Three-time national champion Badri Lal Nepal recorded third win in as many round to share the lead with four other players in the Kamana Cup National Chess Championship here on Sunday.

After the first round win on Saturday, Nepali beat Rabindra Shrestha in the second and Bikash Kuluju in the third round on Sunday. Joining him on top of the leaderboard on three points were Himal Lama, Chhitiz Bhandari, Rabindra Shakya and Nabin Tandukar.

Lama beat Sitaram Agrawal in second and Lava Kumar Shrestha in the third round, while Bhandari earn two points on Sunday with wins over Suryasan Prajapati and Govinda Khadka. Shakya beat Bikram Dhwoj Shrestha and Ashish Phuyal whereas Tandukar defeated Binita Kapali and Bhupendra Niraula for his third win.

Keshav Shrestha, Manish Hamal, Janardan Shrestha, Kamal Shrestha and Suman Rai were in a group five players sharing second position on 2.5 points. All five players won a game and drew another to be a half point behind the leaders. Further half point adrift on two points were Niraula, Sajit Maharjan, Lava Kumar, Kuluju, Govinda Khadka, Phuyal, Rijendra Rajbhandari, Bikram Dhwoj and Suman Lama.

The championship is being played under Swill League format over 11 rounds. Top four players after six rounds will qualify for the super knockout stage that will decide the top four players. The eventual champion will ride home a motor cycle worth Rs 172,900, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will earn Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. Other 12 players are also assured of cash prizes. The organisers have set aside Rs 4,98,400 for cash prize alone. Lalitpur District Savings and Credit Cooperative Union is organising the tournament in coordination with Tamrakar Samaj of Lalitpur and Shivani Air.