Lalitpur, August 18:

Defending champion Keshav Shrestha won the first round match on the opening day of the 15th National Chess Tournament today.

Other big guns Badri Lal Nepali, Bilam Lal Shrestha and Surbir Lama also won. The only lady participant of the tournament Monalisa Khumboo lost against Surbir while the youngest player Nikesh Duwal also tasted victory.

Other winners include Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, Janardan Shrestha, Prachanda Man Malakar, Sujendra Prasad Shrestha, Basanta Rawal, Suman Suwal, Shyam Shrestha, Manish Hamal, Rajan Chhetri, Niraj Niraula, Prakash Nepal, Rajesh Kakchyapati, Niranjan Prajapati and Madhav Prasad Pradhan.

In all, 100 players are taking part in the tournament played under Swiss League system.