After the second of five rounds from the 2002 Malta Junior Chess Championship, six players are leading the standings. Daniel Abela, Sam Sacco, Matthew Saliba, James Cauchi, Kenneth Curmi and Mark Cardona all have a full score.

The standard of play is indeed higher than usual for this type of competition. In fact, all six leaders had a long carefully thought-out plan, executed with perfect timing.

Most of them took the full two hours available for the whole game.

On the first board Charles Sinn faced Abela who occupied more and more central territory pushing his opponent into closed areas. With seconds to go, however, Sinn had to acknowledge defeat.

Curmi gained early material against Said. Then, Curmi continued to menace checkmates until his opponent, lost for alternative defences, succumbed to a final onslaught by a well supported queen.

In the third round, the mid-point of the competition, the top six pack will probably be reduced to three leaders - but further balanced play is expected from all contenders.