The 34th National Men’s Chess Championship and the 10th National Women’s Chess Championship concluded at the Pakistan Sports Complex, with Zaman Sohail and Fariha Siddiq emerging as the national champions after impressive performances.
The championships, organized by the Chess Federation of Pakistan, featured around 250 male and female players from across the country competing in various categories.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry attended the closing ceremony as chief guest and distributed trophies, medals, certificates and cash prizes among the winners.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said Pakistan’s international standing was steadily improving and its diplomatic stature had strengthened globally. He highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting sports, identifying young talent and providing greater opportunities for athletes.
Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also praised Chess Federation of Pakistan President Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi for his contributions to sports, expressing confidence that the federation would continue to promote chess and enhance Pakistan’s presence in international competitions.
In the men’s championship, Higher Education Commission (HEC) player Zaman Sohail secured the national title with five points. Punjab’s M. Zarwaiz Shabkhaiz finished second with 4.5 points, while HEC’s A.R. Akhtar claimed third place on the basis of a tie-break after also scoring 4.5 points.
In the women’s championship, Punjab’s Fariha Siddiq remained unbeaten throughout the event to win the national title with 10.5 points. Zainobia Wasif finished runner-up with nine points, while Javeria secured third position with eight points. Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani congratulated the Chess Federation of Pakistan on successfully organizing the championships and assured continued government support for the promotion of chess.
Member of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar announced a cash award of Rs100,000 for special athlete Saeeba Shah and Rs25,000 for the oldest participant of the championship.
Senator Nuzhat Sadiq and MNA Farah Naz Akbar also appreciated the federation’s efforts in promoting chess and encouraging young talent. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of awards to the winning players, while Chess Federation of Pakistan President Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi thanked the distinguished guests, participants, officials and media representatives for contributing to the successful staging of the national championships.