The first stage of the National Championship cycle – the Maltco Preliminaries – had a record number of participants.

In fact, 31 players started the journey which ultimately decides who will be declared Malta champion in 2015.

Ten players qualify to the next round of the championship (the Candidates). This will be played in July where experienced and high-rated players join in.

Veteran Ron Sammut is the highest seed in the Preliminaries with a rating of 1,789. He is closely followed by Matthew Saliba (1,770), Ian Refalo (1,743) and John Richards (1,742).

There were three surprises in the first round when Sammut was beaten by Claude Licari on first board, rated player Alex Farrugia lost to Ray Chircop while Alfred Demanuele beat rated Matthew Grech.

The tournament has attracted a variety of players with one octogenarian and eight players under the age of 15 involved in the tournament.

In the second round, Samuel Herd beat Joseph Gatt while Demanuele got the better of Alfred Azzopardi. Chircop beat Sammut and newcomer Xylon Cassar outsmarted rated Lawrence Ancilleri.

Classification (after two rounds)

Two points: Saliba, Demanuele, Herd, Refalo, Richards, Alexa, Chircop.

1.5 points: R. Azzopardi, Muscat.

1 point: A. Azzopardi, Klotz, J. Gatt, Farrugia, Grech, Psaila, S. Gatt, Licari, Cuschieri, G. Vella, Gauci, Cassar, Hawk, J. Vella.

Nil: Sammut, Ancilleri, Conti, Caruana, Galea, Borg, Falzon, J. Azzopardi.