Thank god Kasparov has retired, but he is tops in chess: Nigel Short

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,


The ever-witty, maverick grandmaster Nigel Short was in Pakistan the other day as honourary guest at the Pakistan National Championships. (Read the report on www.chessblog.com.) We picked up some nice quotes given by the British chess player to Pakistan press. 

• I had a couple of celebratory drinks before reaching here
• I love to travel and the game has taken me to many countries. Pakistan is the 98th country that I have visited so far.
• Chess has a 1,500-year history in the subcontinent. India today is a big chess powerhouse with strong players and Viswanathan Anand as the world champion, but I was wondering about what was going on with chess in Pakistan.
• Players like Shahzad and Lodhi have given the game recognition here. Now Pakistan should look towards the younger generation to take this game to higher levels. All you need is a bit of money and a few willing people to see the talent flourish here
• (On if there was money in chess as compared to cricket or tennis) Well, I just won 25,000 pounds at the Gibraltar Masters. Chess won’t make you rich, but it’s not so bad either. Plus world championships are worth over a million dollars.
• (On most interesting opponent) Gary Kasparov - That man has tortured me more than anyone. Thank God he has retired now. But he is tops! You can’t go up and challenge a chess champion just like that. There is a meritocracy that has you going through a process in Britain. I kept playing and winning at the zonal level to come up and finally be able to face the champion.
• (On most difficult match) Against Anatoli Karpov in 1992 in Spain. “He was the champion for 10 long years from 1975 to 1985 and I defeated him.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Wasim Akram wins Pakistan national chess title

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,

There is change of guard in the chess world in Pakistan. National Master Wasim Akram dethroned International Master Mahmood Lodhi and clinched the PCPA Chess Championship for Zahiruddin Trophy which concluded here at Hotel Beach Luxury on Sunday.

The Lahore-based Wasim, ranked number three in Pakistan, beat defending champion, Mahmood Lodhi, in the third round and maintained his lead for the remaining rounds. Playing at the top table, Wasim was held to a draw in his eighth and final round by talented Faraz Saleem but it was enough to earn him the title. Lodhi also played a draw with Mohammad Waqar in the final round and finished runner-up with 6.5 points.
“Winning my first title and defeating Lodhi were my dreams that have finally been fulfilled now,” said Wasim Akram. 

British Grandmaster Nigel Short was the chief guest at the prize-distribution ceremony. 

Hunaeed Hameed and Hammad Ahmed shared the top honours in the youth category with Urooj Yamin, Rafay Siddiqui and Fatima Shabbir taking the next three positions and Afshan Bano finishing sixth.

Short said Pakistan was a ‘Sleeping Giant” in chess. “With greater activities and competitions like these, the standard of chess can be raised in Pakistan. You have the talent. All you need is to let your young guns in particular get the desired exposure,” he advised.
Short, who also held a simul with 15 kids complimented the Pakistan Chess Players Association (PCPA) for conducting the Zahiruddin Trophy.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Pakistan national chess championship begins; Nigel Short to hold special simul

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

More chess news from the Pakistan national chess championship. Defending champion and favourite Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi got his second successive win in the 2nd PCPA Open Chess Championship for Zahiruddin Farooqui Trophy being held in Karachi, Pakistan. Lodhi’s two main challengers, National Masters Wasim Akram and Tanvir Gilani, both of them also from Punjab, also remained in the hunt for the trophy by registering second victory in as many games. 

The fancied quartet of Mohammad Waqar, Haseeb Ahmed, Asadullah Khan and Syed Wahid Ali has also earned a couple of points by winning both their games. However, two other National Masters Aziz Farooqi and Anwar Qureshi were held to draw by their opponents Israr Hussain and Nadeem Aziz respectively.

International Master and national champion Lodhi, hailing from Gujranwala, was given a run for his money in the 75-minute encounter by the dangerous Raees Ahmed Anasri before gaining his second point in the 8-round competition being played on Swiss league basis.

National women champion, Nida Mishraz, playing in the open tournament, suffered her second defeat going down to Younus Malghani from Balochistan. Having flown in from London to take part in the event after the Gibralter Open, she had lost to Mohammad Waqar in the opening round. Sisters Misbah Yamin and Urooj Yamin won their second round matches. A total of 67 players are featuring in the four-day competition which will be concluding on Sunday (tomorrow).

Grandmaster Nigel Short arrives today
British grandmaster Nigel Short will arrive in Karachi today and appear at the championship to play exhibition matches against the top junior players, according to PCPA Secretary Shehzad Mirza.
“It’s an initiative to promote chess,” Mirza told The Express Tribune. “Short’s not charging anything for the appearances.”

Results:

First round: Mahmood Lodhi bt Mohammad Shahid; Tanvir Gilani bt Zaheen Shahzad; Wasim Akram bt Asif Majeed; Anwar Qureshi bt Salahuddin; Mohammad Waqar bt Nida Mishraz; Aziz Farooqui bt Zafar Ahmed; Asadullah Khan bt Usman Farooq; Wahid Hussain bt Israr-ul-Haq; Khurram Qureshi bt Imtiaz Ahmed; Riasat Ali bt Haseen-ur-Rahman; Al Haj Mahmood drew with Shamsuddin Hai; Jahangir Ahmed bt Mohammad Yamin; Asif Abbasi bt Uzair Rasheed.

Second round: Mahmood Lodhi bt Raees Ahmed Ansari; Tanvir Gilani bt Muhammad Ramzan; Syed Wahid Hususain bt Imrtiazul Haq; Asadullah Khan bt Akhtar Hussain; Mohammad Waqar bt Faraz Saleem; Younus Malghani bt Nida Mishraz; Wasim Akram bt Tafseer Ahmed.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com