Dhaka: International Master Md. Minhaz Uddin of Bangladesh Navy and FIDE Master Subrota Biswas of Titas Club have maintained their joint lead in the points table with 7.5 points after the 8th and penultimate round of the Independence Day WALTON International Rating Chess competition held on Saturday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, FIDE Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed and Candidate Master Md. Abzid Rahman of Sports Bangla are jointly sharing the second position with 6.5 points. Additionally, nine players are sharing the third position with 6 points. These players include FIDE Master Khandaker Aminul Islam of Bangladesh Navy, Candidate Master Md. Sariatullah, Md. Nasir Uddin, and Neloy Debnath of Sadharan Bima Corporation Sporting Club, Siam Chowdhury of SBP-MF, Neloy Debnath, Abdul Momin of Esoft Arena Chess Club, Kazi Saiyf, and Shahinur Haque of Dipali Memorial Chess Club.
The 8th round games were held at the sports hall of Bangladesh Chess Federation. In this round, IM Md. Minhaz Uddin defeated CM Md. Abzid Rahman, FM Subrota Biswas overcame Siam Chowdhury, and FM Sheikh Nasir Ahmed beat Afzal Hossain Schchu. Other results included CM Md. Abu Hanif defeating WCM Walijah Ahmed, CM Md. Sariatullah splitting a point with Shahinur Haque, and Mohammad Shameem sharing a point with CM Md. Shajidul Haque. Md. Nasir Uddin defeated Mihir Lal Das, WCM Warsia Khusbu shared a point with Mohammad Shakil, Neloy Debnath defeated Md. Zakir Hossain, Kazi Saiyf overcame CM Sohel Chowdhury, and Abdul Momin defeated Delwar Hossain.
The final round games are scheduled to be held tomorrow (Sunday) at the same venue.