Exclusive | ‘If there were chess tournaments in Bangladesh, why would I come to India?’: 80 -year -old Rani Hamid | Chess news

New Delhi: Balaji Sudarshan, born in 2012, was cheated from Tamil Nadu, which was against 80 -year -old Bangladeshi legend Rani Hamid in Round 6 of the Delhi International GM Open Vasta Tournament 2025.After going to the game, Hamid suffered three defeats, all were against the lower-rated opponents in the first five rounds, and perhaps, played a role in the Woman International Master (WIM), which reached the hall of playing five minutes late for the scheduled start of the 4PM IST.Moving his familiar orange juice in a plastic bottle, a habit that he has chased throughout the tournament, Hamid first quietly deposited his belongings with his bag and mobile phone, the volunteer desk.

Deposit Desk (Photo Credit: Special Arrangement)

Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!With the complete cool of stable eyes and experience, he entered the playing hall, determined to change the course of his campaign, bottle in hand. But he knew very little that a 13 -year -old man had enough answers to his questions on 64 classes across the board.Within the next-and-a-half hours, Hamid, the first Bangladeshi, returned to the desk of the volunteer, who was collecting his belongings. He was accompanied by a young Sudarshan.Given the curious glimpses from the volunteers, Hamid, born as Saeeda Jasimunnes Khatun, offered a hot smile and said, “He really played well. I want to analyze the games with him.”Outside the playing hall, three tables were installed with a chaseboard. It was here that the octazerian legend and the teenage talent sat down, as the pieces of chess, such as friends, speaking the language of the game.

Rani Hamid Analysis of Sports with Youth Balaji Sudarshan (Photo Credit: Special Arrangement)

For the next 45 minutes, he discussed tricks and ideas, with his age gaps separated from his shared love for chess. As Hamid himself said, “I do not try to teach or show anyone. I play for its happiness, I enjoy it. I believe that whatever we are happy, we should do it, don’t you think?” (Laughing)This is not Hamid’s first visit to Delhi for chess. In fact, his association with the capital goes back to about five decades. “I first came here for a tournament when Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the President of India,” he said, referring to the period between 1974 and 1977.

The memories of his brain from those early tournaments include a young Vishwanathan Anand, which is long before becoming a domestic name.“Anand, at that time, usually did not spend more than five minutes on anyone. He quickly took his step, wakes up, and wandered while running his watch. But against me, he did not get up from his chair for half an hour. Can you believe it? I was waiting for my step, and as soon as I went, I left the board.“His mother was nervous. I told him,” Don’t worry, I have taken a bad step. Your son is winning now. ” I actually made a good attack, but he sacrificed, defended his miscreants, and then promoted a pawn to the queen.

‘Mozar Khela Press’

Hamid’s path in chess was never part of a grand plan. Chess evolved to a national heritage from a family pastime in its life.Growing in a sports-oriented family, with a father who performed excellently in various sports including chess, and later married to an assistant, sports-lover army officer, the queen was always surrounded by incentives.While she marginally claims that she only focuses on playing, her frequent success, Bangladesh National Championship 20 times and the British Chess Championship three times, converting her into an inspiration.

Her late husband Ma Hamid, was deeply involved in promoting sports, pushed him to write “Mozar Khela Daba” (The Fun Game: Chess), a guide that became widely popular, especially in Kolkata.“Whenever I went to Kolkata for the tournament, the coach would ask me to bring copies of the book because it helped them teach. I tried to write it in a style that was easy to follow, almost like grammar lessons. In the beginning, explained how to write the tricks, what to do because the players would come from villages and small cities, and they did not know how to note their game. None of us knew! In villages, they will only play for entertainment, “he explained.“I was really really lucky. Bangladesh Champion was back my neighbor; she was married to my classmate’s elder sister. Playing with her helped me improve quickly … people say I am 80 years old, but I started playing when I was 33 years old. I started playing. I never played to achieve anything.

Sisters of India

With the Bangladesh Chess Federation to join the Fide in 1979, her first major performance on the international stage came to the Asian Women’s Championship in Hyderabad in 1981. Hamid was unused on such platforms.“Earlier, we had hardly any international risk. I went to Hyderabad without any expectation. First South Asian Grandmaster, Niaz Murshed said to my partner, ‘You can get 1-2 points, but the woman going with you will not get anything,” she said.“Next, women’s chess in India was led by Khadilkar sisters: Jayashree, Vasanti, and Rohini. Two of them had already become Vim, so they wanted the youngest title to get the title of the youngest … But when I went and won 6 rounds, Rohini’s coaches got nervous. In the next round I matched against him. Even he came to me to ask if I have read the latest informer (a chess publication). I did not even know what he was! I tried to avoid his questions, but he kept asking until I finally gave up, ‘What is this latest informer?’ This was our level of preparation; I only played for its love.,

‘If there were chess tournaments in Bangladesh, why would I come to India?’

Despite the personal glow of talent, Hamid is honest about the challenges withdrawing chess in his country, accepting, “Bangladesh has not progressed in chess that India has the way India has a strong organizer. We lack good guidance, and everyone wants to sponsor football or cricket. Economic challenges are real. But above these, weakness in the organization has hurt us the most. There are no tournaments. If there were there, why would I come here in all ways to play? But DCA (Delhi Chess Association) invited me, arranged for tickets, food, I am grateful. ,Also read: ‘Earlier, I used to beat Indians’: Global chess stars in their 30, 50s, and say about India’s dominance in the 80s.Hamid, a daughter and mother of three sons, reminded him of the previous victory, who surprised her. “I once defeated the U18 World Champion, and I also defeated World No. 3 at one point. This caused a lot of stir. But neither the Federation nor I ever planned anything for my chess career, so it never grew up”When inquired about future plans, she would take a sip from her bottle and said: “I live in the future now!” (Laughing)