The 70th Malta Chess Championship Finals, kindly sponsored by Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, has reached the sixth round of ten.

Veteran Harry Camilleri has extended slightly his lead at the top of the table with a convincing win against Horace Cassar. Cassar missed an opportunity to equalise his position and paid dearly for this as Camilleri’s d-pawn forced its way slowly up the board until the black pieces were in complete Zugzwang. At this point Cassar resigned the game.

On the second board Joe Gauci and Andrew Borg drew their game with the final position still a very complicated middle position. Borg is now trailing Camilleri by one full point and must beat him in round eight to stand a chance of retaining his crown. Gauci, on his part, is mathematically still in the run however he requires straight wins to get any closer to the top two.

On third board Junior Champion Mark Cardona had the better of Paul Mizzi after containing a strong attack in the centre. Mizzi sacrificed a pawn to penetrate the position but Cardona defended well and slowly turned the table in his favour.

Standings after six games:

1. Harry Camilleri 5 points; 2. Andrew Borg 4 pts; 3 Joseph Gauci 3½ pts; 4. Horace Cassar 2 pts; 5. Mark Cardona 2 pts; 6 Paul Mizzi 1½ pts.