KATHMANDU; Nepali players gave a disappointing performance in the fourth round of the ninth United Insurance and United Leasing Grand Masters Chess Tournament in Dhaka today.

FIDE Master (FM) Manish Hamal drew with 2316-rated FM Taibur Md Rahman of Bangladesh. With one win and two draws Hamal has collected two points so far. The 2086-rated is paired with 2532-rated Grand Master of Bangladesh Abdulla Al-Rakib in the fifth round.

As Nepal champion Badri Lal Nepali was paired with compatriot Naveen Tandukar, Nepal saw two more draws on the day. The 2162-rated Nepali and 2133-rated Tandukar have both earned one point so far after the completion of fourth round.

Keshav Shrestha who collected 1.5 points the day before, lost to 2316-rated Bangladeshi FM Aminul K Islam. Islam suffered a defeat from FM Hamal in the first round match.

Former Nepal Champion Bilam Lal Shrestha also lost his fourth round match to 2256-rated Mahfuzur Syed Rahman, another FM from Bangladesh. Shrestha, who earned a point in the third round following a bye, is still to open his account.