National Chess Championship Begins in Islamabad
By Nawaz Gohar: The 35th Men’s and 10th Women’s National Chess Championship got underway in Islamabad on Friday, bringing together more than 250 chess players from across the country.
The six-day championship is being held at Rodham Hall, Pakistan Sports Complex. The event was formally inaugurated by Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mohyuddin Wani.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, along with Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Yawar Hussain and Pakistan Chess Federation President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, officially launched the championship by making the ceremonial opening move on the chessboard.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Chess Federation President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi said that chess is gaining immense popularity among Pakistan’s youth and remains an important part of the country’s cultural heritage.
He said the federation’s next major objective is to organize chess tournaments at the school level to promote the game from the grassroots and encourage greater student participation. The National Chess Championship will continue for the next six days at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad
