Without recognition, young talents may fade away

Rani Hamid, a pioneering figure in Bangladesh's chess scene, stands as a symbol of resilience and excellence.

With a career spanning over four decades, Hamid's contributions to the game are unparalleled. As the first Bangladeshi woman to earn the prestigious Woman International Master (WIM) title in 1985, she has paved the way for future generations of chess players, especially women. Her achievements on the national stage are equally impressive, boasting 20 Bangladesh National Women's Championship titles. Internationally, Hamid has shone brightly, claiming the British Women's Chess Championship three times and winning the Commonwealth Chess Gold Medal in 2017.

Throughout her journey, Hamid has remained a dominant force, even at the age of 81. She most recently showcased her enduring prowess at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she secured six consecutive wins after missing the initial three rounds, further cementing her legacy as one of the greatest chess players to emerge from Bangladesh. Her influence extends beyond the chessboard, serving as an inspiration for young talents and a testament to the power of perseverance.

In an exclusive interview with The Business Standard Rani Hamid talks about the challenges she faced, the performance of the Bangladesh team, the lack of recognition for chess players and the current state of Bangladesh's chess development.

How was your overall experience at the recently concluded Chess Olympiad?

To be honest, it wasn't very different from my previous experiences in the Olympiad. However, I encountered some visa-related issues before leaving Bangladesh for Budapest. The embassy requested documents, including passports from all my past Olympiad participations. Since some of these documents were quite old, I couldn't collect all of them, which caused unnecessary inconvenience, especially before such a major tournament. Once I arrived in Budapest, the visa was approved immediately because I'm a competitive player. Unfortunately, the process back in Bangladesh involved far too many formalities before such an important event.

What are your thoughts on your and your team's performance during the tournament?

Overall, I was quite pleased with my own performance. Thankfully, I didn't make too many mistakes during the matches. In high-pressure situations like these, it's easy to make blunders from advantageous positions, but that didn't happen this time. As for the team, I think we experienced some bad luck in certain matches. For example, in a match against Belgium, both Nusrat Jahan Alo and Wadifa Ahmed had winning positions but made critical mistakes, resulting in losses. Even if we'd managed a draw in one of those games, we could have won the match, and our overall ranking could have placed us in the top 50. But it's part of the game; those mistakes could easily have been mine in the heat of the moment.

How do you maintain your skillset to compete at such a high level at this age?

It comes naturally after all these years. I don't practice as much as I used to, but we could have benefited from playing in a few tournaments before this event. Unfortunately, due to the recent political unrest and overall conditions in the country, we didn't get the opportunity to participate in any preparatory tournaments. We also couldn't practise online because of internet blackouts. So, in terms of preparation, there were definitely some shortcomings.

After observing your opponents, do you feel that Bangladesh chess players lack support from the Federation?

It's hard to say exactly what kind of facilities players from other countries receive, as I didn't have detailed discussions with them. Domestically, however, I know that institutions like the Police, Ansar, and Navy are doing quite well in developing players by offering good facilities and training, but these benefits are generally reserved for individuals with significant potential. It's a good start, but we still have a long way to go.

What's your opinion on Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib giving a walkover to his opponent against Israel?

Everyone has their own perspective. As players, we are there to represent our country and do our best in every match. I'm not sure how right or wrong Razib's decision was—it's personal and obviously made sense to him at the time. But in my view, our duty is to compete.

India won gold in both categories of the Chess Olympiad. Do you believe Bangladesh has the potential to reach that level?

The way Bangladesh chess teams currently prepare and play domestically, the results we see on the international stage are what we expect. Sometimes we perform well, and sometimes we don't. India didn't reach this level overnight. Their success is the outcome of long-term planning, structure, and investment. The seriousness and commitment they've shown over recent years make them deserving winners.

To be honest, the current generation of players are quite fortunate. They have access to footage of matches between world champions, which we didn't have when we started out. If the young players who are currently competing—or those coming up—take the game more seriously, I believe Bangladesh can perform well internationally. However, right now, we often play for fun rather than with a clear goal in mind, and this mentality extends to our federation leaders as well.

The gaps between domestic tournaments are huge, sometimes lasting for months. Naturally, to succeed, we need more tournaments, even at the district level, to give players across the country broader access. To my knowledge, the federation is working to develop young talents like Neer, and we'll see in a few years whether their efforts pay off.

What advice would you give to the 14-year-old prodigy Manon Reza Neer to help him navigate his career and rise in the world of chess? How can we see more players like him?

Mashallah, he's doing exceptionally well for his age. He's a beacon of hope for Bangladesh's chess circuit, and I believe if he continues on this path, he will achieve great things and bring honour to both himself and the country. In fact, I think he's playing in a tournament right now. However, I'm disappointed by the lack of media coverage for events like these. Newspapers and TV channels mainly focus on cricket and football, while national-level chess tournaments receive little to no mention.

Young players like Neer need and deserve recognition to stay motivated. Without adequate recognition for their efforts, how can we expect more young players to pursue chess as a serious career?