National and international chess player Bilam Lal Shrestha has passed away. Shrestha, who had been actively involved in chess for a long time, was taken to Civil Hospital in Baneshwor on Thursday following a heart attack. However, he passed away before treatment could begin, according to the Chess Federation.
His last competition was the sixth Veterans National Championship, recently held in Dhading. Active in chess for over 30 years, Shrestha won the 19th National Chess Championship at the Sixth National Games held in Sudurpaschim. He represented Nepal in the 36th Chess Olympiad (Italy), the 39th Chess Olympiad (Spain), and the 41st Chess Olympiad (Uzbekistan).
He also participated in the Doha Asian Games, the Dubai Nations Cup, and the Asian Cities Championship in Indonesia, as well as international tournaments in the USA, Bangladesh, India, and France, among other places. The treasurer of the Nepal Chess Federation, Tara Bahadur Ranabhat, draped the national flag over Shrestha’s body as a mark of respect. His final rites were conducted on Thursday at Pashupati Aryaghat.
