Both the Bangladesh Open and Women’s Chess teams made a flying start in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad Budapest’ 2024 outplaying their respective rivals by straight 4-0 in the first-round matches held in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.

In the Open Section, four Bangladeshi players–Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib (Rating-2354), Grandmaster Niaz Murshed (Rating-2318), International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman (Rating-2419) and FIDE Master Manon Reja Neer (Rating-2417) won their respective matches against their four rivals from Lesotho.

Another player of five member Bangladesh Open Chess team –FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia (Rating- 2255)– son of late Grand Master Ziaur Rahman was a reserve player in the first round.

In the Women’s section, four Bangladeshi players —Woman FIDE Master Noshin Anjum (Rating-2085), Woman FIDE Master Wadifa Ahmed (Rating-1988), Woman Candidate Master Nusrat Jahan Alo (Rating-2033) and Women’s Candidate Master Walijah Ahmed (Rating-1936) beat their rivals from St Lucia.

Veteran chess player and International Women’s Master Rani Hamid (Rating-1900) was a reserve player in the first round.

Bangladesh open team playing against Vietnam while Bangladesh Women’s team playing against Romania on Thursday’s 2nd round matches till last report received.