Pakistan wins gold in Category D at World Chess Olympiad 2026

Pakistan’s chess team has secured a gold medal in its category at the World Chess Olympiad 2026, marking a notable achievement for the country’s chess community.

The Pakistani open team finished first in Category D at the prestigious international event held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, earning 12 match points and 162 game points.

Pakistan’s campaign included several closely fought encounters. The team drew its matches against Egypt and Yemen, while it suffered defeats against Colombia and South Africa.

Despite those setbacks, Pakistan climbed 29 places in the overall standings to finish at the top of its designated category. The performance provided a significant boost to the country’s ambitions in international chess.

Zeeshan Naqvi, president of the Chess Federation of Pakistan, attended the closing ceremony of the Olympiad. Speaking on the occasion, he said continued government support could help Pakistan achieve further success in chess.

The result is being viewed as an encouraging development for Pakistani chess, particularly as the country seeks to strengthen its presence on the international stage.

The World Chess Olympiad 2026 brought together chess players from around the world in Samarkand, one of Uzbekistan’s historic cities. Pakistan’s category victory added another achievement to its participation in the global competition.

With 12 match points and 162 game points, Pakistan’s open team completed its campaign with a gold medal in Category D, giving the national chess community fresh momentum and optimism for future international competitions.