Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 18: A match steeped in generational legacy unfolded at the Delhi International GM Open Chess Tournament 2025 when 80-year-old Bangladeshi chess legend Rani Hamid faced off against 13-year-old Indian prodigy Balaji Sudarshan from Tamil Nadu. In a contest of youth versus experience, the seasoned Woman International Master, who had already suffered three defeats in earlier rounds, arrived at the playing hall five minutes late, clutching her signature orange-juice bottle, as always.

Despite her calm composure and years of wisdom across 64 squares, the game was over in less than two hours. As Hamid quietly walked back to collect her belongings, it was not with frustration but with admiration for the boy across the board. Smiling at the volunteers, she simply said, “He has played really well. I want to analyse games with him.” What followed was a heartening 45-minute post-game session outside the hall, with the octogenarian and the teenager poring over the game, immersed in strategy, ideas, and shared joy. “I play for happiness.

Chess gives me that. I never try to show off or teach. I just enjoy,” said Hamid, laughing gently.

Rani Hamid, born Sayeda Jasimunnessa Khatun, has long been a pioneer in South Asian chess, carrying nearly five decades of memories with the Indian capital. “I first came here when Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the President of India,” she recalled. One of her fondest recollections was playing against a young Viswanathan Anand. “He never sat in front of a board for more than five minutes. But against me, he sat quietly for half an hour. I knew then, I had made a good move—even if I eventually lost,” she said with a chuckle.

Though Hamid only started playing competitive chess at 33, she quickly carved a path that led to 20 national titles for Bangladesh and three British Chess Championship victories. She never aspired to be a Grandmaster and modestly admitted, “I only played one tournament a year. You can’t become a GM like that. I just played for the love of it.”

Encouraged by her husband, the late MA Hamid, a former army officer and sports patron, she authored Mojar Khela Daba—a simple, illustrative chess manual aimed at rural players. The book gained wide recognition, especially in Kolkata, where chess coaches still use it to teach beginners how to notate and think strategically.

Hamid’s rise came in an era with little international exposure. Her first overseas test came at the 1981 Asian Women’s Championship in Hyderabad after Bangladesh joined FIDE in 1979. “Back then, no one expected much. Niaz Murshed even joked that I’d get no points,” she laughed, recalling how limited opportunities shaped her playing career.

Reflecting on her visit to India, Hamid did not mince words. “If we had tournaments in Bangladesh, why would I come to India? But India loves chess. The people, the hospitality, the environment—it keeps drawing me back.”

At 80, she remains more than just a competitor; she’s a storyteller, a mentor, and a symbol of timeless passion for the game.