DHAKA, March 11, 2025 (BSS) - The Asian Zone 3.2 Chess Championship and women's sections of the qualifying of World Cup Chess and Women's Cup Chess has begun today in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said a press release.

In the first round, national champion and international master Manon Raja Neer, national runner-up and international master Mohammad Fahad Rahman, FIDE master Tahsin Tajwar Zia and FIDE master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman in the open section and woman FIDE master Noshin Anjum and woman international woman master Rani Hamid in women's section made auspicious start by winning their respective first round matches.

In the first round, IM Manon Reja Neer defeated Karunasena Chanitha Sihas Dinisara of Sri Lanka, IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman beat Induwara Thisarindu, FIDE master Tahsani defeated Janukshan of Sri Lanka and FIDE master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman beat Dandiniya of Sri Lanka. 

In the women's section, FIDE master Noshin Anjum defeated Sindira Joshi of Nepal and Rani Hamdi beat Nihaya Ahmed of Maldives. 

In the open section, Amit Bikram Roy split point with Galkotuwa of Sri Lanka in the women's division, woman FIDE master Wadifa Ahmed split point with Palliyage Sathumalee Davhara of Sri Lanka. 

In the open section, FIDE master Sakline Mostafa Sajid lost to Ganepola Thushanu Yasmith, Kazi Afsan Rawank Anan lost to candidate master Wijerathna Vinuka Dihain of Sri Lanka and Tanvir Alam lost to IM Liyanage Ranindu Dalishan of Sri Lanka. 

In the women's division, Ashiya Sultana lost to Pallie Ehsha Mishela of Sri Lanka. 

The tournament is being held in nine rounds of Swiss-League format.

In the open division, a total of 39 players, including 4 international masters and 6 chess masters from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are participating and 23 players, including 2 women international masters and 2 women FIDE masters from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, are participating in the women's section. 

The champion of the open division will have the opportunity to participate in the World Cup Chess and the champion of the women's division will have the opportunity to participate in the Women's World Cup. 

It is also possible to directly achieve the titles of international master, woman international master, fide master, woman fide master, candidate master and woman candidate master and the norms of international master and women's international master from zonal chess.