Gul Hamaad Farooqi.
Chitral
The 1st Chitral Open Chess tournament finalized at football stadium of Govt High School Chitral. Some 52 players from the country participated in this tournament. In the final round of the tournament Wasim Akram from Lahore won the match and was declared champion of the tournament. While Muhammad Shahzad of Faisalabad won second position.
Local players of chess also participated in the tournament as well as two small players were also present in the match.
Champion of the tournament Waseem Akram told the media that the game of chess is yet to gain official patronage in the country because it still not patronizing by the government.
He said in Russia and other countries chess was taught even in schools and promoted at the official level.
On the eve of final match in awards distribution ceremony District sports officer Abdul Rehmat, was chief guest on the occasion who distributed Trophy, Cups and cash awards among the players. He said due to the absence of a proper venue the local Chess players set in a room of a hotel where they playing Chess game.
He said his department would provide Rs100,000 per year to the chess club to promote the game in Chitral.
He also said that a proper place would be set up for the chess players of Chitral.
At last Senior player of Chess from Chitral Azeemuddin presented Chitral traditional Caps to the youngest players of Chess as a gift whose age are under 15.
Non local players highly hailed hospitality of chitral people and offer them to must come to Punjab and participate in chess competition at Punjab level and they will be their host.—INP
