The event that continues until May 30, has drawn 633 athletes from around the globe.

In the 80-kilogram division, Afghan boxer Ferdaws Najibi dominated early in his bout against Ahmed Kashmiri of Saudi Arabia.

The star of the match was Darwish Rasooli, who displayed masterful form with the bat

FIDE said it is in consultation with international sports bodies to explore “constructive solutions” to restore the game’s presence in.

The tournament, hosted by Sri Lanka, is scheduled to start on Monday.

The strategic board game had gained modest popularity before the Taliban returned to power.

“The idea is very clear — it is not appropriate at this time to continue IPL,” said a board official.

Afghanistan now holds a rating of 91 after playing 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs).

The tournament, which runs from May 5 to June 22, features four regional teams.

Officials from the Chess Federation say the organization has effectively been suspended since 2021.