BBCA Makes History with Strong Presence at British Chess Championships 2025
BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS ST GEORGE’S HALL IN LIVERPOOL AND THE LIVERPOOL HOLIDAY INN – 31ST JULY TO 10TH AUGUST 2025
Abu Hasan
Advisory Editor, Shottobani
London: The British Chess Championships 2025 are set to be one of the biggest and strongest events in its history, with 1,686 players registered across 36 different categories as of Monday morning.
Among the numerous chess clubs across the UK, the British Bangla Chess Association (BBCA) has emerged as a leading contributor, registering the highest number of participants from any single club. A total of 20 BBCA members will compete in this prestigious chess festival, which is being held in Liverpool.
To encourage participation, BBCA has sponsored return train tickets for 15 players who will travel together to Liverpool for the Rapid Tournament on Saturday, 9th August. Another member will travel separately, while four others will compete in various sections.
Grandmaster Razib & BBCA
Leading the charge for BBCA is Grandmaster (GM) Enamul Hossain Razib, a former Bangladesh Champion and one of South Asia’s most celebrated players. GM Razib will compete in the Open Section of the Rapid Play, joined by Imran Ali, strengthening BBCA’s representation at the top level.
BBCA training camp by GM
Razib, who has been actively involved with BBCA since relocating to the UK, also serves on the club’s Executive Committee. He conducts monthly training camps for members at the club premises:
Tower Hamlets Parents Centre, 1 Links Yard, London, E1 5LX. The interested external players are also getting opportunities to attend the BBCA training camp.
The next two-hour training camp is scheduled for Sunday, 24th August at 3 PM.
Other BBCA Participants by Category
A 13-member team will compete in the Under 2000 rating category. However, each of them will play in the 7-round rapid tournament individually. They are: Hassan Mugalu, Tariq Khan, Oliver Finnegan, Raghu Kamath, Mohammed Alahi, Ashraf Nannu, Jorge Apaza, Dorbesh Choudhury, Sheikh Ishtiaq Hossain, Mostaque Choudhury, Mohammed Ali Choudhury Babu, and Abu Hasan.
Two members will feature in the Under 1500 category:
Nicholas Hardie-Sowash and Dr. Carl Thomas.
Other participants include:
Mo Islam Herok (Major Open)
Armaan Nilim (Atkins category)
Tom Mayers (Weekend AM Congress U1900)
Aviraj Bhadhuri, the young BBCA prodigy and current UK Under-10 Champion, will compete in the Under 10 section.
Support from London Tigers
BBCA expressed its gratitude to Mesba Ahmed MBE of London Tigers for his generous contribution towards the cost of train tickets. Mesba has been a long-time supporter of BBCA, having also sponsored the club’s participation in the 2018 British Chess Championships in Hull.
Multicultural Chess Hub
Founded a decade ago by Bangladeshi expatriate chess enthusiasts, BBCA has since transformed into a vibrant multicultural chess hub, attracting players from various backgrounds, including Japanese, Indian, Kazakhstani, Pakistani, Ugandan, Nigerian, French, Peruvian, Bolivian, and American nationalities.
About the Club
BBCA meets every Sunday from 3 PM to 7 PM for practice and friendly games. New players are always welcome and can attend a few sessions for free before joining. Membership costs only £20 per year, which includes unlimited tea, coffee, and snacks.
The club premises, Tower Hamlets Parents Centre is located close to Whitechapel & Aldgate underground stations and it is easily accessible by underground trains and buses.
(Abu Hasan is the Advisory Editor of Shottobani & also Chief Adviser of BBCA.)