GM Ziaur Rahman led the points table in the open section of Asian Zonal Chess Championship at the close of the sixth round yesterday.

Zia beat compatriot GM Niaz Murshed to earn 5.5 points from six matches of the event, which is also a qualifying round for the Chess World Cup, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

GM Abdullah Al Rakib and FM Nasir Ahmed were in second position with 4.5 points while GM Niaz, GM Enamul Hossain, IM Abu Sufian Shakil, IM Minhaz Uddin and Niraula Bhupendra of Nepal were in joint third position with four points each.

In women's section, WIM Shamima Akter Liza took solo lead with 5.5 points as she beat Jaiswal Bina of Nepal in the sixth round. WFM Nazrana Khan Eva was in the second position with five points while WIM Rani Hamid and WIM Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka held the joint third position with four points each.