LAHORE - The Pakistan’s premier 29th National Chess Championship 2014 is set to commence here from April 25.
The championship will be an 11-round event played on Swiss League basis which will be featured by 96 players who performed well in their provincial zones and booked berth for the national event. Defending champion IM Mahmood Lodhi faces a tough challenge from his younger compatriots this year.
Other events and activities on the side lines of the championship have been spread out on different locations in the historical city. The inauguration ceremony and meetings of technical delegates will take place at a local hotel. The Hall No 2 of the International School of Arts has been earmarked as the main playing area which is situated on the banks of the serene Lahore Canal.
The championship is spread on six days to be played till April 30. On the next day after the closing ceremony, Pakistan Chess Federation secretary Dr Naeem will inaugurate a series of tournaments for selection of players for 2014 National Junior Chess Championship due to take place in May. The first tournament of the series will take place in Karachi.  This is the second premier event of the year after the successful completion of the 4th National Women Chess Championship on March 30. The 29th National Chess Championship shall also serve the purpose as a selection tournament for World Chess Olympiads at Tromso, Norway in August 2014.