National junior chess champion Mehak Maqbool secured victory against Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in a friendly chess match on Saturday.
CM Murad Ali Shah, an experienced chess player and a member of the International Chess Federation since 1992, invited Mehak to the match to recognize her recent achievement. The Under-18 national junior chess champion defeated the provincial leader in just 15 moves.
Mehak, a student at SMB Fatima Jinnah School, recently won the Under-18 title to become Pakistan’s junior chess champion. The school operates under Shehzad Roy’s Zindagi Trust, which supports educational initiatives.
Shehzad Roy commended the chief minister for arranging the match, emphasizing that it sent a positive message about supporting young talent. “The chief minister played well, but Mehak remained composed and managed to checkmate him,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of promoting chess among children as a way to encourage critical thinking and reduce excessive screen time.
CM Murad Ali Shah congratulated Mehak on her success, acknowledging her outstanding performance in both academics and chess while studying at a government school. He praised her dedication and commitment to the game.
Mehak recently won the National Youth Chess Championship (NYCC) 2025, organized by the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) and Karpov Chess Club (KCC). The tournament, held under International Chess Federation regulations, serves as the official selection event for Pakistan’s national youth team.
The top performers of the NYCC 2025 included:
- Mehak Maqbool (1st place, Under-18 category, SMB Fatima Jinnah Government School)
- Yamna Siddiqui (2nd place, Under-14 category, SMB Fatima Jinnah Government School)
- Alina Siddiqui (3rd place, Under-12 category, SMB Fatima Jinnah Government School)
These young chess champions will have the opportunity to represent Pakistan in upcoming international chess tournaments.
