Asian Seniors 50 Chess Championships: Tie-breaker separates Lodhi from top spot

Pakistani brainiac occupies second place despite being unbeaten

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top chess player Mahmood Lodhi occupied second place at the end of the fourth round of the 7th Asian Seniors 50 Chess Championships 2016, which is taking place at Hotel Hazel in Mandalay, Myanmar.

Lodhi, who is Pakistan’s most experienced chess player and entered the ongoing championship with a rating of 2,340, defeated local unrated player Aye Ko in the first opening round.

His strong showing continued in the second round too as he brushed aside New Zealand’s Milligan Helen before taming Nyi Nyi Lwin, another Myanmar player, in the third round.By the time he overcame Myo Naing in his fourth match of the championship, he had surged up to second in the rankings.

A total 38 players from eight countries are taking part in the 7th Asian Seniors 50 Chess Championships 2016.

As things stand now, Iran’s Shahin Mohandesi sits at the top of points table, with Lodhi right behind him even though both the players have the equal number of wins and points. The tie-breaker rule has given Mohandesi a slight edge over Lodhi.

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s Ham Myint, with his three wins, occupies third place.

The tournament is scheduled to conclude on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2016.

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