Pakistan’s chess team has won the gold medal in its category at World Chess Olympiad 2026 held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, securing the top position in Category D.
The Pakistani Open team finished first in its category after collecting 12 match points and 162 game points during the competition.
Pakistan played to draws against Egypt and Yemen but suffered defeats against Colombia and South Africa. Despite those setbacks, the team achieved a significant improvement in its overall standing, rising by 29 places in the tournament rankings.
The performance marked a notable result for Pakistan at the international chess event, with the national team maintaining its position at the top of its category based on its accumulated match and game points.
Chess Federation of Pakistan President Zeeshan Naqvi attended the closing ceremony of the Olympiad.
Speaking on the occasion, Zeeshan Naqvi expressed confidence that continued government support would help Pakistan achieve further success in chess and provide greater opportunities for players to compete at international events.
Pakistan’s gold-medal finish may provide further momentum to the development of chess in the country, with the Chess Federation of Pakistan emphasising the importance of institutional and government support for improving the standard of the sport.
The team’s success also highlights the growing participation of Pakistani players in international chess competitions and provides a positive result for the country’s chess community on the global stage.
The 2026 World Chess Olympiad brought together chess teams from around the world for one of the sport’s major international competitions. Pakistan’s performance in Category D added another achievement to the country’s participation in the global chess event.
The Pakistani team’s 12 match points reflected its overall results across the competition, while its 162 game points contributed to its first-place finish in the category.
The tournament was staged in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, bringing together players and teams from numerous countries.
