IN THE FOREFRONT. Top local junior Martyn Del Castilho is the joint leader afer five rounds of competition in the CGI BOA National Chess Championships. (GP)

FIDE MASTER DELISLE WARNER and top local junior Martyn Del Castilho are leading the standings after five rounds of competition in the CGI BOA National Chess Championships being played at Bridge House, The City.

Warner battled to a draw after a tense four-hour battle against defending champion Terry Farley in the third round. Warner, however played brilliantly to crush Roberto Castillo
in 20 moves in Round 4 and in the fifth round won another intense battle against Cleveston Ifill to lead the pack.

Del Castilho, who held the sole top spot going into Round 5 came up against Fide master Philip Corbin who was determined to exact vengeance for his crushing defeat at the hands of Del Castilho in the qualifying tournament. Del Castilho was equal to the task and in the end the two had to settle for a draw.

Farley, who has now achieved an international rating that qualifies him for the Fide Master title, has been playing well but is failing to finish off his opponents. In Round 3, he employed his usual English Opening and obtained a slight advantage going into the middle game.

Warner, however, defended stubbornly and Farley was forced to draw despite being the exchange up. In Round 4 Farley was once again forced to concede a draw against the talented Queen's College junior Justin Blackman and in Round 5, although he gained a spatial advantage against Kelvin Daniel's French Defence, he failed to force a win and had
to settle for a draw.

In the CGI Ladies National Championship, defending champion Corrine Howard was defeated by Katrina Blackman in Round 3. Howard, in serious time trouble, failed
to find a move that could have forced a draw. Blackman, however remained calm, played the ending accurately and collected the full point.

Howard was undeterred and forced her way back into the lead by defeating Comarie Mansour and Melissa Sookram in Rounds 4 and 5, respectively. Howard now leads the tournament on four points, tied with Teresa Howell.

In Round 6, Howell and Howard will meet in a game that could decide the championship.

Chess enthusiasts may follow the action on the federation's website Barbados.org/chess or visit Bridge House, The City, on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m and Saturdays at 4 p.m.
(PR)