Grand Master Ziaur Rahman maintained third position in the 17th Delhi International Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament at the close of the ninth round in New Delhi yesterday.

Zia drew his ninth board against Georgian GM Paichadze Luka to share third place with 18 others on 6.5 points each. Indian GM Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna and Georgian GM Pantsulaia Levan shared top spot with 7.5 points each.

Tahsin Tajwar Zia beat Sayantan Chandra in the ninth round to raise his points tally to 4.5 while FM Fahad Rahman and Mehdi Hasan Parag drew with Pimpalkhare Vedant and Bhavesh Mahajan respectively to secure 5.5 and 4.5 points. Abzid Rahman however lost to Mushini Ajay and remains on four points after nine games.