Pace remains in the lead with full points

The fourth round of the Malta Open Chess Championship was held last Saturday at the Paradise Bay Hotel.

The highlight of the day was the clash between David Cilia Vincenti and current Malta champion Colin Pace.

Although Cilia Vincenti enjoyed the advantage of the white pieces, Pace equalised quickly in a queen's pawn opening and eventually took the initiative and the full point after Cilia Vincenti failed to avoid a subtle trap that saw him lose a precious rook. Pace is the only player with full points.

On second board, Duncan Vella defeated Horace Cassar in a Sicilian defence. Other top-of-the-table, clashes included the draw between John Petterson and Hans Peter Graf, and another draw between veteran Harry Camilleri and young Mark Cardona.

Cardona could not transform an extra pawn into a win in a difficult rook endgame.

Junior champion Charles Sinn produced some very interesting manoeuvers to claim a rook and the game against Ayman Ibrahim who up to this round was the best unrated player.

Fenech and Aquilina have now taken this honour with 2.5 points.

The fifth round, due to take place this Saturday, will see the clash for the top spot between champion Pace and Vella.

A win for Pace will make him sure favourite to land first place with two more rounds remaining.

Full results (round four)

Cilia Vincenti vs Pace 0-1;
Vella vs Cassar 1-0;
Petterson vs Graf draw;
Harry Camilleri vs Cardona draw;
Mizzi vs Braden Borg 1-0;
Fenech vs Sammut draw;
Oliver Said vs Farrugia 1-0;
Luke Saliba vs Ivan Attard 0-1;
Sinn vs Ibrahim 1-0;
Rita Saliba vs Bugelli 0-1;
Aquilina vs Ryan Borg 1-0;
Daniel Saliba vs Micallef 1-0;
Cuschieri vs Demanuele 0-1;
Hans Camilleri vs Aksentic 1-0 wo;
Muscat Baron vs Aleksandr 0-1;
Azzopardi vs Ebejer 1-0;
Psaila vs Lau 0-1;
Paul Saliba vs Stephen Attard 1-0;
Zammit vs Gauci 1-0;
Robert Said bye.

Pairings for round five

Pace vs Vella; Graf vs Cilia Vincenti; O. Said vs Harry Camilleri; Cassar vs Sinn; Attard vs Mizzi; Bugelli vs Petterson; Fenech vs Cardona; Sammut vs Aquilina; Demanuele vs D. Saliba; Aleksandr vs B. Borg; Ibrahim vs Hans Camilleri; Farrugia vs Azzopardi; Lau vs L. Saliba; R. Borg vs P. Saliba; Cuschieri vs R. Saliba; Ebejer vs Muscat Baron; Micallef vs Zammit; Aksentic vs R. Said; Stephen Attard vs Psaila; Gauci bye.