Chess: Lodhi off to a quick start in Iran

National champion wins opening match of chess event.

KARACHI:

National champion Mahmood Lodhi defeated Javahri Shehrdad in the first round of the second Ferdowsi Chess Open Tournament in Mashhad, Iran.

Lodhi took less than 30 minutes to outplay local favourite Shehrdad in the event featuring 140 players, with six grandmasters and six international masters including Lodhi who is aiming for a third-place finish.

Lodhi failed to lift the Zaheeruddin Trophy in Karachi last week, but admitted that playing in that local event allowed him to improve his game and an opportunity to practice for his first international event of the year that offers a winner's cheque of $5,000.

"I know their game since I've been playing against them in different tournaments," Lodhi told The Express Tribune. "I chose to participate here because it was affordable and offers good facilities.

"Meanwhile I know I have a good chance of winning here, and I want to start my year on a positive note."

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2012.