Zabir Noor Hasan has been at the unfortunate end of a brilliant tale. A promising player from Uttara, Zabir rose through the ranks to enter the final of a nation-wide tournament, only to be defeated by the favorites. Almost writing the underdog fairytale, Zabir lost out by the barest of margins, proving to be the only tournament he participated in. KhelboBD was fortunate enough to get an interview with this star.

Ilman Islam: Zabir Hasan, welcome to KhelboBD, lets dive right in. What’s your finest chess tournament experience?

Zabir Hasan: Thanks Ilman, [I am] really happy to be here. My greatest and only experience was coming second in a nation-wide chess tournament, though I lost in the final match, playing against all the other skilled players proved my skill, only to be defeated by the best among us in a hard-fought battle was by far my greatest experience.

II: Who prompted you to dedicate yourself to playing chess?

ZH: It was my first mentor, Md Mahfuzul Hasan, who stirred an interest in chess for me. He showed me how every move, through logic, creativity, and discipline, was reflected into this sport. He taught me his skills and I adapted it into my personal tactics. Whenever I participate in games, I remember his points. 

II: What encouraged you to start competing on a professional level?

ZH: The thrill of competition and a strong desire to test my abilities against the best players motivated me to take the leap into professional chess. I have always had this hunger and passion to become the best but unfortunately it has been tough managing my academics with chess. Now, I am taking a break to focus on my studies. 

II: What resources do players need to nurture and grow their craft and skill?

ZH: Aspiring players need access to a good chess coach, a strong library of resources, regular practice, and online tools to analyze and improve their gameplay. The federation must be working on developing more coaches and hosting more tournaments. I was grateful to have Mahfuzul sir and others should have a great mentor like him as well. 

II: Which qualifications do athletes require to begin competing?

ZH: For aspiring athletes to begin their chess career, they must have a strong grasp of the fundamentals, and experience in local tournaments. These two concepts are key qualifications for entering professional competitions and ensuring success. 

II: What changes should be implemented for expanding chess in Bangladesh? 

ZH: To promote chess in Bangladesh, we need to invest in schools’ chess programs, organize more tournaments, and create platforms to nurture young talent while showcasing the game’s benefits for critical thinking and focus. Chess may seem boring from the outside, but it is a complex game with the aspects of logic and creativity, bringing out the best from all competitors. Bangladesh is improving in Chess and I hope that these things are implemented in the future. 

II: What advice would you provide for prospective chess players? How can individuals follow your route to success?

ZH: To the youth who want to enter this sport, I have one message. Dedicate yourself to consistent practice, learn from every loss, and study patterns, games of great players, and puzzles. Start small, stay focused, and gradually climb the ranks while seeking guidance from skilled coaches. This small step is the fundamental in ensuring success.