Shuvo Rajak dreams of becoming chess grandmaster, representing Bangladesh globally

Netrokona, 8 Nov - Young chess enthusiast Shuvo Rajak dreams of becoming a grandmaster and representing Bangladesh on the international stage.

Hailing from Netrokona district, Shuvo's passion for chess began in his childhood. When he was in class five, he often watched his elder brother play chess and soon developed a deep interest in the game. Inspired by his brother, Shuvo decided to pursue chess seriously and gradually honed his skills.

From an early age, Shuvo showed a knack for creative thinking. Besides chess, he is fond of debating, writing and literature. He has already written several poems and plans to publish them as a book someday. His room, decorated with handmade chess pieces and shelves filled with chess books, reflects his deep fascination with the game.

Speaking to BSS, Shuvo's father, Kajal Rajak, said his son has been passionate about chess since childhood. "He used to follow the senior boys in our area to learn from them and regularly took part in various local competitions," he said.

Shuvo's mother, Seema Rajak, said, "Despite financial hardships and limited opportunities, Shuvo continues to represent Netrokona in different tournaments through his own effort. My only wish is to see him represent Bangladesh before the world."

Currently a student of class ten, Shuvo recently completed an eleven-day chess training course under the Under-16 Talent Hunt Sports Program 2024-2025, organized by the National Sports Council as part of the Festival of Youth 2025.

His first major exposure came in 2022, when, as a seventh-grade student, he represented his school in the "Marks Active School Chess Champs," where his team won the bronze medal.

Shuvo draws inspiration from Bangladesh's first Woman International Master Rani Hamid, International Master Abu Sufian Shakil, Norwegian Grandmaster and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen, Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Soviet-Latvian Grandmaster Mikhail Tal.

The young talent said his progress so far has come solely from personal dedication and hard work, as there are few opportunities or facilities for chess players at the district level.

Shuvo urged for greater state sponsorship and support for chess outside the capital, saying it would help many promising players develop their skills and fulfill their potential.BSS