KARACHI, July 8: Five players Waqar Ahmed Madni, Mohammad Zahid, Asif-ur-Rehman, Riasat Ali Nazim and Raees Ahmed Anasri were promoted as National Masters at the presentation ceremony of the National Chess Championship on Saturday evening.

Waqar and Zahid, both from Pakistan Railways, along with the Sindh trio of Asif, Riasat, and Raees finished amongst the top eight in the championships.

International Master Mahmood Lodhi won the title for a record 13th time and was presented the glittering trophy and cheque of Rs50,000 by the chief guest, Sindh Secretary for Youth Affairs Shoaib Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Zenobia Wasif, the winner in the women’s category, received the trophy along with a prize purse of Rs30,000.

The outgoing president of Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) Altar Chaudhry, additional collector Customs Khalil Yousufani, CFP secretary Saleem Khan, Sindh Chess Association president Mohammad Aslam, vice-president Samar Hussain and secretary Mohammad Wasif were also present on the occasion.

Altaf Chaudhry said that there was a lot to be done for developing and promoting chess and there was a need for promoting the game at junior levels.

“The CFP will be holding its elections next month,” he said. “I hope that the next office-bearer will promote chess on the right lines.”—APP