At the half ways point of the 2024 Rock Hard Cement National Chess Championship final, Emar Edwards holds a slim half point lead from FIDE master Martyn Del Castilho, but Del Castilho has a game in hand.

Edwards has three points from his four games, while Del Castilho has two and a half points from his three matches. Edwards suffered an upset defeat at the hands of Adam Roachford in his last match, while Del Castilho had to be contented with a draw against Justin Parsons in his last round four outing.

Roachford lies next with a group of four players on two points. These include himself, Kemp Lynch, Amari Blackett and Hannah Wilson. The young Blackett has not been over awed by his first national finals and has managed to defeat more experienced opponents like Roachford.

The other players in the field, Justin Parsons, Ronaldo Rochester and Muralidhar Areti bring up the rear of the field but will be hoping to make an impact in the final half of the event.

The National finals is a 10 player round robin event, but this year, the late withdrawal of a player has turned it into a 9-player field. Action will continue this weekend at the Coles Building, Bay Street, Bridgetown, with games at 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.