KARACHI, July 7: Zenobia Wasif won the women’s title in the National Chess Championship which concluded here at the Beach Luxury Hotel on Saturday.

Zenobia regained the title from defending champion Nida Mishraz on a tie-breaker. Both players were tied at the top with 6.5 points apiece.

Zenobia, Nida with mother and daughter pair of Ghazala Shabbir, Fatima Shabbir both from Sindh, and Gulrukh of Punjab earned the right to represent Pakistan in the 40th Chess Olympiad to be held in Istanbul next month.

Meanwhile, Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi, who had already won the men’s event after the 10th round on Friday, was held to a draw by Haseeb Ahmed of Sindh in the 11th and deciding round, as the former mustered ten points with nine wins and two draws in 85-player field of the men’s event.

Anwar Qureshi finished as runner-up after playing the draw with Lodhi in the final round.

By virtue of finishing among the top five, besides Lodhi, Anwar Qureshi, Waqar Ahmed Madni, Haseeb Ahmed and Asif-ur-Rehman also qualified to represent Pakistan in Istanbul.—APP