Grand Master (GM) Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh beat compatriot and fellow GM Enamul Hossain in the fourth round of the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championship to stay top of the standings on Wednesday.

Rahman have 3.5 points, while former Nepal champion CM Keshav Shrestha have three points after the local hope beat RS Kalugampitiya of Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Nepal duo Himal Lama and Bhagwati Prasad Sharma as well as Bangladeshi IM Abu Sufian Shakil are next on 2.5 points. Lama beat compatriot IM Kshitiz Bhandari, Sharma defeated Sajin Maharjan and Shakil beat Nepal’s Badri Lal Nepali.

Bangladeshi WIM Hamid Rani recorded fourth successive win to stay atop the women’s category with four points. Rani beat her compatriot Sharmin Samiha Shimmi in the fourth round match on Wednesday. Another Bangladeshi WIM Shamima Akter, top-ranked in the field, beat Saumy Zainab of  Sri Lanka to stay second with three points.

In a battle between the Bangladesh WIM Nazrana Khan and Sultana Sharmin Shirin shared points. Both Khan and Shirin have 2.5 points. In other ties, Mahmuda Hoque Chowdhury of Bangladesh beat Nepal’s Sabina Shrestha, Matina Kusi beat fellow Nepali player Sindira Joshi and Shanta Thapa overcame Punam Prasai.