The young champion, checkmated the CM after a
few moves, despite his aggressive strategy, CM
announced a cash prize of Rs 100,000
Staff Reporter
Karachi: In a historic moment for Pakistan’s chess scene, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah played a friendly match against Pakistan’s Under-18 National Chess Champion, Mehak Maqbool, at CM House on Saturday. The young champion, who recently secured her title at the National Youth Chess Championship, checkmated the CM after a few moves, despite his aggressive strategy.
CM Announces Rs 100,000 for Young Chess Champions
Recognizing the achievements of young chess prodigies, the Sindh CM announced a cash prize of Rs 100,000 for each of the winners:
- Mehak Maqbool – 1st place, U-18 category (SMB Fatima Jinnah Government School, adopted by Zindagi Trust)
- Yamna Siddiqui – 2nd place, U-14 category (Govt. SMB Fatima Jinnah School)
- Alina Siddiqui – 3rd place, U-12 category (Govt. SMB Fatima Jinnah School)
Additionally, young players Riya Manji (Under-10, Karachi) and Muhammad Essa Hussain (Under-8 and Under-9, Sivita School) were also acknowledged for their participation in national-level chess competitions.
Government Schools Producing National Champions
Mehak Maqbool, a student of SMB Fatima Jinnah Government School, is a shining example of how government school students can excel in intellectual sports when given the right opportunities. The event served as a milestone in breaking stereotypes about government schools in Pakistan.
The ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including:
- Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah
- Sindh Sports Minister Mohammad Bux Mahar
- Secretary School Education Zahid Abbasi
- Secretary Sports Aleem Lashari
- Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh
- Sultan Alana (Aga Khan Foundation)
- Shehzad Roy (Zindagi Trust)
CM Shah Lauds Students’ Achievements
Speaking at the event, CM Murad Ali Shah expressed pride in the young champions and highlighted the importance of quality education and intellectual pursuits.
“Even if I lost today, I couldn’t be prouder. Witnessing students from our own government schools excel at the national level is a victory for all of us,” he stated.
Chess to Become Part of the School Curriculum
During the event, Zindagi Trust introduced a comprehensive chess curriculum for Grades 3 to 8, aiming to integrate chess as an academic discipline in schools across Sindh and Pakistan. The initiative seeks to enhance critical thinking, strategic planning, and intellectual growth among students nationwide.
This event not only celebrated young chess talent but also reinforced the potential of Sindh’s government school students to compete at the highest levels when given equal opportunities and resources.
