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.”
