Top grandmaster dies during chess match

One of Bangladesh’s top grandmasters, Ziaur Rahman, has passed away while playing in the Bangladesh National Championships.

Bangladesh’s top-ranked chess grandmaster Ziaur Rahman died on Friday at the age of 50 while playing a game.

He suffering a stroke and collapsed on the board in the middle of a national championship match, an official said.

The 50-year-old had a close-to-winning position against fellow GM Enamul Hossain.

Bangladesh Chess Federation general secretary Shahab Uddin Shamim told AFP that Ziaur collapsed during the 12th round match before he was declared dead at a hospital in the capital Dhaka.

Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman (R) along his son Tahsin Tajwar Zia (L) during a press conference. Picture: Alamy

“Players and officials present in the hall room took him to the hospital quickly after he collapsed. Upon reaching there, doctors said he had already died,” Shamim said.

Hossain said it took a few seconds to realise that Rahman had suffered a massive stroke.

“When he was playing, it never felt like he was sick,” Hossain said.

“It was my move. So, when he was falling down, I thought he was leaning down to pick up a water bottle. But then he collapsed, and we rushed him to the hospital. His son was playing at the next table”.

Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman died while playing in the Bangladesh National Championships. Picture: ChessBase India

ChessBase India tweeted about the incident, saying “We have very sad news coming in. One of Bangladesh’s top grandmasters, Ziaur Rahman passed away today while playing in the Bangladesh National Championships. He was 50 years old.

“When Ziaur was playing his 12th round game against GM Enamul Hossain, he suddenly fell from the chair. He was rushed to a cardiac hospital after the fall. His pulse wasn’t found, and the doctors declared him dead.

“This is an irrevocable loss in the chess community. Ziaur was a very strong grandmaster and an experienced chess trainer who had helped many Indian players.

“May his soul rest in peace. Please respect the privacy of his family in these difficult times.”

Rahman was the highest ranked of Bangladesh’s five chess grandmasters. He won the national championship multiple times and represented Bangladesh in the 44th Chess Olympiad in India in 2022.

- with AFP