Defending champion Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi has made to the top of the National Chess Championships standings with six points at the end of the sixth round here at a local hotel on Thursday. The international master from Punjab defeated National Master Anwar Qureshi of Sindh in 39 moves of the match that lasted just two hours. Lodhi, who represented Pakistan in Chess Olympiad, had earlier defeated Raees Ahmed Ansari of Sindh in the fifth round after a mere 23-move match. The unfancied M Ayub of Punjab, meanwhile, jumped to the second spot on the table after he defeated Anwar Qureshi. On the women’s side, titleholder Nida Mishraz and Zenobia Wasif jointly share the lead with three points.
Standings: Men’s Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi 5, Mohammad Ayub (Punjab) 4.5 Anwar Qurshi (Sindh) 4, Haseeb Ahmed (Sindh) Umer Khan Amjad Hafeez Bajwa (both Punjab) Dr Naeem Mirza Wahaab Ahmed Waqar Ahmed Madni (Punjab). Women: Nida Mishraz (Sindh) and Zebibua Wasif (Sindh).