IM Abu Sufian, Shakil: A Journey of Passion

The Hetauda Cup Asian Open Chess Tournament 2023 witnessed a thrilling clash of intellects, with 74 participants from 4 federations competing fiercely. Subhayan Kundu, with a formidable rating of 2393, emerged triumphant, securing 7.5/9 points through 6 wins and 3 draws. Eager to pursue the coveted IM title, Subhayan Kundu's journey promises exciting prospects.

In this blog, we take you beyond the chessboard as we delve into an exclusive interview with IM Abu Sufian, Shakil, who not only showcased his skills in the tournament, finishing 6th, but also immersed himself in the beauty of Nepal, offering insights into his experiences, thoughts on chess, and his delightful time spent in this enchanting country. Join us in exploring the mind and experiences of this chess maestro.

Dipesh: Hello Abu Sufian, Shakil! Welcome to Nepal. Could you please tell us about your visit this time? 

Abu Sufian, Shakil: I must say this is one of my best tours ever. I always love to come to Nepal, not only for chess events but also for the beauty of this country. And I never regret it. 

What do you like about Nepal?

What I like most about Nepal is its people. I have some Nepali friends here. I feel so loved when I am around them.

Shakil, you are known to the chess world as an International Master and National Coach of Bangladesh, but beyond all of that, who is Abu Sufian, Shakil?

I have a lot of desire. Beyond all of that, who am I? I’m still trying to figure it out.

What is Your First Memory of Chess?

When I was 10 or 11 years old, I played in a local chess event and became the champion. It inspired me to play more chess events.

Who taught you how to play chess, and when did you learn to play?

My father taught me to play chess. I played thousands of games with my father. I was around 8 or 9 years old when I learned to play Chess.

Who are your favorite chess players, and what do you admire about them?

Bobby Fisher was my favorite chess player when I first started playing. I liked his craziness; it gave me a lot of excitement. But later, Mikhail Tal became my favorite; chess became far more interesting watching Tal's games. Now, my favorite player is definitely Magnus Carlsen. I really love his game and attitude.

What is it like to travel to different countries to play in a chess tournament?

Traveling to different countries, knowing different cultures, and making friendships with different people is my passion. Chess gives me this opportunity; that's why I'm grateful to the chess community.

What do you do to prepare for these chess tournaments?

It depends on which tournament I'm playing. But mostly I prepare against my opponents during the tournament.

What was one of your proudest chess games and What is your greatest achievement?

There are many, but I like one game, which I played against GM Dibyendu Barua from India at the 2001 Asian Zonal Championship. After the win against him, I got the FM title. But my greatest achievement is that I finished jointly 2nd in the Asian Zonal Chess Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and got the IM title.

How did you get involved in doing chess coaching?

In 2006, I got a government job with our National Sports Council as a chess coach. After that, I'm getting involved as a chess trainer, and I'm enjoying my job.

What are some major life lessons you have learned from chess?

Very good question. I learned a lot from chess. First of all, chess was always fun for me. I have chosen chess spontaneously as my career. That was a very difficult decision at the time. I had no idea if I would be given a title or even a job. Now I'm happy that I stuck to my decision. So, as in life, if you do something spontaneous for yourself, you will never regret it. Life is also fun; don't take it seriously. Secondly, when my students ask me which opening I should play, I always suggest they choose the opening that they like to play and which one suits them. In life, too, you have to choose your path on your own. And finally, in chess, we have to know many rules and many theories. But when situations come, you have to decide which is the demand in that situation. If some decisions break the general rules, you have to break them. So in life, if you live a routine life, there is no joy. That's why it is said, "The golden rule of life is that there are no rules.". I should mention one more important similarity between chess and life. In chess, a lot of complicated positions happen. But different-level players solve the problem differently. The position is the same, but how to deal with it depends on your capacity. In life, there are so many challenging situations, and how to deal with them depends on your caliber. If you want to find the best move in chess, you have to improve your calculation ability and your understanding of chess. So in life, if you want to deal with different situations, you have to improve your intelligence or know yourself. Your understanding of life changes with your way of living.

"Psychological challenges are well-known in chess." Have you ever doubted your ability to play at a certain level or overcome a particular opponent in your career? How did you conquer such doubts, and what advice do you have for young players who may face similar difficulties?

Chess is a psychological game. Your nerves have to be very strong to make a decision in a decisive moment. And also, you need to be physically fit. I think doing meditation and yoga is very helpful to overcome this situation. But you know, saying something is very easy. Intellectual understanding can't help in this matter. If someone realizes that this is nothing more than a fun game and enjoys playing this beautiful game, I think he or she can overcome this problem.

