Patrick Zerafa is the new leader of the 72nd edition of the National Chess Finals following his prestigious win against Peter Sammut Briffa in round eight.

Patrick Zerafa, playing black, took control of the game when Sammut Briffa played an inferior move in a King’s Indian Four Pawns Attack game. Sammut Briffa struggled to equalise however his position deteriorated rapidly and he had to resign.

Duncan Vella, kept up the pressure with his win against Harry Camilleri in a Closed Sicilian game. Vella’s Knight + 3Pawns proved superior to Camilleri’s Bishop + 2Pawns in the end-game with the H pawn finally making it up to the eighth rank. Camilleri resigned on move 63.

Vella plays the top board in round nine and needs the full point to take over the lead from P.Zerafa.

In the third game of the eight round Colin Pace and Robert Zerafa shared the spoils. Both players are now technically out of the race for the crown. Pace plays Camilleri in round nine while R. Zerafa plays Sammut Briffa.

These are the results for round eight (of ten).

P. Sammut Briffa vs Patrick Zerafa 0-1; Harry Camilleri vs Duncan Vella 0-1; Robert Zerafa vs Colin Pace 1/2-1/2.

The classification after eight games reads thus:

1. P. Zerafa – 5.5 pts, 2. D. Vella – 5 pts, 3. P. Sammut Briffa – 4.5 pts, 4. Robert Zerafa – 4 pts, 5. C. Pace – 4 pts, 6. H. Camilleri – 1 pt.

In the parallel Invitation Tournament staged at the same venue John Richards is leading the field.

The table after eight rounds follows:

1. John Richards 6 pts, 2. Bora Stefanovic 5.5 pts, 3. Ronald Sammut 4.5 pts, 4. Ivan Attard 4.5 pts, 5. Andre Xuereb 2.5 pts, 6. Elliot Farrugia 1 pt.