Sharmin Sultana Shirin clinches top slot in first phase

WFM Sharmin Sultana Shirin of Narayanganj clinched the top slot in the preliminary phase of the Sultana Kamal 35th National Women Chess Championship on Sunday.
Shirin emerged champion in the first phase securing six points from nine matches after making a draw with Simmi in the 9th and last round match at Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room.
WFM Zakia Sultana finished runner-up with 5.5 points.
Five players bagged 5 points each. Their positions are: 3rd- Samiha Sharmin Shimmi, 4th- Zhorna Begum, 5th-Sraboni Fatema Tuz Zohora, 6th-Tanzina Akter Tani and 7th-Khondokar Sumaiya,
Two players earned 4.5 points each. Their positions are: 8th Afrin Jahan Munia and 9th Zahuratul Zannat Zisha.
In the day’s last round matches, Shirin drew with Simmi, Zakia drew with Jhorna, Sraboni beat Farjana Hossain Annie, Tani beat Protiva Talukder, Sumaiya beat Jahanara Haque Runu, Munia beat Hamida Mahmud and Zisha beat Jannatul Ferdous.
Top eight players of the first phase have earned the right to play in the final phase of the National Women’s Chess Championship.