Zia, who played with black pieces, now shares second position with six-and-a-half points with GM Vassilios Kotronias of Cyprus, GM Peter Wells of England and Jonathan Rowsan of Scotland.

International Master Reefat-Bin-Sattar with six points is in the crowded third place nine players. He drew with GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly of India.

Elsewhere, IM Enamul Hossain Rajib has five-and-a-half points, IM Abdullah-Al-Rakib earned 4.5 points and FIDE Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed has collected 3.5 points respectively.

Rajib drew with Laurence Webb of England, Nasir drew with Kenneth McEwan of Scotland. However Rakib lost against Alexander Longson of England.

Indian GMs Pentala Harikrishna and Abhijit Kunte are the joint leaders with seven points.

Meanwhile, Shawkat Hossain Pallab continued his good form by beating Hughes Roy of England in the ninth round of the Major Open event.