KATHMANDU: Himal Lama, Candidate Master Kshitiz Bhandari, Manish Hamal and Sumit Panta advanced to the semi-finals of the Shivani Air fifth Kamana Sahakari Chess Tournament after seven rounds on Wednesday.

Lama defeated CM Keshab Shrestha in the sixth round before sharing points with Surbir Lama in the seventh. Bhandari saw off Punyaman Karmacharya in the seventh round. Lama and Bhandari accumulated six points each.

Hamal and Panta made it to the last four leaving behind Badri Lal Nepali and Surbir Lama on tiebreaker after being tied on 5.5 points. However, Nepali and Lama are leading the league which will be held for 11th rounds.