Niaz, Reefat in lead

Bangladeshi Grandmasters Niaz Murshed and Reefat Bin Sattar, along with Pakistani IM Mahmud Lodhi, shared the lead in the Asian Zonal Chess Championship which is being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Niaz drew with compatriot GM Enamul Hossain Rajib, Reefat beat Anuruddah of Sri Lanka while Lodhi beat Krishna Thapa of Nepal in the fourth round matches to secure 3.5 points.
Five players -- GM Ziaur Rahman, GM Rajib, Weerawardane, Kavinda Akhila and Kalugampitiya of Sri Lanka -- followed the leaders with 3 points each.
In the women's section, WIM Shamima Akter Liza of Bangladesh took solo lead with maximum 4 points. Liza beat her compatriot and national champion Sharmin Sultana Shirin in the fourth round.