Sajin Maharjan, Himal Lama, Sumit Panta and Suman Rai entered the knockout stages of the fourth Kamana Cup Chess on Tuesday.

Maharjan led the final standings after the completion of league stage defeating Lama in his seventh round game. Maharjan accumulated six points. Maharjan’s victory over Lama came after he stunned former national champion Badri Lal Nepali.

Lama, who had stunned Nepali and amateur champion Chhitij Bhandari on Monday, had a day to forget as he was held by Panta in the sixth round. Panta capped a memorable day with another draw against reigning Nepal champion and Candidate Master (CM) Keshav Shrestha.

Rai also had two stalemates, holding CM Rijendra Rajbhandari in the sixth and Bhandari in the seventh round. Lama, Panta and Rai have 5.5 points.

While the winner of the knockout will ride home a motorbike worth Rs 172,000, the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect cash purse of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000. Maharjan will play Panta and Rai will meet Lama. Bhandari, Rajbhandari and Suman Lama also had 5.5 points but failed to make the cut on progressive points. The trio will now battle for the league title along with Keshav, CM Bhupendra Niraula, Nepali, Rabindra Shakya, Ganesh Man Duwal and Lava Shrestha.