Grandmaster Niaz Murshed, Advisor to the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) Chess Club, has won the 49th National Chess Championship. Organized in September-October 2025 in Dhaka by the Bangladesh Chess Federation, the round-robin format tournament featured 14 of the country’s top chess players.

The other 13 players included four International Masters, six FIDE Masters, one Candidate Master, and two emerging players. GM Murshed remained undefeated, finishing with 10.5 points in 13 games. Entering the final round tied with International Master Fahad Rahman at 9.5 points, he defeated FIDE Master Subroto Biswas, while Fahad lost to Shakher Ullah.

GM Murshed became the first gradmaster from South Asia in 1987 at the age of 21. He has been serving as the Advisor to the IUB Chess Club since 2015. This is his 7th national title, following wins in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2012, and 2019, putting him at number two in the all-time list of Bangladeshi national champions after late Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman.