The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

GM Ziaur Rahman of Biman and IM Himanshu Sharma of India took joint lead in the 8th United Insurance & United Leasing International Masters Chess Tournament securing 4 points after the 5th round at the Chess Federation hall-room here Saturday.

Six players are in the 2nd slot with 3.5 points each. They are: FM Abu Sufian Shakil, FM Mehdi Hasan Parag, FM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar, Md. Imran Ali Elin, IM Mahmood Lodhi of Pakistan and IM Dinesh Kumar Sharma of India.

In the day's 5th round matches, Zia beat Joydeep Dutta, Himanshu defeated FM Taibur Rahman, Sagar drew with Shakil, Lodhi drew with Dinesh, Elin beat Bitan Banerjee, Parag defeated Debraj Chatterjee, Saif Uddin Lavlu outplayed FM Rezaul Haque, IM Shahzad Mirza beat Anisuzzaman Jewel, Keshav Shrestha of Nepal drew with his compatriot Shresta Bilam Lal, Delwar Hossain beat Md. Hasan Emam, DM Sk. Nasir Ahmed defeated DM Mohammed Abdul Malek, FM Mohammad Javed beat Monir Hissain, Mohammad Ali drew with Abdullah Al Saif, Sohel Chowdhury drew with Arman Monir and Badri Nepali beat Mahtabuddin Ahmed Robin.

The 6th round matches start Sunday from 3:30 PM also at the same venue.