KARACHI, May 5: International chess Master Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi is due to leave for Bangladesh on Thursday to participate in an international event to be held at Dhaka from May 7 to 15.

The invitation to Lodhi has been sent by Bangladesh Chess Federation for 11-round contest. Besides the Pakistan, Grand Masters and International Masters from India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Uzbekistan, China and some other Asian countries are likely to take part.

Lodhi, who finished 9th in an international chess meet held in Mumbai few week back said that on his return from Dhaka, he would be defending his national crown in the National chess championship scheduled to be held at Lahore from May 23 to 29. Gujranwala-based Lodhi had won the national crown for a record 11 consecutive-time. -APP