Neer’s victory over Israeli Grandmaster shines despite Bangladesh’s tough day

Bangladesh’s young chess prodigy, FIDE Master Manon Reja Neer, delivered a remarkable individual performance in the 10th round of the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest on 21 September. 

The win provided Bangladesh’s only point in a 3-1 loss to Israel.

Neer’s rating of 2417 placed him as the underdog against the 22-year-old Gorshtein. Despite this, his impressive tactical approach saw him secure the victory and draw significant praise from the chess community. Neer had previously drawn against French GM Marc`andria Maurizzi in the fourth round, showcasing his growing ability to challenge seasoned opponents.

However, Bangladesh’s open team struggled overall, as International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman and FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia both fell to Israel’s GMs, and Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib gave a walkover to Israeli GM Tamir Nabaty. Razib’s refusal to play was due to his decision to boycott the match, citing Israel’s actions in Gaza as the reason behind his withdrawal.

Razib, Bangladesh’s only GM in the event, had announced his stance on social media, questioning Israel’s inclusion in the tournament while Russia and Belarus were excluded. His boycott added a political dimension to the match, and his absence was notable as it impacted Bangladesh’s ability to field a full four-player lineup. Razib wrote, “How is Israel allowed to participate under the current circumstances? Tomorrow, we face them. I am boycotting.”

In the women’s section, 80-year-old WIM Rani Hamid faced her first defeat of the tournament after an exceptional run of six consecutive wins. Hamid’s loss to Norway’s WGM Monika Machlik contributed to Bangladesh’s 3.5-0.5 defeat. FM Noshin Anjum was the only Bangladeshi player to secure half a point with a draw against WIM Olga Dolgova, while WCM Walijah Ahmed and WCM Nushrat Jahan Alo lost their respective games. Bangladesh’s women’s team dropped to 63rd position after the loss.

Despite the challenging outcomes for the rest of the team, Neer’s victory stood as a highlight for Bangladesh, reinforcing his potential as a future star in international chess. Both the men’s and women’s teams will look to end the Olympiad on a high note in their final matches, with the men set to face South Korea and the women playing Belgium.