Grand Master Niaz Murshed maintained his solo lead with 5.5 points at the end of the seventh round of the 45th National Chess Championship, which is being held at the Institute of Engineers in Dhaka.

The first GM of the sub-continent drew his seventh-round game against GM Abdullah Al Rakib yesterday to collect 5.5 points, 0.5 points clear of IM Fahad Rahman, Rakib and FM Taibur Rahman.

Tibur drew his game with IM Minhaz Uddin Ahmed while Fahad beat FM Mehedi Hasan Parag.

GM Ziaur Rahman, who drew against nine-year-old CM Manon Reja Neer, shared the third position with three other players on 4.5 points.