GM Ziaur Rahman of Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintains his solely lead in the Gazi Habibur Rahman International Rating Chess Tournament securing 7.5 points after the 8th and penultimate round held at Bangladesh Chess Federation hallroom on Monday.
Four players–FM Mehedi Hasan Parag, CM Sohel Chowdhury, Uten of Leonine Chess Club and Shawkat Hossain Pollab–followed the leader collecting 6.5 points each.
FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman Emon of Janata Bank, FM Mohammad Saif Uddin Lavlu of Titas Club, Mohammed Enayet Hossain of Fire-Service, SM Sharon of Bangladesh Navy, Dewan Shahidul Amin of Sonali Bank, Sherajul Kabir of Mir Chess Club and Rabiul Bhuiyan were in 3rd place jointly securing six points each.
In the day’s 8th round, Zia beat Lavlu, Parag drew with Emon, Pollab beat Masum Hossain, Uten beat Ibrahim Parvej, Sohel beat Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, Sharon beat Abdullah Al-Saif, Rabiul beat Sharif Hossain, Enayet beat Nayan Kumar Mohanto, Sherajul beat Belal Hossain, Shahidul beat Gulam Sarwar and Saimon Siddiqur Rahman drew with FM Mohammad Javed.
The 9th and last round matches will be held today (Tuesday) from 11:00 am at the same venue.
The prize-distribution ceremony will also be held today (Tuesday) afternoon after the games.