Your favorite chess books as a player and as a coach?

• My 60 Memorable Games by Bobby Fischer
• Life and Games of Mikhail Tal by Mikhail Tal  
• Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual by Mark Dvoretsky
• Artur Yosupov Chess Book Series (Build up your chess, Boost your Chess & Chess Evolution)

Which chess books do you recommend for aspiring players?

I recommend the Arthur Yosupov Chess Book Series to aspiring players.

Why do you love chess?

I don't know. Love can't be explained 😅. - IM Abu Sufian, Shakil

Can you share some specific experiences or moments from your recent visit to Nepal that stood out to you?

Yes, of course. At Hetauda during the tournament, I met some Nepali friends: Sushrut Dahal, Chaulagain Purushottam, Rupesh Jaiswal, and Mishan Baskota, and after a long time, my Sri Lankan friend WIM Sachini Ranasinghe. After coming back to Kathmandu, we had a lot of fun. Those buddies made my trip unforgettable. We have been in many places. Every moment was precious.

As the National Chess Coach of Bangladesh, what initiatives or strategies have you implemented to promote and develop chess in your country?

Every year I do the "Chess Talent Hunt Program" at the grassroots level in different districts in our country. This project is organized by the National Sports Council itself. It was started in 2010 and is still going on. Many players from the grassroots level have become top players in the country due to this talent hunt program. But my best work in promoting chess in Bangladesh was the "Marks Active School Chess Champs 2022." It was a nationwide school team chess event. This tournament was organized in 64 districts of our country, and around 30000 students from the country participated in it. I worked as the main planner and chief coordinator of this tournament.

Who were your mentors or role models in the world of chess, and how have they influenced your playing style and coaching approach?

I learned chess from my father. He supported me as much as he could. So he is indefinitely my chess mentor. Besides that, I learned many things from different levels of players. I can't name a specific one.

How do you perceive the evolution of chess over the years, especially with the rise of technology and online platforms? How has this impacted the way you approach the game and coaching?

It impacts a lot. Chess is not played like it was before. There are some pros and cons. The good thing is that learning chess is very easy now. Chess materials are readily available. If you are interested, you can improve your chess on your own. Before, it was too difficult. But the bad thing is that technology has replaced creativity.

Balancing your role as a player and a coach can be challenging. How do you manage your time and responsibilities to excel both as a player and as a coach?

Yes, it is challenging. Now I don't play as professionally as before. Now I focus on training and, especially, organizing chess events. And I love to do it. I have chosen chess because I love to play. Now I love to teach chess and organize. If you do what you love, then there is no responsibility.

What advice do you have for aspiring chess players who may also be interested in coaching?

If they are interested in chess training, they can read books by renounced chess trainers and find their way to teach chess. But one thing you have to remember is to make chess very interesting to your students. Make it fun. Otherwise, it doesn't work.

How do you engage with the local chess community when you visit different countries for tournaments? Are there specific activities or events you like to participate in to connect with chess enthusiasts and fans?

It depends on their interests. If the local chess community wants me to spread chess, I always support them.

There's a growing trend of incorporating chess into educational curriculum around the world. What are your thoughts on the benefits of chess in education, and do you see it as a tool for cognitive development?

Of course, chess should be used as a tool for cognitive development. It has already been proven that chess has many benefits. It develops our memory, intellectual ability to think, decision-making skills, patience, social development, and many more. I already told you about my school team event. I intented to popularize chess in school. The school infrastructure is very suitable for chess. You just need some chess sets and clocks to run chess in school. If we can  involve schools in chess activities, then I think chess's popularity will grow rapidly. I forgot to mention that I already used a one-of-a-kind system in our school team event. And that is the home-and-away system. At the district level, we choose the top 8 teams for the next level. The tournament will be held in the school's auditorium on a home-and-away basis. That system created huge popularity among other students who were not involved in chess.

What are your future goals in both playing and coaching chess? Are there specific tournaments or achievements you are aiming for in the coming years?

As a player, I don't have any goals. I just carry on playing because I still love to play chess. I'm working on school chess, which I already mentioned. Now my goal is to popularize chess in our country through schools.

As we conclude this insightful journey into the world of chess with IM Abu Sufian, Shakil, we hope you've enjoyed gaining a glimpse into his experiences, passion, and wisdom.