ILLAM: Candidate Master Bhupendra Niraula took lead in the 19th National Chess Tournament here on Saturday. Niraula defeated Nepal champion Keshav Shrestha in the fourth round to accumulate four points from as many matches. Earlier, Niraula defeated Kamal Shrestha in the third round. Olympiad Sajin Maharjan moved to second position with 3.5 points with a draw against FIDE Master Manish Hamal and a win over Kshitiz Bhandari. Hamal, Bilam Lal Shrestha, Sujendra Prasad Shrestha. Himal Lama, Purushottam Chaulagain and Nabin Tandukar have earned three points from four rounds. In the fourth Women  National Chess Championship, Monalisa Khamboo and Ashmita Adhikari shared lead with 3.5 points each.