National Master (NM) Anees Ur Rehman Zaidi won the 14th Rawalpindi Chess Championship held at Bravo Foods in Commercial Market.
He took the Open Category title while Salman Ali Khan securing a strong second place.
The Rawalpindi Chess Association (RCA) was held under the auspices of the Chess Association of Punjab (CAP) and it witnessed intense competition with a strong turnout of 85 players from across the region, underscoring the growing popularity and trust in CAP's initiatives.
The championship was graced by Chief Guest Masood Bukhari, Senior Vice President of the Chess Association of Punjab and Additional Commissioner of Rawalpindi Division, who praised the organisers for a flawless event.
"The Chess Association of Punjab is playing a profoundly positive and progressive role all over the province,"
Bukhari highlighted the transformative role of CAP. "Under our dynamic leadership, we are not just organizing tournaments; we are building a sustainable ecosystem for chess. Our efforts in standardizing events, engaging the corporate sector, and pushing for chess in education are changing the game, inspiring a new generation of strategic thinkers across Punjab and beyond."
The competition featured fierce battles across multiple categories.The future of Pakistani chess shone brightly in the U-13 category, where Musa Rizwan took the top honor and Meekail Shoaib was the runner-up. The Women's Category was won by Sara Noor Khalid, with Iqra Naaz finishing as the worthy runner-up.
Touheed Shamas Abbasi, District Sports Officer (DSO), was also present at the event.
The Secretary General of CAP reiterated the association's ambitious goals, "Our aim is to promote chess at the grassroots level across Punjab and the entire country. We are working diligently on our 'Chess in Education' programme, and in this regard, we are grateful for the unwavering support of the Minister for Sports Punjab, Malik Faisal Khokhar, and the Minister for Education Punjab, Rana Sikandar Hayat. Their backing is crucial for institutionalizing the sport."
The event also highlighted the crucial role of corporate partnership in promoting the "Sport of Minds."
Bravo Foods collaborated with CAP and RCA as the venue partner, providing a fantastic atmosphere and spectacular food for all participants.
Buoyed by the event's success, there are already plans to host similar championships in Attock and Islamabad.
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