PRESS RELEASE 5: June 17, 2005

 

DEL CASTILHO DRAWS 8^TH ROUND AT PAN AMERICAN UNDER 16

 

 

Martyn Del Castiho, a pawn up, had to settle for a draw against Brazilian Antonio Car Bambino Filho when play ended in Round 8 of the Pan American Youth Chess Championships currently underway in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Filho, playing the white pieces, opted to open with an English Defense which resulted in a very solid positional game. The Brazilian sacrificed a pawn in the ending to force a break through for his queen side pawns but Del Castilho was able to block their progress.

 

This left both players in a cold war like stalemate where neither could make progress. Filho eventually offer the draw which Del Castilho had no option but to accept, even a pawn up.

 

Tournament leader FIDE Master Max Cornejo (2229) of Peru dropped the ball big time losing his 8^th Round match to Damian Lemos (2235) of Argentina. This allowed Number 1 Seed FIDE Master Axel Bachman of Paraguay to retake 1^st spot when he beat another Peruvian FIDE Master Garri Pancheco (2168)

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FIDE Master Max Cornejo of Peru

 

With only 1 round to go Bachman who has 7 points now holds a slender ½ point lead over Cornejo and Lemos both of whom are tied on 6 ½.points.

 

Two Chileans  Maurico Flores Rios (2131) .and Alvardo Valles Escobar share 4^th positon on 6 points.

 

Del Castilho, Barbados’s and the a English speaking Caribbean’s sole representative at these championships, moves up the standing to tie with 13 other players on 4 ½ points for 15^th place.

 

Del Castilho final match sees him paired with US player Peter Yeh with the advantage of having the white pieces.