Agami Chess Guild Online Charity Tournament 2021 - An Innovative Vision
agami chess guild launched
Agami 3.0 is continuously working on sustainable learning and developmental goals, ensuring that our Agami-supported underprivileged children are going to be successful in the future. With that vision forward, Tahsin Rouf, the thinktank behind Agami Chess Guild, played a pivotal role in introducing Chess to Agami.
Not long after, Agami volunteers geared up to help Agami Chess Guild become a reality. Within six months, Agami Chess Guild emerged as a well-developed program piloting in one Agami-supported schools. The idea further branched out to hosting an annual competition for chess players. At least 40 players signed up to the first Agami Chess Guild (ACG) 2021 Online Charity Tournament. The tournament was fragmented into three sections - Under 16, Adult and a Simul game.
The ACG Online Charity Tournament presented a prolific panel including Bangladesh’s third Grand Master Reefat Bin Sattar and advisor to ACG, International Master Abu Sufian Shakil, including chess enthusiast Dr. Halimur Rashid Khan and Arbitrator Kazi Abdullah Sakil. The Concluding Ceremony was co-hosted by the versatile actress and presenter, Sharmin Lucky with Agami's co-founder and present member of the Agami Board of Directors, Dr. Mahmudul Hassan.
The tournaments for Under 16 and Adult took place on lichess.org and it was a 7 round SWISS tournament, which meant all participants would play seven rounds each and the winner would be declared based on the highest score. The Under 16 tournament was exciting with all 18 players made their best openings! The winner to Under 16 category, of the very first Agami Chess Guild Online Charity Tournament is Inqiyad Choudhury from Bangladesh, a seventh grader and avid chess lover. The adult tournament was quite a tough one, with 17 players making a remarkable series of smart moves across the board. The final winner is Asir Abrar from North America.
Playing at odds - simul game
Grand Master Sattar agreed to play a simul game with our ACG tournament participants. The top 6 players under each of the two categories were called back to play a 10 minute round with the Grand Master. What was interesting is that the Grand Master played 12 boards simultaneously. Grand Master Sattar won all boards and acknowledged that the opponents played some very strategic moves. You can catch a glimpse of the simul game here as well as a quick recap of Grand Master Sattar playing with the two winners of the Under 16 and Adult tournament.
AGAMI CHESS GUILD - to grow, to nurture
Agami Chess Guild also organized a virtual event on Aug 22nd, 2021 which was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube. The show put out some interesting facts and a lot of information about the ACG and the world of chess.
Hassan shared a few important insights on how ACG aligns to Agami’s core vision. He mentioned that chess can be played anywhere, and isn’t gender specific. Most games, like cricket or football require space and facilities, but chess can be accommodated in the same classroom after school. More importantly, since Agami projects are heavily dependent on funds and grants from external sources, it is crucial to invest in sustainable projects that require lesser resources. Watch the Agami Chess Guild video to know more about it.
Interestingly, the ACG curriculum that is being piloted at one of the Agami-supporting schools, has been designed by International Master Shakil (our panelist) and in consultation with Grand Master Sattar (also our panelist). This gives ACG members the opportunity to understand what it takes to be a Grand Master or International Master in chess and excel in competitive chess playing.
Dr. Khan, a chess enthusiast, was quick to share some history about chess and over the years how it has become a competitive sport. International Master Shakil elaborated that chess is being taken seriously in Bangladesh and over-time can be a career path for many budding chess enthusiasts. Grand Master Sattar was asked if women have been encouraged to play chess. Grand Master Sattar highlighted International Master Rani Hamid’s journey as she was recognized the first Women International Master in Bangladesh Chess history. He also generously provided information about his journey to become one of the five Grand Masters in Chess in Bangladesh. Sharmin Lucky, our hostess graciously requested viewers to donate and promised support to the ACG. Arbitrator Sakil, who managed the Under 16 and Adult tournaments discussed about our participants and their games. Watch the Concluding Ceremony here.
ACG is another one of Agami 3.0’s innovative and sustainable learning projects. We need your support to move the ACG project forward. Please donate.