have seen that mark crossed, but in his absence, the tournament’s average player rating is 2374.
Despite Reefat’s absence, four of the country’s GM’s - Niaz Morshed, Ziaur Rahman, Abdullah Al-Raqib and Enamul Hossain Rajib - are taking part in the tournament. Today, Sagar, rated 2377, will face Grandmaster Zia while Shakil, rated 2354, takes on Sk Nasir Ahmed.
The Bangladesh Chess Federation said that they tried to ensure all five GM’s participated in the tournamentbut were unable to contact Reefat.
Abu Sufian Shakil was disappointed at the turn of events. “After a long time, we had a possible chance to earn a GM norm, but we lost the opportunity because of Reefat Bhai’s absence,’’ he said.
