KARACHI: Legendary chess player Mahmood Lodhi will represent Pakistan in the 3.2 Asian Zonal Chess Championship scheduled to be held from Feb 2 to 9 in Colombo.

The event will serve as qualifying rounds for the World Chess Championship slated for September in Batumi (Georgia).

Being reigning and record 13-time national chess champion, international master Mahmood Lodhi has been nominated by the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) to feature in the championship.

Besides five grand masters from Bangladesh, players from Pakistan, Nepal and Maldives will also be taking part in the eight-day contest which will consist of 11 rounds.At the end of the regional qualifying rounds, top two players will earn the right to participate in the world championship.—APP