Five players IM Ravi Gopal Hegde (B’luru), R. Hanumantha (B’luru), GM M.S. Thejkumar (Mysuru), D.Yashas (B’luru) and Naveen S. Hegde (UK) with five points each shared the lead in the Karnataka State Open Chess Championship-2018, conducted by Chikkamagalore District Chess Association at Horanadu Temple Hall yesterday.

Mysuru’s M.P. Ajith is placed 10th (4 points), while other Mysuru players Manasa (3.5 points) and Nagendra Muralidhar (3.5 points) are placed 41st and 47th respectively after five rounds. In the fifth round, GM Thejkumar scored a good win over Ramachandra Bhat while IM Ravi Gopal Hegde beat M.T. Thyagaraj.