Vella closes on title

Duncan Vella moved a step closer to winning the Malta Open Chess Championship when he defeated Harry Camilleri in a French Tarrash Defence.

Vella now has a one-point advantage over the nearest rivals with one game remaining.

On board two, Hans Peter Graf drew his game against Colin Pace and the clash between Paul Mizzi and Horace Cassar also ended in a draw.

These two draws allowed Mark Cardona to join a group of five players in second place with four-and-a-half points out of a possible six. Cardona defeated Ron Sammut in a Sicilian Defence.

There were also good wins for O. Said, A. Ibrahim (in pole for best unrated title), U. Lau, and young female player Rita Saliba.

Saliba overcame the challenge of another promising youngster, Ryan Borg, in an interesting end-game where a superb white knight caused havoc in the black camp.

The final round's top clashes see Vella against Mizzi, Pace against Cardona and Cassar against Graf.

Standings: 1. Vella 5.5pts; 2-6. Pace, Graf, Cassar, Mizzi, Caronda 4.5; 7-10. Cilia Vincenti, Harry Camilleri, O. Said, Petterson 4; 11-16. Sinn, Sammut, Ibrahim, I. Attard, Fenech, Lau 3.5; 17-22. Farrugia, Azzopardi, D. Saliba, B. Borg, Bugelli, Demanuele 3; 23-31. L. Saliba, Cuschieri, Hans Camilleri, Aquilina, R. Saliba, Micallef, P. Saliba, Psaila, Zammit 2.5; 32-34. Aleksandr, Ebejer, Muscat Baron 2; 35. R. Borg 1.5; 36-39. Gauci, S. Attard, Aksentic, R. Said 1.