Grand Master Ziaur Rahman and Shamima Akter Liza emerged unbeaten champions in their respective sections of the Asian Zonal Chess Championship yesterday to qualify for the first round of the World Cup Chess to be held in Azerbaijan in September.

Zia played a draw against Pakistani IM Mahmood Lodhi in the ninth and last round to earn 7.5 points from nine matches, while Liza also drew against Zenobia of Pakistan to achieve 7.5 points in the ninth round held in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.

WFM Nazrana Khan Eva became runner-up in women's section with seven points that helped her achieve a WIM norm from the zonal championship while WIM Rani Hamid finished third with 6.5 points.

GM Abdullah Al Rakib and and GM Enamul Hossain Razib became second and third with 6.5 and 6 points respectively, said a press release from Bangladesh Chess Federation yesterday.