MARTYN DEL CASTILHO AND JUSTIN BLACKMAN of Barbados along with Trinidadians, Christopher Raphael and Justin Salloum, were all sharing the lead on four-and-a-half points when Round 5 of the Sagicor Open Junior Chess Championships drew to a close Thursday at the National Union of Public Workers headquarters.

del Castilho catapulted himself to the top of the standings by defeating Marcus Joseph of Trinidad in their Round 4 encounter. He then returned in Round 5 to battle to a tense draw with Trinidadian Under-14 champion Raphael.

The other Bajan leader, Blackman, put himself in contention for the title by overcoming Trinidadian Kevin Cupid in a very tense struggle in their Round 3 encounter, and then returned in Round 5 to battle to an end-game draw with Valence Jordan of Jamaica.

Salloum continues to be the Achilles heel for the Bajan players, as he chalked up victories against No. 2 seed and internationally-rated junior player Shamell Howell and rising star Alex Jackman.

Action on the lower boards was not without its drama as Under-12 champion Omari Teka toppled Under-16 squad member Kirk Grant in an epic clash of David vs Goliath. In another exciting encounter, newly-crowned Sagicor Under-12 champion Xavier Mansour defeated seasoned player Donovan Austin.

As action resumes in Round 6, the whole weight of the chess-playing public will rest on the shoulders of Justin Blackman and del Castilho as they take on the might of Trinidad and Tobago.

On Board 1, del Castilho will take on Salloum in an effort to avenge the Bajan players who would have perished at his hands.

On Board 2, Blackman will be looking to even out the score when he takes on Raphael who defeated him in last year's championship.

In other matches, FIDE-rated Howell will take on Under-20 champion Wendell Meusa in an "all Bajan clash". On Boards 4 and 5, Jamaican Jordan and Brandon Wilson will be looking to put themselves back into contention when they play Trinidadians Cupid and Esan Wilshire.

In another Bajan vs Trinidad and Tobago clash Marcus Joseph will take on Under-20 squad member Brian Branch. (PR)