The second phase of the National Chess Championship – the Candidates - kindly sponsored by Simonds Farsons Cisk, kicked off last Tuesday at the MCF premises in Sliema. The contenders are playing for four places in the National finals due this September where they will face the current champion Andrew Borg and runner-up Colin Pace in an all-play-all, ten round competition, for the National title.

Top seed David Cilia Vincenti had a tough time to beat John Richards who was returning to the National Championship after a number of years. The game took a gruelling four hours to be resolved.

Second seed and veteran NM Harry Camilleri also had a very difficult game against Oliver Said and it was only through his experience in the end-game that he managed to hold his position and eventually change it into a win.

There were wins for Joe Gauci, Mark Cardona, Stephen Farrugia, Patrick Zerafa and Horace Cassar with the game between Matthew Saliba and Paul Mizzi ending in a draw.

The next round will be played today.

First Round results: Cilia Vincenti-J.Richards 1-0; O.Said-H.Camilleri 0-1; J.Gauci -P.Sammut 1-0; F.Aguilera-M.Cardona 0-1; S.Farrugia-A.Ibrahim 1-0; M.Saliba-P.Mizzi draw; P.Zerafa-S.Sacco 1-0; C.Psaila-H.Cassar 0-1.