SAARC Chess: Three players share top slot

Three players took joint lead in the first SAARC (Open & Women's) Chess Championship securing 4.5 points each after the 5th round Open Section matches at FARS Hotel & Resorts here on Friday

The leaders are: GM Ziaur Rahman, GM Eanmul Hossain Razib of Bangladesh and IM Mahmood Lodhi of Pakistan. 

Eight players are sharing 2nd position with four points each. 

They are: IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman, IM Abu Sufian Shakil, CM Subrota Biswas, CM Sohel Chowdhury, Md. Sariatullah, IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh, IM Prantik Roy and Sourath Biswas of India. 

IM Sharmin Sultana Shirin topped the ist in the Women's Section collecting 4.5 points. 

WIM Rani Hamid and Dahampriya Dewnethmie of Sri Lanka are in the 2nd position jointly with 4 points each. 

WFM Zakia Sultana and WCM Jannatul Ferdous sharing the 3rd slot with 3.5 points each.

In the 5th round matches of the day's open section, GM Razib beat IM Nubairsha, GM Zia beat FM Khandaker Aminul Islam, IM Lodhi beat Uten, IM Shakil drew with Sourath, IM Fahad beat Shawkat Bin Osman Shaon, IM Prantik beat CM Chanchal Kumer Ghosh, CM Subrota beat Md. Sagar, CM Sohel beat Prakash Nepal of Nepal and Sariatullah beat Mohammad Hasan. 

In the day's 5th round women's section matches, WIM Shirin beat Dahampriya, WIM Rani Hamid beat WFM Nazrana Khan Eva, WFM Zakia beat Shreshtha Surai of India and WCM Jannatul beat Nusrat Jahan Alo. 

The 6th round matches will be held on Saturday from 3:00 pm at the same venue.