Provable (99% Accurate) Reason for Zia's Death:
Zia's son Tahsin had O-level exams since the beginning of 2024. Since the end of 2023, his son was out of the game because of these exams. Zia believed that a professional player should continue education alongside chess. So, in Dhaka, I organized two Closed GM norm events. Zia participated, but his son didn't, as he was focused on his exams. Later, our friend GM Bui Vinh invited Ziaur Rahman Zia to his closed events in Vietnam in May, but since his son's exams were ending in the first week of June, Zia couldn't participate.
The Tension (Before the 11th Round):
At the beginning of the National Championship, Zia was aiming to join the Olympiad team with his son. For this to happen, his son had to be in the top 5. However, newcomer player Monon Reja Neer (2424, Age 14+) was performing very well and eventually became the champion. Before the last 4 rounds, Neer's placement in the Olympiad team was confirmed. Zia still had a chance to become champion if he won the last 2 rounds and if Monon drew or had the same points. His son's placement in the top 5 could be possible if Zia won against GM Enamul and Tahsin won against IM Shakil in the 12th round. Additionally, if Tahsin won against GM Enamul in the 2nd round, his top 5 placement would be confirmed. They also planned that if Tahsin finished 6th, Zia would become the team manager, and his son would play on the 5th board.
More Tension (After the 11th Round):
My brother, IM Fahad Rahman, was also fighting for the championship. If he had won against GM Enamul, FM Nayem, and in the last round against FM Nasir, he would have had 10.5 points. Monon could score the same if he drew with GM Niaz, Later win last round. However, my brother lost against Enamul due to time pressure, making a blunder in the endgame. This increased Zia's worry because if Fahad had drawn or won, the whole sequence of top 5 placements would have changed.
The Final Moment (Round 12):
GM Enamul offered a draw at the 17th move, but Zia didn't accept and later found a good position. His son was also winning against IM Shakil. However, Tahsin blundered at the 31st move. Zia, moving between his board and his son's board, became more worried. If Tahsin couldn't win or draw, his placement for the 6th position would be at risk. Later, Tahsin got a winning position again, but Zia made his last move and collapsed shortly afterward.
Source: Zia's wife's conversation with my father from the 10th to the 12th round, and from the beginning of the event. My father, who took my brother to the venue, and Zia's wife, who loved chess and couldn't stay away from Zia and Tahsin, waited in the arbiter's room. Zia's conversation before the 11th round was also a source.
Conclusion:
We can say that a father died because he was too worried about his son's career. There is more evidence that he was genuinely concerned about his son's future. In Bangladesh, only Zia pursued chess as his career. His wife had a chance to get a government job in a very good position but left it for her husband. Zia was also a graduate from Dhaka University but became a full-time chess professional. In every chess event, he played with dedication as if he were a young player passionate about becoming a Grandmaster.
Zia's son Tahsin had O-level exams since the beginning of 2024. Since the end of 2023, his son was out of the game because of these exams. Zia believed that a professional player should continue education alongside chess. So, in Dhaka, I organized two Closed GM norm events. Zia participated, but his son didn't, as he was focused on his exams. Later, our friend GM Bui Vinh invited Ziaur Rahman Zia to his closed events in Vietnam in May, but since his son's exams were ending in the first week of June, Zia couldn't participate.
The Tension (Before the 11th Round):
At the beginning of the National Championship, Zia was aiming to join the Olympiad team with his son. For this to happen, his son had to be in the top 5. However, newcomer player Monon Reja Neer (2424, Age 14+) was performing very well and eventually became the champion. Before the last 4 rounds, Neer's placement in the Olympiad team was confirmed. Zia still had a chance to become champion if he won the last 2 rounds and if Monon drew or had the same points. His son's placement in the top 5 could be possible if Zia won against GM Enamul and Tahsin won against IM Shakil in the 12th round. Additionally, if Tahsin won against GM Enamul in the 2nd round, his top 5 placement would be confirmed. They also planned that if Tahsin finished 6th, Zia would become the team manager, and his son would play on the 5th board.
More Tension (After the 11th Round):
My brother, IM Fahad Rahman, was also fighting for the championship. If he had won against GM Enamul, FM Nayem, and in the last round against FM Nasir, he would have had 10.5 points. Monon could score the same if he drew with GM Niaz, Later win last round. However, my brother lost against Enamul due to time pressure, making a blunder in the endgame. This increased Zia's worry because if Fahad had drawn or won, the whole sequence of top 5 placements would have changed.
The Final Moment (Round 12):
GM Enamul offered a draw at the 17th move, but Zia didn't accept and later found a good position. His son was also winning against IM Shakil. However, Tahsin blundered at the 31st move. Zia, moving between his board and his son's board, became more worried. If Tahsin couldn't win or draw, his placement for the 6th position would be at risk. Later, Tahsin got a winning position again, but Zia made his last move and collapsed shortly afterward.
Source: Zia's wife's conversation with my father from the 10th to the 12th round, and from the beginning of the event. My father, who took my brother to the venue, and Zia's wife, who loved chess and couldn't stay away from Zia and Tahsin, waited in the arbiter's room. Zia's conversation before the 11th round was also a source.
Conclusion:
We can say that a father died because he was too worried about his son's career. There is more evidence that he was genuinely concerned about his son's future. In Bangladesh, only Zia pursued chess as his career. His wife had a chance to get a government job in a very good position but left it for her husband. Zia was also a graduate from Dhaka University but became a full-time chess professional. In every chess event, he played with dedication as if he were a young player passionate about becoming a Grandmaster.
RIP GM Rahman.
Everyone else, don’t eat meat or other animal products for your heart health.
Everyone else, don’t eat meat or other animal products for your heart health.
R. I. P. Ziaur Rahman
Rest in peace.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. I am so shocked to hear this.
That's very sad to hear. I remember playing GM Rahman in round 1 of the London Classic 2013 - he confused me with a strange line as white in the trompowsky I think it was, and then subsequently beat me.
Even though we didn't speak, he had a very calm and kind energy, which I believe is partly why I remember that game so strongly. RIP
Even though we didn't speak, he had a very calm and kind energy, which I believe is partly why I remember that game so strongly. RIP
Rest in peace
Bg6
Rest in peace