Candidate Master Manon Reja Neer of Uttara Central Chess Club took the sole lead in the points table securing 4.5 points after the 5th round matches of the Marcel Invitational International Rating Chess Tournament now being held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation Hall-room here on Saturday. Five Players share the 2nd position with 4 points each.  They are: International Master Mohammad Minhaz Uddin, FIDE Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed & Candidate Master Md. Sharif Hossain of Bangladesh Navy,  FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman of Janata Bank Officer Welfare Society and Shafiq Ahmed of Sheikh Russel Chess Club.  Read: Archery WC: Bangladesh recurve women’s team advance to pre-quarterfinal Seven other players share the 3rd position with 3.5 points each.  They are: FIDE Master Khandaker Aminul and FIDE Master Mohammad Javed, Anata Choudhury of Rupali Bank Krira Parisad, Jabed Al Azad of Manha’s Castle, Candidate Master Mohammad Jamal Uddin of Sultana Kamal Smirity Pathagar Md. Sariatullah & Md. Nasim Hossain Bhuiyan of Sonali Bank Sports & Recreation Club.  In the day's 5th round games, CM Neer beat FM Nasir, IM Minhaz beat CM Jamal, Jabed drew with Anata, FM Aminul drew with Sariatullah, CM Sharif beat Md. Masum Hossain, FM Mahfuz beat Kazi Zarin Tasnim, Shafiq beat Md. Ariful Amin, FM Javed beat Din Mohammad, Nasim beat Md. Sajidul Haque and Md. Abzid Rahman beat SwarnavoChoudhury.  The 6th round games will be held on Sunday from 2-00  pm at the same venue.

Thirteen players maintained their solo lead in the Walton International Rating Chess Tournament, securing full three points after the third round matches held in the capital Wednesday. The leaders are GMs Ziaur Rahman, Enamul Hossain Razib; IM Mohammad Minhaz Uddin, FMs Mehdi Hasan Parag, Khandekar Aminul Islam, Mohammad Javed, Sheikh Nasir Ahmed; CMs Md Sharif Hossain, Sadnan Hasan Dihan, Manon Reja Neer, Md Shawket Bin Osman Shaon, Jabed Al Azad and Md Aminul Islam. Also read: Int'l Rating Chess: 30 players share top slot after second round of games IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman, WFM Noshin Anjum, Sakline Mostafa Sajid, Md Abzid Rahman, Avik Sarker and Asif Mahmud are sharing the second position with 2.5 points each. In the day's matches at the Bangladesh Chess Federation and Old National Sports Council Building, GM Zia beat CM Mahtabuddin Ahmed, GM Razib beat FM Md Saif Uddin, Sakline drew with IM Fahad, and IM Mimhaz beat Md Gazi Salah Uddin. Also, FM Parag beat Mohammed Shaker Ullah, FM Amin beat Mukitul Islam Ripon, CM Sharif beat Dewan Shahidul Amin, and FM Nasir beat Feroz Ahmed. And CM Dihan beat Md Azmaeen Parvez Sayor, CM Neer beat Nurul Islam Emon, FM Mahfuz beat Md Aminul Islam, FM Javed beat Md Ruhul Amin, CM Shaon beat Md Raju Ahmed, Jabed beat Md Shawkat Ali Sheikh, WFM Noshin beat Gias Uddin, Abzid beat Wadifa Ahmed, Avik beat Abdul Momin, and Asif beat Md Mahbubur Rahman. Also read: International Rating Chess tournament underway in Dhaka The fourth round matches will be held Thursday at 2pm at the same venue.