Pakistan go down to Bulgaria

KARACHI: Pakistan went down 4-0 to Bulgaria in the fourth round of the 39th World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The four-member Pakistan team includes Aamir Karim, Tanvir Gilani, Wasim Akram and grand master Mahmood Lodhi.

Lodhi lost to Veselin Topalov while Ivan Cheparinov outplayed Karim. Akram succumbed to Kiril Georgiev and Tanvir was outplayed by Aleksander Delchev as Pakistan went down in straight games.

Pakistan, among 151 countries in the 19-day Chess Olympiad, lost their second match of the tournament after being defeated against Chile as well. However, they did manage to outclass Libya 4-0 and also beat Haiti 3.5-0.5.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s women team, which is participating in the Olympiad for the second time lost 4-0 against Australia in the fourth round.

Meanwhile, Russia, China, Armenia, Spain and the US are leading the championship board are among the top five in the open tournament while Ukrain, Georgia, US, India and Cuba lead the women’s event.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2010.