Pakistan's Prospects at the Chess Olympiad: Round 1
Pakistan
Bulgaria
The 45th Chess Olympiad is underway in Budapest.
My Home country, Pakistan, is also participating in this competition. Naturally, I thought it simple to choose between My upcoming Trompowsky guide and this topic. It is fitting to review all the games and see what takeaways we got from them. Before we start, let us take a look at the players sent from the men's side.
Mafaaz Khalid
Probably the best player out there, Khalid, who hails from Karachi, won the recent national championship, upsetting Fide Master Amer Karim in the process. He is not titled though!
Fide Master Amer Karim
The OG of Pakistan chess. He attained the FIDE master title long ago and faced against the top players of the world, including GM Nigel Short.
Momin Fayzan
Another National Master from Sindh, he finished in the top 5 in the latest national chess championship. The best thing is he was born in 2004 and still has a whole future of chess ahead of him. Definitely a talent for the future. He also upsetted Amer Karim in the nationals.
Mudasir Iqbal and Muhammad Luqman also managed to secure their berth and attain the National Master title.
Women's Team
Sehba Shah
Probably The Biggest Success Story in chess of this year, Sehba Shah has shocked the chess scene in Pakistan. She was unrated because of lack of opportunities in Pakistan regarding chess, she even needed an assistant to help her physically move pieces. She needed help to take the five hour long journey to Islamabad from Lahore. And she won the whole tournament, becoming Women's national master in the process and securing the berth to the FIDE olympiad. Definitely the most wholesome and deserving story out there. She will also be receiving assistance from FIDE in helping her move pieces.
Mehak Gul
Another Chess prodigy, Mehak Gul is now a FIDE WCM. Mehak Gul is already known as a good player in the Pakistani chess scene and her securing of the berth is no surprise at all.
Sehrish
Not much is known about them, however they finished at a high spot in this nationals.
Ayat Asmi
This is probably the surprise selection of the whole bunch. She is only 12 and rated 1451 as of now, but still managed to surprise everyone and finish in the high spots in these nationals. Its good to see prodigies emerging and representing Pakistan at the global stage.
Zenobia Wasif
Another player who finished quite high at the national games. She is 60 years, and quite an experienced player in the chess scene in Pakistan. She also has the title of woman candidate master.
The Team Arriving in Budapest. Non playing members include Shujaat Ali and Hanif Qureshi.
Pakistan were paried against Bulgaria in round one, which included titled players. Lets take a look at the men's team.
Board 1: National Master Mfaaz Khalid vs GM Ivan Cheparinov
The Game opens off really well with an equal Berlin Defense, Ruy Lopez. But again this is against a Grandmaster and one small mistake can determine the game.
Board 2: Fide Master Amer Karim vs Grandmaster Martin Petrov
Board 3: Momin Fayzan vs GM Petkov Momchill
White completely Outplayed Black in this game.
Board 4, Mudassar Iqbal vs GM Grigor Grigorov
Pakistan Women Faced The Colombia Women's team
Let us take a look
Board 1: Sehba Shah vs WIM Ingris Rivera
Easy Win for Black
Board 2: WCM Zenobia Wasif vs Valentina Heredia
Board 3: WCM Mehak Gul vs Jenny Castiblanco
Board 4: Ayat Asmi vs Isabella Rayo
Unfortunately Pakistan lost both team matches against both their respective teams, but I am hopeful for a Victory in the future. The men's team will face Qatar next, while The women's team will take on South Africa. Thank you for tuning in today, tune in next time for another blog!
