The story of a wonder kid

Submitted by Fathi Rahman

Sat, 02/07/2011

Fahad Rahman is only eight year old and studying in class two. But he has beaten the second Bangladeshi grandmaster Ziaur Rahman Zia in a friendly duel in just eight minutes. It is hard to believe but it’s true. The 8 year-old wonder kid is now ranked as the top chess player in the world Under-8 chess ranking.

Fahad Rahman, the eight year old wonder kid is currently ranked as the

number one chess player in the world in his age level.

In terms of the last Under-10 world ranking published on May 2011, Fahad ranked eleventh with an amazing 1973 rating. But the fact is that all ten players above him in the ranking are 10 year olds, which means he holds the best Under-9 ratings as well. In the top 40 list of U-10, there is only another player along with Fahad, Awonder Liang of USA.

Fahad played his first tournament at the age of five, even before getting admitted in a school and without any coaching. It was back in 2008, when he became the champion of the Shishu Academy National Children’s Award Tournament. Just a year later in April 2009, he beat Fide master Mahfuzur Rahman in Rapid Chess in just three minutes.

He emerged as the champion of the Standard Chartered National School Chess in the year of 2009 and 2010, and was placed third in the Sub-Junior Chess Championship in 2009 and 2010.

The chess whiz kid comes from Modhukhali upozilla in Faridpur district. He is now staying in Dhaka in search of better opportunities in chess, studying in Gulshan Model School & College.

Fahad’s father Md Najrul Islam said that former president H M Ershad helped his son to get admitted into the school.

Najrul was a home tutor and ran a coaching centre back in Faridpur. He first thought of helping his son become a cricketer but after seeing Fahad’s interest in chess, he bought him a chess book. After that every time he came to Dhaka he bought his son a chess books like ‘Opening for white’, ‘The black lion’, and ‘My sixteen memorable games’.

When Fahad was asked about his favourite chess player, he named Bobby Fischer who is widely considered as one of the greatest chess players of all time. Among the recent players, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is his favourite one. Fahad’s dream is to become a world famous player like him.

“I always enjoy playing chess. My dream is to become a world famous player. And another reason I am working so hard is that I could meet our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina one day,”

About his training methods Fahad said, that he learns from the books, and sometimes plays against his mother.

The wonder kids another hidden talent is that he can play blindfold and easily beat anyone of his age. In April this year, he beat Habiganj chess star Mizanur rahman while blindfolded, in the Mayor Cup Chess Championship. Najrul came to Dhaka with just one dream surrounding his son but he can hardly maintain his family due to financial constraints. Najrul is searching for a sponsor which can ensure his son’s chess career.

“My son is the best chess player among U-8 boys in the world but most of the people of our country do not know about him. For my son’s future, I came to Dhaka, but as I’m unemployed now it’s getting hard for me to live here. I can’t afford Fahad to practice. even I am yet to pay two months’ house rent. Only if the govt. or any sponsor comes forward Fahad can grow up well as a chess player.”

News Source: The Daily Sun