Twelve players are sharing the top slot lead in the Sheikh Russel 41st National Junior Under-20 (Open and Girls) Chess Championships 2023, securing three full points each after the third round open category matches at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room on Tuesday.

The leaders are: FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia, FM Manon Reja Neer, FM Nayem Haque, CM Sakline Mostafa Sajid, Swarnavo Choudhury, WFM Noshin Anjum, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, CM M. Sajidul Haque, Siam Chowdhury, Afnan Zarif Haque, Tashriq Saihan Shan, and Shadat Kibria Ayaan, UNB reports.

In the girl’s category, four players are sharing the top slot, securing a maximum of three points each after third-round matches.

They are: WCM Nusrat Jahan Alo, WFM Wadifa Ahmed, WCM Kazi Zarin Tasnim, and WCM Warsia Khusbu.

The third-round matches were held on Tuesday.

In the day`s third round of open section matches, FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia beat Aiyan Rahman, FM Manon Reja Neer beat Ahnaf Rashid Chowdhury, CM Sakline Mostafa Sajid beat Radmim Raha Rayja, FM Nayem Haque beat Justin Matthias Baroi, Swarnavo Choudhury beat Rene Rasikh, WFM Noshin Anjum beat Deblin Adikari, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam beat Kazi Obaidur Rahman Arian, CM Md. Sajidul Haque beat Azraf Annan, Siam Chowdhury beat Laxmon Chakraborty, Afnan Zarif Haque beat Musnad-E-Mofakhkhar, Tashriq Saihan Shan beat Oitijja Barua, and Shadat Kibria Ayaan beat Md Tasrif Alam.

In the girls section, WCM Nusrat Jahan Alo beat Jannatul Preety, WFM Wadifa Ahmed beat Neelava Choudhury, WCM Kazi Zarin Tasnim beat Mehjabin Akter Jubaida, WCM Warsia Khusbu beat Prothoma Zaman, and Sanowara Akter beat Jobaida Jahan Shanta.

The fourth round of matches will be held on Wednesday at 3:30 pm at the same venue.