Independence Day Chess on August 26, 27

KARACHI: Prizes worth millions of rupees will be distributed among the participants and the spectators during the Independence Day Chess Championship 2016, being organised by the Sindh Chess Association (SCA) here at the Customs Services Club in Federal-B-Area over the weekend.

The details of the two-day event were unveiled by Ayaz Memon Motiwala, President SCA, and Chairman, Karachi Tajir Alliance. The technical aspects were shared by Sadia Qureshi, Secretary General SCA, at a briefing here at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.

“The objective of holding the Independence Day Chess Championship, having participation from all over the country, on August 26 and 27, is to attract the youth towards this mind sport,” Ayaz Motiwala, having been elected SCA president recently, remarked. “Students are being encouraged to take part in it. The prizes are going to serve as incentives,” he declared.

“A comprehensive youth development programme is being worked out and it will soon be launched all over the province. Research has shown that students are interested in playing chess and we wish to facilitate them in every possible manner, be it online or otherwise,” Ayaz stated.

Sadia Qureshi, SCA secretary, disclosed the competitions would be held in youth and open categories and the outstanding performers would get their share from the kitty of Rs100,000.

She revealed that more than 50 entries for each of the two categories had already been received.

The SCA secretary was critical of the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) for meddling in the provincial chess affairs although it was not an Olympic sport.

Sadia regretted that the country was unlikely to be represented in the Chess Olympiad due to the absence of an elected set-up of the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP).

“We urge the chess organisers to work for the promotion of the game. Otherwise Pakistan may not produce even International Masters, let alone Grand Masters, in future,” she said.