ISTANBUL, Sept 7: Nida Misharz Siddiqui and Asif-ur-Rehman Qureshi were the bright spots as both Pakistan Open and women team suffered defeats in the 9th round of the 40th World Chess Olympiad on Thursday night.

Pakistan number two Nida won her fifth successive match despite team’s 2.5 to 1.5 points loss to Japan at Expo Centre Hall.

The Karachi-based player, who has been featuring in different events internationally, defeated Emiko Nakagawa.

Nida had suffered defeat in the first four rounds but she recovered remarkably well to chalk up her fifth point in a row.

“I struggled in the initial rounds but gained confidence as I started to win,” Nida said.

At the top board, national women champion Zenobia Wasif played a draw against Mirai Ishizuka while Ghazala Shabbir and Mehak Gul suffered defeats.

In the open event, Montenegro, a former part of Yugoslavia — having the services of three Grand Masters and one International Master — thrashed Pakistan 3.5 to 0.5 points.

However, Pakistan’s unrated Asif-ur-Rehman who is an engineer in PIA, produced a sterling show to hold IM Blazo Kalezic to a draw after intense four hours and 20 minutes contest lasting 83 moves.

“I played cautiously today with the packed defense to force a draw against a tough opponent,” Asif, ranked fifth in Pakistan, remarked.

IM Mahmood Lodhi suffered his second defeat against GM Nikola Djukic. Earlier Lodhi held two top GMs to draw.

The 36-year-old Nikola, a professional GM who is about 180 points ahead of Lodhi, gained from the middle game. Veteran Lodhi tried to play with a tight defence but experienced Nikola tactfully made advances and finally forced Lodhi to resign after 63 moves.

On board two, Anwar Qureshi offered GM Milan Drasko a stiff challenge before surrendering the match in 59 moves. Waqar Ahmed Madni lost to GM Dragan Kosic after 48 moves.—APP