03 February 2005	Thursday	23 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Feb 2: International Master (IM) Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi and National Masters (NM) Aziz Farooqui and Muhammad Waqar secured their third point in the 27th Friendship House chess championship at Russian Cultural Centre on Tuesday.

NM Aziz Farooqi chalked out his third win by outwitting another NM Sabir Khan while Waqar outmanoeuvred Rahat Ali. Record ten-time national champion Mahmood Lodhi, who is featuring in the event for the first time, got a walkover against Haseeb Ahmed.

IM Shahzad Mirza who was held to a draw by Sindh champion Muhammad Younus, collected full point when he defeated Noman Mustufa to raise his tally to two and a half points. Younus shared another point by playing a draw with NM Asad Rampuri to attract attention of chess pundits.

In the category 'B' Waheed Ahmed and Muhammad Anwar Khan picked their third points while in 'C' Awwad Shahzad son of Shahzad Mirza collected his third point by overcoming Kamran Imam.

RESULTS: Aziz Farooqi bt Sabir Khan, Shahzad Mirza bt Noman Mustufa, Khalid Zafar bt S R Zaidi, Akhtar Hussain bt Shahzad Ahmed, Imtiaz Ahmed bt Asif Abbasi, Asad Rampuri drew with Muhammad Younus, R A Nazim drew with Faraz Salim.

LEADERS AFTER 3RD ROUND:

CATEGORY 'A': 3 POINTS: Mahmood, Aziz, M Waqar; 2.5 points: Shahzad Mirza; 2 points: Sabir Khan, Rahat Haseeb Ahmed, Noman Mustufa, Imtiaz Ahmed, Akhtar Hussain and Muhammad Younus.

CATEGORY 'B': 3 POINTS: Waheed Ahmed, M Anwar Khan; 2 points: Prince Jamil, Arshad Ali.

CATEGORY 'C': 3 POINTS: Awwad Shahzad. -APP