KARACHI: Pakistan’s Syed Ahmed Ali made an impressive debut in the 41st World Chess Olympiad in Tormso, Norway by winning two and drawing one game after three rounds of the competition.

Ahmed made an amazing start when he held Inter­national MasterJohn Rodgaard from Faroe Isles, having the FIDE ranking of 2361, to a draw in his first round match.

Ahmad chalked his second win in the Olympiad when he defeated Ho Hou-Meng, Herman of Macau.

In his third round match Ahmed defeated FIDE Master Jacek Stachanczyk of IBCA Islands to raise points tally to 2.5 from three games on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s record 14-time national champion Mahmood Lodhi (ranking 2335) went down to IM Helgi Dam Ziska, with international ranking of 2507, in the first round.

But in the second round Lodhi defeated Hui Li of Macau and in third round, he drew with IM Piotr Dukaczewski. After three rounds Pakistan was placed at 77 in the 160-nation competition.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014