The 35th Men's and 10th Women's National Chess Championship officially commenced in Islamabad on Friday, drawing more than 250 competitors from across Pakistan for a six-day tournament of strategic gameplay.
Inauguration and Dignitaries
The championship was inaugurated by Federal Secretary for IPC Mohyuddin Wani. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin, DG Pakistan Sports Board Yawar Hussain, and Pakistan Chess Federation (PCF) President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi also attended the opening ceremony, making the ceremonial first move.
Growing Popularity of Chess
Addressing the ceremony, PCF President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi stated that chess continues to grow rapidly among Pakistan’s youth and remains an integral part of the country’s sporting and cultural heritage. He added that the federation plans to expand the game’s reach by introducing school-level competitions to strengthen grassroots development and encourage greater student participation.
