KARACHI - Invincible national champion Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi who had remained unchallenged for the last twelve years is expected to clinch the Pakistan Chess Players Association championship which begins here Thursday (today) at a local hotel.
The championship jointly hosted by the newly formed PCPA and the Mind Sports Association of Pakistan has been dedicated to the name of Pakistan’s former top chess star Zahiruddin Farooqui. The winner will get the trophy and the winner’s cash prize of Rs. 50,000.
Dr MA Shah will formally inaugurate the four day event which has attracted sixty top players of the country.
Late Zahiruddin Farooqi's son Raees Ahmed Farooqi has flown from London to watch the event at the invitation of PCPA.
A handsome purse of Rs.200,000 will up for grab in the competition. The winner will get Rs.50,000 while runner-up Rs.30,000 and third position holder Rs. 20,000. Winners among the top 16 will receive cash prizes.
Pakistan's chess legend and 12-time National Champion Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi will be defending his crown in the 4-day competition which comprised of eight rounds will be played on rapid chess format. Other IM to take part in the event included Shahzad Mirza.
National Masters to be seen in action included Tanveer Gilani, Wasim Akram, M Anwar Qureshi, M Waqar, Haseeb Ahmed, Aziz Farooqi, Asadullah Khan and Syed Wahid Ali.
Pakistan number three Wasim Akram and Tanvir Gilani both from Punjab and Olympian M Waqar will be main challenger to Mahmood Lodhi.
Lodhi, 51-year-old veteran star, is all prepared and ready to assert his supremacy in the competition. Besides the men, four ladies including National Champion Nida Mishraz, Mrs. Ghazala Shabbir and sisters Ms Misbah Yamin and Urooj Yamin will be taking part in the championship.
Former Secretary of CFP Shah Nawaz Khan has been appointed as Chief Arbitrator by PCPA. Pakistan number two Aamir Karim will be missing the  event because of exams.
Grandmaster Dr Nigel Short will be visiting Pakistan to witness the event. Dr Nigel Short was a challenger to World Chess Champion Garry Kasprov would be playing simultaneous chess game with 12 children, who will be picked from International Student Educational Olympiad.
The event is being staged to pay tribute to late Zahiruddin Farooqi, who won the national title four-times and represented Pakistan in many international event including Chess Olympiad in Nice (France).
Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP) Director Tariq Rasheed Khan has joined hands with PCPA for the promotion and development of chess in the country.