Wadifa Ahmed aims to become Bangladesh鈥檚 first-ever female Grandmaster by obtaining the necessary three GM norms in forthcoming international events, including the FIDE Women鈥檚 World Cup 2025.
Wadifa, who recently emerged champion in the women鈥檚 section of the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka, will represent Bangladesh at the FIDE WWC.
Bangladesh Navy chess player Wadifa鈥檚 success in Colombo also helped her earn the title of Woman International Master, and she is waiting to receive the official recognition to become the youngest Bangladesh WIM.
Wadifa was born in 2008 in Milan, Italy, to a chess-loving family. Her older sister, Walijah Ahmed, a national player, and their father, Maynuddin Ahmed, are both avid chess players.
She started competing in tournaments in 2017, inspired by their influence.
鈥楾he game of chess had a profound influence on me from an early age. I learnt the moves of the pieces by sitting next to my father while he and my sister played games at home,鈥� Wadifa told 抖阴精品.
Wadifa earned the Woman FIDE Master title directly, leapfrogging the WCM step, placing fourth in the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championship 2023 in Dhaka.
So far, she has participated in 13 competitions鈥攅ight domestic and five international鈥攕ince 2018 and is three norms away from becoming the country鈥檚 first-ever WGM.
Wadifa is scheduled to compete in three events this year, taking place in Al Ain, Sharjah, and Dubai, UAE, from May 6 to June 6, all of which offer opportunities to achieve WGM norms.
Following these events, she will compete in the Western Asia Junior Chess Championship 2025 in Colombo before travelling to Georgia for the FIDE World Chess Championship, which runs from July 5 to July 29.
Despite her ambitions, the chess enthusiast regretted the lack of sponsorship and is uncertain about reaching her target this year.
鈥業 will earn the WGM title soon, inshallah. I will try my best to do it before my SSC exam, later this year. As I have the opportunity to earn WGM norms from three competitions in the UAE and from the World Cup (FIDE WWC),鈥� said Wafida.
鈥楾he challenge is securing sponsorship and training under a high-profile coach. Otherwise, I don鈥檛 see any obstacles. You know, it takes around Tk 3 to 4 lakh to participate in each international tournament,鈥� she said.
Wafida also highlighted the significance of training under a foreign coach before taking part in the World Cup.
鈥業t would be better if I could spend seven to eight hours on chess. Moreover, it is difficult for my father, the lone earner of our family, to manage the fees required for training under a professional coach before tournaments,鈥� said Wafida.
While the Bangladesh Chess Federation has promised assistance in securing training facilities, Wadifa remained cautious about the sponsorship crisis.
鈥楾he Bangladesh Chess Federation promised to facilitate training under a foreign coach prior to the World Cup but has failed to do so. If the federation does so, the sponsorship crisis will continue.鈥� she said.