Pakistan’s chess team has finished first in Category D and won the gold medal at the World Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The team beat Seychelles, San Marino, the Cayman Islands and El Salvador. It drew with Egypt and Yemen. Pakistan finished with 12 match points and 162 game points, and its ranking rose by about 30 places.
Chess Federation of Pakistan President Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi attended the event and supported the players throughout their campaign. He congratulated the team on its performance and praised its hard work, determination and fighting spirit.
Naqvi said the players had made the country proud by showing their skills on the international stage. He urged them to keep working hard and to represent Pakistan with the same passion in future international competitions.
It is worth noting that earlier, the Pakistan team made headlines after boycotting a match against Israel at the same event.
