Pakistan team wins two international titles at 45th Chess Olympiad

Two Pakistani chess players, Momin Fayzan and 11-year-old Aayat Asmi, achieved international recognition following their remarkable performances at the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, Hungary.

Their success has drawn attention to Pakistan's chess potential, especially as the country returned to the global chess stage after an eight-year hiatus.

Momin Fayzan competed in the open section of the tournament, securing an impressive 6.5 points out of a possible 11, which qualified him for the prestigious Candidate Master (CM) title.

Aayat, the youngest member of the Pakistani team, competed in the women’s division. At just 11 years old, she scored 5 points out of 10, earning her the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title.

Aayat is set to turn 12 next month, marking her achievement as a milestone for young chess enthusiasts in Pakistan.

One of the key moments of the tournament came in round 7 when Aayat faced Japan's Takayasu Melody. The match ended in a double forfeit after both players failed to make 30 moves, and thus, the game did not affect Aayat's final score.

Introduced in 2002, the CM and WCM titles typically require an Elo rating of 2200 or higher, which is a method of calculating player skill levels. However, under updated regulations from the World Chess Federation (FIDE), effective January 1, 2024, these titles can now be awarded directly to players at the Chess Olympiad who achieve at least a 50% score in their games. Both Momin and Aayat met this new criterion, earning their titles through their performance in Budapest.

Hanif Qureshi, President of the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP), expressed his pride in the players' achievements.

Aayat’s mother, Sidra Butt, expressed her joy and pride in her daughter’s achievement. "I am absolutely thrilled. Aayat has worked incredibly hard to get to this point," she said. "It’s unfortunate that we have limited facilities to nurture such talent in Pakistan, but Aayat has been fortunate enough to seize opportunities, and I hope she can inspire other young girls to pursue chess."