Zaman Sohail and Fariha Siddiq Crowned National Chess Champions

Islamabad – (Staff Reporter/News Desk) – Zaman Sohail chess champion status is now official after his win at the 34th National Men’s Chess Championship. He claimed the national title with 5 points, representing the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The event wrapped up with a grand closing ceremony at the Pakistan Zaman Sohail chess champion. It was organized by the Chess Federation of Pakistan.

Around 250 male and female players took part from across the country. The high number of entries showed just how much chess has grown in Pakistan.

Punjab’s M. Zarwais Shabkhez came in second place with 4.5 points. A.R. Akhtar, also from HEC, tied with the same score but placed third after a tie-break.

The women’s side of the tournament had its own standout story. Fariha Siddiq of Punjab stayed unbeaten through the entire event. She won the 10th Women’s National Chess Championship with 10.5 points.

Zainobia Wasif took second place with 9 points. Javeria rounded out the podium in third with 8 points.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry attended as chief guest. He spoke about Pakistan’s growing reputation on the world stage.

Several other officials also joined the ceremony. This included IPC Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, and Chess Federation President Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi.

Wani praised the federation for pulling off such a large and well-run event. He said the championship would give fresh momentum to chess across Pakistan.

He also promised continued support from his ministry. The goal is to help chess grow further at the grassroots level.

Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar announced special cash prizes during the ceremony. Para athlete Saiba Shah received PKR 100,000, while the oldest participant got PKR 25,000.

Senator Nuzhat Sadiq spoke about the importance of supporting young players. She said the federation would keep creating new chances for Pakistan’s youth.

Guests handed out trophies, medals, and prize cheques to all the winners. The mood at the ceremony stayed upbeat and celebratory throughout.

Federation President Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi thanked everyone involved in the event. This included players, officials, media teams, and volunteers.

He confirmed that more national and international chess events are already being planned. The federation wants to keep building on this year’s success.

This year’s championship stood out for its scale and organization. It also gave rising stars like Zaman Sohail a bigger stage to shine.

With strong government backing and growing player numbers, Pakistani chess looks set for more growth ahead. Fans can expect even bigger tournaments in the coming years.