Thursday, August 10 2006 12:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vlissingen: Parimarjan Negi yet again comes up with an exemplary performance to beat International Master Koen Leenhouts of Holland and moves to joint lead after the end of the fifth round of the Hogeschool Zeeland International Chess tournament here.

The five-member Indian contingent have a good day in the 9-rounds Swiss tournament with GM Dibyendu Barua settling for a draw with top seed GM Mikhail Gurevich of Turkey and maintaining his joint lead position.

International Master Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury and IM in waiting Saptarshi Roy record smooth victories over Dutchmen Plukkel Sjoerd and Haak Eelko respectively.

Frans Wolferink holds IM Roktim Bandyopadhyay to a draw.

With four rounds remaining in the tournament, the lead is now shared by as many as nine players with 4.5 points apiece.

They are second seed Michal Krasenkow of Poland, GM Sergey Erenburg of Israel, GMs Friso Nijboer and Erwin L'Ami from Holland, GM Vyacheslav Ikonnikov of Russia, GM Li Shilong of China, IM Thomas Henrichs of Germany, Barua and Negi.

As many as 22 players including Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury and Saptarshi Roy share the 10th spot with 4 points each in their kitty while Bandyopadhyay is in the next group, having earned 3.5 points so far.

World's Youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan's game is nearly one sided as Leenhouts is outwitted quite early in a Ruy Lopez game.