KARACHI: In a remarkable event at CM House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah faced off in a chess match against Mehak Maqbool, Pakistan’s Under-18 National Chess Champion. Despite being defeated, the Chief Minister celebrated the occasion by awarding Rs 100,000 each to four young chess champions.

According to a statement by Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the event was organized to honor the achievements of young chess prodigies who have excelled in national competitions. Mehak Maqbool, a student of the SMB Fatima Jinnah Government School, recently clinched the first place in the Under-18 category at the National Youth Chess Championship.

After a few intense moves, Mehak secured victory over the Chief Minister. Though he was bested in the match, CM Shah announced cash prizes for Mehak and other champions, including Yamna Siddiqui for securing second place in the Under-14 category and Alina Siddiqui for third place in the Under-12 category. Another participant, Riya Manji, competed in the Karachi Under-10 category, while Muhammad Essa Hussain represented the school in the Under-8 and Under-9 categories.

The event highlighted the achievements of students from Sindh government schools, challenging stereotypes about intellectual sports in Pakistan. It underscored the potential of students when provided with quality education and opportunities.

The ceremony was attended by Sindh’s Minister for Education Syed Sardar Shah, Minister for Sports Mohammad Bux Mahar, and other dignitaries, along with representatives from educational and trust organizations.

Chief Minister Shah expressed his pride in the young champions, noting that their accomplishments reflect the transformative power of quality education. “Even if I lost today, I couldn’t be prouder,” he stated, emphasizing the significance of their achievements on a national stage.

In addition, the President of Zindagi Trust introduced a new chess curriculum for students in Grades 3 to 8, aimed at fostering critical thinking and strategic planning skills. This curriculum is set to be available for schools across Sindh and Pakistan, promoting the game as an academic discipline.