Sehba Shah overcame a serious physical disability to become Pakistani women’s champion. The 59-year-old will now lead the national team at the biggest chess event on the calendar.

The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, taking place in the Hungarian capital Budapest from 10 to 23 September, is about more than just national teams and the world’s best grandmasters competing for glory and medals. It is also a celebration of chess as a universal game, accessible to everyone across borders, giving smaller chess nations the opportunity to showcase their talent and gain experience against the world’s best.

One of them is Sehba Shah, who will represent her country at the Olympic Games for the first time at the age of 59. Shah suffers from progressive muscular dystrophy, a serious disease that has severely weakened her muscles and confined her to a wheelchair. Despite these challenges, her love for chess has remained unwavering.

With the help of an assistant to move the pieces around the board for her, Shah dominated the 25-player national chess championship, scoring 6.5 points in seven rounds.

“Chess means a lot to me because I have developed an interest in the game and it is now not just a hobby but a passion for me,” she told Chess.com.

Chess means a lot to me because I have developed an interest in this game and it is now not just a hobby but a passion for me.

—Sehba Shah

She had been unable to take part in previous national championships due to her handicap and the remote locations of the competitions. This time, thanks to the Pakistan Chess Federation and other supporters, she was provided with two assistants and a driver to travel from Lahore to the capital, Islamabad.

“The tournament went well for me from the start,” she said. “The tournament provided an even playing field where performance on the board was the only judging criteria. The tournament provided an opportunity where different types of inequalities were pushed to the background and everyone was judged by the same yardstick.”

Shah’s chess career began at the tender age of ten, sparked by the historic 1972 World Chess Championship match between grandmasters Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. Along with her older brother Selman, who also suffered from the same genetic disease, she was determined to learn the game.

Growing up in Meerut, India, the two had a hard time finding someone to teach them the basics. Finally, when their cousin came to visit from New Delhi and gave a quick ten-minute lesson on the basics, their passion was reignited and they formed a circle of chess-playing friends.

After moving to Pakistan in 1987, the siblings were initially isolated from the chess community but remained active through correspondence chess and continued to improve their game through reading and practice.

Selman, who had been a loyal companion and moral support to his sister since childhood, died tragically in 1994. Despite the heavy loss, she retained the urge to continue playing chess and striving for excellence. She continued to study chess books and analyze games, using a small chessboard and a pencil to move the pieces in the pre-computer era.

In recent years, Shah has participated mainly in local and regional chess tournaments as well as online correspondence chess tournaments. She was unable to participate in the last national championship due to difficult travel conditions to a remote location and lack of support from her federation.

That part was resolved this year, and now Shah’s remarkable performance has attracted attention in her country, leading to her being interviewed on national television. She was also praised by Hanif Qureshi, president of the Pakistan Chess Federation, who said, “I am immensely proud to describe Shah’s extraordinary performance in winning the Pakistan Women’s Chess Championship. Her victory is not only a personal triumph but also a beacon of inspiration for many.”

Qureshi said Shah’s story will encourage more people to pursue their passion and never give up, no matter what hurdles stand in their way. “Shah is a shining example of the inclusive and empowering nature of chess,” he told Chess.com.

Shah is a shining example of the inclusive and empowering nature of chess.

—Hanif Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Chess Federation

One of Shah’s biggest supporters is Samreen Khan, who has also competed in Pakistan’s Women’s Chess Championship. She told Chess.com that Shah caught her attention when she consistently topped the rankings in district-level tournaments.

“As a new amateur player myself, I was actively seeking guidance from experienced players. Therefore, meeting Sehba was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

After Shah became women’s national champion, the two met. “Our meeting lasted 2.5 hours and was all about chess. Her insights were incredibly valuable and I wish I could have spent more time learning from her.”

Khan admires Shah’s dedication to the game, which made her a champion through “sheer mental ability and determination”.

“Sehba’s story is truly inspiring. Her perseverance, focus and determination have taught me that no matter your age and the obstacles that stand in your way, you can achieve great things if you stay true to your goals. She mentioned when we met that she ‘would have died if it weren’t for chess’, emphasizing how important the game is to her life. Sehba’s achievements and her journey into the world of chess deserve enormous recognition and she continues to motivate me every day.”

Sehba’s story is truly inspirational. Her perseverance, focus and determination have shown me that no matter your age or the obstacles that stand in your way, you can achieve great things if you stay true to your goals.

—Samreen Khan, Shah’s friend and supporter

Meanwhile, Shah is preparing for her next move in Budapest and told Chess.com:

“I am very excited at the prospect of playing for Pakistan. I will prepare for the international event by focusing on eliminating weaknesses in my game and making improvements in all areas, opening, middle and final.”