Amit Bikram Roy, a member of the IUB ARROWS Program and student of Computer Science and Engineering at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has qualified for the National B Chess Championship 2024 by securing the 3rd place in the National Preliminary.

This accomplishment not only allows him to compete with the country's top-ranked players but also makes him eligible for consideration for the national team and participation in top global tournaments.

If Amit finishes in the top nine in the National B, he will qualify for the National A Championship, where he will be able to compete with the grandmasters. If he can finish among the top six in National A, he will be able to represent Bangladesh in the prestigious Chess Olympiad in Hungary later this year.

Amit's 3rd place finish has earned him an impressive classical chess rating exceeding 2,000, placing him among the top 40 players in Bangladesh. In the last six months, Amit’s rating has increased by 233 points. His current rating is now 2,011. He needs 2,300 points to become a Fide Master.

The National Preliminary, held from June 1-5, 2024 at National Sports Council, Purana Paltan, Dhaka saw fierce competition among 123 selected players from various districts and divisions of Bangladesh.

Reflecting on his journey, Amit said, “I have been playing chess non-stop since April and juggling with my CSE studies at IUB. In the initial rounds, the fatigue had its toll. However, I am extremely happy that with the guidance of my mentor Grandmaster Niaz Murshed, I have been able to overcome the fatigue.”

He also said, “This qualification in the National B Chess Championship is a dream come true for me and the result of a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s my first stepping stone towards breaking into the global chess scene. Special thanks to the Division of Student Activities of IUB and my fellow members of the IUB Chess Club for supporting me relentlessly.”

In the last couple of years, Amit, who serves as the President of the IUB Chess Club, has brought multiple accolades to IUB, including notable performances in the Chess Track Standard Chess Tournament 2024, Bangabandhu Inter-University Sports Championship, NDC National Chess Carnival 2023, and Autumn Collegiate Chess League.

BDST: 1716 HRS, JUNE 6, 2024
MSK