The 64-square battlefield bore witness to a masterclass in youthful strategy and composure as South Point School’s Rayan Rashid Mugdho emerged as the undisputed champion in the Under-18 category of the Sailor Checkmate Narayanganj 2025 Inter-School International Rapid Rating Chess Tournament recently.
Celebrated on the occasion of International Chess Day, the tournament transformed Narayanganj’s historic Mohsin Club into a theatre of intellect and strategy.
Rayan, exhibiting poise far beyond his years, swept through the seven-round Swiss League format with a flawless record, seven wins from seven matches, leaving a trail of checkmates and resigned kings in his wake. His performance not only secured him the crown but also reaffirmed his standing as one of the most promising young minds on the national chess horizon.
In a day where pawns became queens and clocks ticked with urgency, young tacticians from over 60 schools across and beyond Narayanganj engaged in cerebral duels, each hoping to make their move count. But it was Rayan who remained a move ahead, game after game, demonstrating classical precision fused with modern flair.
On the other hand, in the Under-14 segment, Safayet Kibria Azan, also from South Point School, scored 5.5 points to take top honours, while in the Under-10 division, Mohammad Mabrur Raad of Narayanganj Philosophia School mirrored Rayan’s feat with a perfect seven out of seven, another unbeaten champion.
The closing ceremony, graced by the President of the Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF), Syed Sujauddin Ahmed, served not just as a prize-giving event but a moment of recognition for the sheer brilliance on display.
Special guests, including Additional Tax Commissioner Murtaza Shariful Islam, CSR Head of Epyllion Group Nazmul Ahsan, International Chess Arbiter Harun-ur-Rashid, and ChessBangladesh dot com Editor Morsalin Ahmed lauded the efforts of the organisers and participants alike. The event was anchored by Marina Jahan.
Backed by the BCF and sponsored by Sailor, the tournament wasn’t merely a contest, it was a celebration of the royal game’s growing resonance among the youth.
Beyond the main event, a lively chess-themed quiz tested participants’ theoretical knowledge, adding another layer of engagement.
