Mahmood Lodhi is Pakistan National Chess Champion 2014

Hello Chess Blog friends,

Here's more chess news from South East Asia... Lahore, from Pakistan to be specific. The country's national chess champion successfully defended his title this week. Mahmood Lodhi won the the 29th National Chess Championship 2014 that concluded on Wednesday.

Lodhi required just a draw in the last round to take the title and he did so by drawing Anwar Qureshi. The top players from the event will play the upcoming Chess Olympiad for Pakistan in Norway.

Pakistan spotted new chess stars in young Syed Ahmad Ali and M Bin Nasir. Two women players also took part in the event.

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Turkey-Pakistan in Chess Pact for Friendly Chess Exchange

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

Hi everyone,

The Turkish Chess Federation (TCF) and Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP) have signed an agreement for promotion and development of chess in Pakistan. Both countries will be playing an annual chess series in Turkey and Pakistan. Besides, TCF will also help Pakistan in coaching and training during their visit to that country. The agreement was signed by TCF Chief Ali Nihat Yazici, who is also a Vice President of World Chess Federation (FIDE), and Director Tariq Rasheed Khan on behalf of Chairman Khurshid Hadi, who is in London.

“Pakistan is a brotherly country and we would be looking forward to their progress in chess with our assistance”, Ali Nihat Yazici, said in a statement. As per the agreement, a 10-member team of men and women with an official will be visiting each other’s country with the host country providing board and lodging and transport during their stay in the country.

“We are absolutely delighted with this agreement,” Tariq said while releasing the details of the agreement on Tuesday. Turkey has over 30 Grandmasters (GM), dozens of International Masters (IM), five foreign coaches and 60,000 chess teachers in schools. “It’s a major breakthrough for us as Turkey is a highly rated country in the world of chess. Exposure against their players will help us in greatly improving our game,” said Mahmood Lodhi, Pakistan’s record 13-time national champion and an IM. “Regularly playing against top Turkish players may help me realise my dream of reaching the GM level,” Lodhi said. IM Shahzad Mirza, who is also a former Secretary General, Chess Federation of Pakistan, said India, Iran, Turkey and Bangladesh had many GMs, but Pakistan had failed to produce one in the last 15 years.

“This agreement for visits of chess teams on yearly basis will provide significant push to the game of chess in Pakistan,” he said.

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Wasim Akram leads Pakistan national chess event

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

Hi everyone,

More chess news from Pakistan. National chess master and Pakistan No 3 Wasim Akram caused a major upset in the 2nd Pakistan Chess Players Association (PCPA) Open Chess Championship Zahiruddin Farooqui Trophy underway at Beach Luxury Hotel when he beat defending champion Mahmood Lodhi in the the event’s fourth round.

Four times national champion and Pakistan No 2 Tanveer Gilani also fell into difficulties against national master Asad Rampuri. Asad was in a better position against his counterpart but failed in maneuvering his pieces correctly before losing the game. But Tanveer’s joy was short-lived as Lodhi beat him in 57 moves in the fifth round to bounce back in the event.

Wasim Akram leads with five points, Mahmood Lodhi and Pakistan No 34 Khurram Qureshi were tied for the second spot with four points, No 10 Riasat Ali Nazim, No 8 Syed Wahid Hussain and No 4 Anwar Qureshi, Tanveer Gilani, Jahangir Ahmed and Asif Abbasi are tied at third position with 3.5 points.

The third day’s matches were watched by visiting British Grandmaster Nigel Short who is a guest-of-honour at the event. “I wouldn’t object to coaching in Pakistan if given an offer if you can find sponsorship to arrange that. I wouldn’t have the slightest problem with that,” he said.

The grandmaster would be playing chess with 12 young players of the country. Read further here.

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Pakistan national chess championship begins Feb 2; GM Nigel Short to hold simuls at event

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

Hello everyone,

Here is update about some chess news from Pakistan. Pakistan’s top player for the last many years and the reigning national champion Mahmood Lodhi will defend his title in the second edition of PCPA Chess Championship for the Zahiruddin Farooqui Trophy due to staged at a local hotel from February 2 to 5.

The four-day event, being organised by the Pakistan Chess Players Association (PCPA) with the collaboration of the Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP), was launched with a media briefing at the Karachi Club on Thursday.

The details of the championship, dedicated to the late Zahiruddin Farooqui, who excelled in chess as well as bridge, were unveiled by Hanif Qureshi, Chairman PCPA, and Tariq Rasheed Khan, Director MSAP, who is tipped to be elected as the Vice Chairman of the chess body in its elections on February 4.

International Master Shahzad Mirza also spoke on the occasion.He said British Grandmaster Nigel Short will be attending the event to hold simultaneous display against the top performers of the International Students Olympiads.

The championship will be carrying a prize money of Rs 1,25,000 (about $2500) with the winner to take home a purse of Rs 25,000 (about $500).

There will be special prizes for top two unrated, women and student players. The cash prizes will be disbursed among the top 16 players of the event to be contested on Swiss League eight-round system. Each player will be allocated 55 minutes in every round. The last date for entry is January 30.

The championship will get underway at 4 pm on February 2 with the opening round and will conclude with the eighth round on February 5. Speaking on the occasion, defending champion Lodhi expressed his keen desire to become the country’s first Grand Master.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

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