Zia confirmed the title with one game in hand in the Mercantile Bank 31st National Chess Championship as his nearest rival International Master Reefat Bin Sattar remained two points behind after the penultimate round.

Zia stretched his collection to an unassailable 11 points while Reefat, who beat IM Enamul Hossain Rajib, improved his tally to nine points.

Country's first GM Niaz Murshed lost his 12th round board to FIDE Master Abu Sufian Shakil to share the third spot with IM Abdullah Al Rakib, who defeated Mainuddin Ahmed. Both are level on 8.5 points.