LAHORE: The Punjab Open Chess Championship, the province’s biggest chess event, is underway at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex Gymnasium Hall.
The two-day tournament was inaugurated on Friday night by Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, who played an exhibition match against U-12 Punjab Junior Rapid Champion Raja Ihtamur Rehman.
The championship has attracted 350 male and female players from across Punjab.
104 players are competing in the Master category. 108 players are participating in the U-16 boys and
girls category. Over 188 players are showcasing their skills in the Amateur category.
Addressing the ceremony, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar highlighted chess as a game that develops mental skills, patience, and strategic decision-making among youth. He announced the construction of a multi-storey sports complex dedicated to mind games at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex, equipped with modern facilities.
At the end of three rounds in the Master Category, Mohayyidin Gilani, Zuraiz Shabkhaiz, Waqas Dogar, Luqman Baig, Shahbaz Ahmed, Syed Zain Nasir, and Sibt-e-Ali topped the tables with three points each.
In the Amateur category, standout performers included M Umair, Zainur Rehman, Babar Fawad Ahmed, M Sajid, and M Bilal Amjad.
In the U-16 Boys and Girls category, Ayan Tauqeer, Saifur Rahman Muhammad, Chaudhry Yasir Rizwan, and Noor Fatima Rashid impressed with strong performances to advance to the next stage.
