‘Paid for risky play' against Ivanchuk: IM Fahad

International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman, country's chess prodigy, returned home on Tuesday after competing in his third FIDE World Cup, held in India. Having previously faced elite opponents such as Anish Giri (2019) and Daniele Vocaturo (2022), the 21-year-old made headlines this time by drawing against legendary Ukrainian grandmaster Vasyl Ivanchuk. In an interview with The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman, Fahad reflected on his World Cup lessons and the road to GM title and more; the excerpts of which are as follows:

The Daily Star (DS): You drew against Ivanchuk in the second game after losing the first. How do you rate your performance?

Mohammad Fahad Rahman (MFR): I think I did better than in my previous World Cups. The plan was to win with white and draw with black since Ivanchuk's white openings are very strong. I played well in the first game but took too much risk and had to pay the price. If I had held a draw there, I would've had a play-off chance to reach the second round.

DS: What were your expectations heading into the tournament?

MFR: My preparation was brief but guided by Russian GM Peter Kiriakov, who planned my strategy. The goal was to reach the second round, which I felt was achievable since I've beaten GMs rated above 2650 and drawn with players over 2700. Advancing meant more to me than just getting a draw.

DS: Were you nervous facing a legend like Ivanchuk?

MFR: Not as much as before. I learned about my opponent only a few days before leaving for India and didn't know which colour I'd play until the draw. I was a bit tense in the first game, but in the second, I played freely and without pressure.

DS: How does the World Cup compare to other tournaments?

MFR: It's much tougher because it's knockout -- you can't recover from a bad game, unlike in nine-round Swiss events. We don't often play in this format, so it's harder to prepare for. Still, I enjoy the atmosphere. You meet familiar faces and can even ask top players for advice -- they're very open and supportive. I'd rate the Chess Olympiad slightly higher for its overall atmosphere, but the World Cup is far more competitive.

DS: Any standout memories from your World Cup appearances?

MFR: Yes, during my first World Cup, I analysed my game with Anish Giri afterwards. I was quite young then, and his analytical depth really impressed me. He even posted on Instagram that I'd played well against him, which top players rarely do. That was special.

DS: You narrowly missed winning the National Championship before travelling to India. Did that affect you?

MFR: Not really. I was leading until the 11th round but slipped in the last two. Finishing runner-up four times in a row was disappointing, but I try not to dwell on past results.

DS: You still need two norms to become a Grandmaster. What's next?

MFR: I earned my first GM norm in April 2024, but my HSC exams kept me away from tournaments for over five months. I missed the second norm by just half a point in Hungary. Now that exams are done, I want to refocus on chess and aim to complete both norms by 2026.

I've been funding my overseas tournaments myself, which isn't easy -- it may take around Tk 20 lakh to compete abroad in 2026. Any sponsorship support would be a big help.

DS: What are your immediate plans?

MFR: I'm preparing for the Leonine GM Tournament starting Friday (November 14) in Dhaka. If I can secure a GM norm there, I'll go for the final one in an open tournament. Otherwise, I plan to play in Vietnam in December. My goal is to become Bangladesh's sixth Grandmaster.