Rani Hamid: The chess queen

She clinched the National Women's Chess Championship on debut back in 1979. The undisputed queen (Rani) of Bangladesh chess speaks about her passion for the game and the future of this game in our country. Q: You have won the National Women's Chess Championship for the seventeenth time. How does it feel? Rani Hamid: Obviously it is a great feeling. Besides I have won

many other championships also. Counting all those, I became champion for more than 25-30 times.

Q: You started way back in 1979 and now most of your contemporaries are not in the scene. But still you are claiming championships amongst the new players of the age of your grand-children. How have you been able to carry on with chess for such a long time?

Rani: Actually I started playing at 33 when Bangladeshi players leave the chess board. I think probably this is the main reason. Other than that I enjoy my game very much. Being a housewife, you can say it is a great way to pass my time as well as a source of pleasure.

Q: You are the icon of women's chess in our country. Rani Hamid, the name itself is a big encouragement for many upcoming girls who want to come across the chess board. What do you think about it?

Rani: I have always tried to attract girls to this sport and for this I have written books on chess. When we started we were in darkness as we had no proper guidelines. But now-a-days women have huge facilities. They can get every information about any tournament through the computer. I have arranged many tournaments. As I am not an organizer, I am still with the game. Given the facts I wish to see women coming to this game.

Q: How did you become familiar with the chess board? Would you tell about your beginning?

Rani: When I was a kid I used to see my father, Syed Mamtaz Ali, playing chess with his friends. So I also felt a huge attraction for this chess board. I was not calm by nature but it made me calm. During our time it was said that chess was not a game for kids but it is very funny for me that today chess is considered as a game for kids.

Q: Have you ever felt tired as you have been playing for such a long time?

Rani: No, actually it depends on human choice. If you enjoy to do whatever you are doing then how can it be irritating for you?

Q: We know that you have defeated many top ranked male chess players in our country except Niaz Morshed. How does it feel to combat with the male players?

Rani: I have played National Chess with boys three times, got 2nd or 3rd place. I have secured a position in the Olympiad team by my own capabilities. But now I have lost interest to play with everyone.

Q: You took part in so many international tournaments in various countries. You are three time winner of the British Women’s Championship. Can you recall any memorable incident from those tournaments?

Rani: It was in London, may be in 1985, I was playing in British Chess. I beat Garcia, the Spanish champion and suddenly I saw the judge congratulating me and informed me that I achieved the IWM norm. This incident thrills me still now.

Q: Are you familiar with facing the computer chess program?

Rani: Yes, I play sometimes. Now many new programs have been introduced as the bookish information is not sufficient. But I am not an expert in playing the game in computer.

Q: Do you have anyone in your mind who could be the Rani Hamid in future?

Rani: No, I have not found anyone. Shabana Parveen had huge potential. But now I think Eva from Manikgonj and Liza from Narayanganj have got the ability. They tried hard and they are industrious also but I can not understand why they fail to uplift themselves properly.

Q: No doubt it is a great achievement to reign over the world of chess for such a long time but at the same time isn’t it a failure that our chess does not proceed forward?

Rani: I will say that our chess is moving very slowly. Here our achievement is zero. So why the new players will come? Our prize money is very insignificant also, so why people will come to waste time for it?

Q: You are the witness of the women sports arena of Bangladesh for a long time. How is the present platform for the women in our sports?

Rani: The problem is the same. Nobody will come to this game with a professional attitude until she is ensured of sufficient financial facilities.