Chess Grandmaster Ziaur dies during match

FIDE Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman suffered a stroke and subsequently died while playing a game against Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Rajib in the 12th round of National Chess Championship in the capital on Friday.

He was rushed to the Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital at Shahbagh where doctors pronounced him dead. At the time, he was 50 years old.

Ziaur Rahman started Friday’s game at 3 pm and was making gains against his opponent Enamul before suddenly falling down on the floor at 5.50 pm, sources within the Bangladesh Chess Federation claimed.

Soon afterwards, other chess players and federation officials rushed him to the hospital on Enamul’s car.

Upon reaching the hospital, doctors declared him dead.

Enamul said it took them a few seconds to realise that he had suffered a massive stroke.

“When he was playing, it never felt like he was sick," said Enamul.

“It was my move. So, when he was falling down, I thought he was leaning down to pick up a water bottle. But then he collapsed, and we rushed him to the hospital. His son was playing at the next table".

Ziaur is the highest ranked of Bangladesh’s five chess grandmasters.