The Leonine GM Chess Tournament makes its comeback after 21 years, once again offering local talents a platform to pursue Grand Master (GM) and International Master (IM) norms. The third edition begins Saturday at the Leonine Chess Club in Dhanmondi, which last hosted the event in 2004, when GM Abdullah Al Rakib earned one of his three GM norms.

This year's round-robin tournament features 10 players, including three GMs from Bangladesh, Vietnam and Uzbekistan, along with four IMs and three FMs. IM Fahad Rahman, IM Manon Reza Neer, FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia -- who has completed IM norms but lacks rating points-- and IM Abu Sufian Shakil will all be vying for GM norms, requiring at least seven points from nine rounds. FM Sakline Sajid aims to secure an IM norm with 5.5 points.

At a press conference on Friday, the club's general secretary Manzur Hossain Jimmu announced that a total prize purse of US$1,000 will be awarded, with the champion earning US$500, the runner-up US$300, and third place US$200.