National champion Enamul Hossain Rajib earned his first International Master (IM) norm yesterday when he outplayed second seed IM Reefat-bin-Sat-tar in the ninth round of the fourth United Insurance IM chess tournament.

In an exciting match at the NSC chess room. 16-year-old Rajib playing with white pieces against the Sicilian defence of Reefat. checkmated his fancied counterpart after 44 moves to secure his 'Nine-round' norm.

If Rajib. who will face Sheikh Nasir Ahmed today in the penultimate round, can manage one and a half points from the remaining two matches in the 11-round Swiss league, his norm will be termed as an Eleven-round' norm.

With yesterday's victory. Ra-Ilb moved to second position laving raised his tally to seven

points, half a point adrift of Joint leaders IM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam and IM RB Ramesh of India.

Ramesh, the second seed who was leading the table for last couple of days, his surrendered position at the top slot losing

E HOSSAIN RAJIB

his ninth round match to favourite Nguyen. Playing with white pieces. Nguyen made an English opening against his Inaian counterpart and snatched the victoiy after only 18 moves. Both Nguyen and Ramesh have seven and a half points.

National junior champion Abdullah-Al-Raklb and Raktim Banaijee of India were in third place at the end of Monday's round.

In the ninth round. Rakib tamed Tyebur Rahman Sumon while Raktim edged past compatriot PDS Girinath to raise their tallies to 6.5 points each.

In the day's other matches. Sheikh Nasir Ahmed defeated Arifuzzaman Sikdar. All Amjad Mintu beat Amir Hossain. Saifuddin Lovlu tamed Afroza Khanum Babiy. Monlr Hossain outplayed Aminul Islam. Ruhul Kabir Shiplu outmastered Anisuzzaman while Moniruz-zaman won his board against national women's champion Shabana Parveen Nipa.

The penultimate round will begin at the same venue today at 2:30 pm.

Leading players: 7.5 points — IM Nguyen and IM Ramesh. 7 Sints — Rajib, 6.5 points — kib and Raktim. 6 points — Pallab. Nasir and Girinath.