Following its kickoff on March 2, 2026, at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall in Dhaka, the Manhas Castle International Chess Tournament saw 50 players claim victories in the first of eight Swiss-system rounds. Among 108 entrants—including four FIDE Masters and several Candidate Masters—the top prize remains 150,000 taka.
The tournament, organized by Manhas Castle with the Bangladesh Chess Federation, drew a strong field of 108 players, including four FIDE Masters, one Woman FIDE Master, seven Candidate Masters, and three Women Candidate Masters.
Round 1 winners securing full points included FIDE Master Sakline Mostafa Sajid, FIDE Master Subrota Biswas, FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman, Anata Choudhury, FIDE Master Md. Sharif Hossain, Candidate Master Md. Abu Hanif, Woman Candidate Master Nusrat Jahan Alo, Candidate Master Md. Masum Hossain, Candidate Master Sohel Chowdhury, Muhtady Tajwar Nasheed, Candidate Master Md. Jamal Hossain, Afzal Hossain Sacchu, Delwar Hossain, Candidate Master S. M. Saron, Candidate Master Avik Sarker, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Rayan Rashid Mugho, Sheikh Rashedul Hasan, and Woman FIDE Master Warsia Khusbu.
This event underscores Bangladesh's rising chess prominence, offering international competition for emerging and established talents.