Rakib leads going into final round

Grandmaster Abdulla Al-Rakib of Duronto Rajshahi retained at the top of the Berger Paints 39th National ‘A’ Chess Championship points table despite being held to a draw by reigning champion GM Niaz Murshed of Dhaka Mohammedan at the BOA media centre yesterday.   With just one round left, Rakib has 10 points after 12 rounds and will take on Fide Master Kh. Aminul Islam – who is one six points - today in the last round. Yesterday, Rakib seemed content with a draw and after using a Reti Opening with the white pieces, offered Niaz a draw on the 6th move – which was accepted.   Meanwhile, Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman of Dhaka Mohammedan defeated International Master Abu Sufian Shakil of Access Group to remain in second position with 9.5 points. Zia played a French Defence with the black pieces and went on to win in 40 moves. Third placed IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar of Bangladesh Ansar drew with FM Debaraj Chatterjee of Access Group in a Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence.   In other matches, FM Mohammad Javed drew with GM Enamul Hossain Razib of Duronto Rajshahi, FM Sk. Nasir Ahmed of Titas Club beat Shafiq Ahmed of Golden Chess Club, FM Kh. Aminul Islam of Bangladesh Ansar beat Md. Jamal Uddin of Titas Club. In the final round today, Niaz will take on Shakil, Parag plays Jamal, Razib faces Chapal, Debaraj squares off with Javed, Shafiq clashes with Sagar and Zia battles Nasir.