The Intra-University Chess tournament just ended, but the players are not done with the game. A new challenge awaits the Chessmasters of BRAC University as they participate in the National Chess League 2016. Two teams from BRAC University participated in this prestigious competition. The finest ‘Brain Athletes’ of BRAC University were picked for the two teams on the basis of their intra-University tournament standings and their international ratings. The Red team had the debutant undergrad students, where the Green team consisted of the internationally rated Faculty and students. The Intra-University champion Husain Ejaz (post grad student) and Faculty tournament champion Mohammad Shams UdDuha (Lecturer, BIL) were on this team along with RS chess activity instructor Dr. Almasur Rahman and Dr. Sayeedur Rahman (MA TESOL Coordinator).
As the strongest team from BRACU, the Green team managed to get a victory over the BUET Chess team and was the top University team in the tournament. On the other hand, the underdog team players managed to get a few wins and draws against some of the rated players in the tournament. Among them, Saif Ahmed (EEE undergrad) managed to achieve his first international rating (1675) in standard chess on this tournament. Shadman, Sabbir, Rakib Hasan and Shihab Shahariar also are in process of getting an international rating. The Green team was ranked 11th and the Red team was 20th.
Altogether the first appearance of BRAC University in a National Chess tournament turned out to be a successful one.