National Master (NM) Peter Myers registered a convincing win over National Junior Champion Miguel Asher on Wednesday to maintain a slim half-point lead atop the National Chess Championship standings with seven points from eight games.

With only three rounds to go, Myers is on course to win his first National Championship title if he can get past fellow National Master Andrew Mellace, who has been showing good form recently, having won the last two chess tournaments prior to the National Championships.

Myers is closely followed by pre-tournament favourite National Master Damion Davy, who proved too much for veteran Mark Henry on Wednesday, moving to 6.5 points from eight games. Davy drew with Myers in round seven and hence will have to hope that Mellace can halt Myers’ march to the national title.

Ian Wilkinson, who led the tournament briefly after four rounds, is now in third place with 5.5/8. Wilkinson, playing the best chess of his life, bounced back from a horrible loss to Myers to overwhelm NM Mark Holness in round eight.

Meanwhile, woman FIDE Master (WFM) and nine-time defending women’s chess champion Deborah Richards continues to lead the 2011 National Women’s Chess Championship with a perfect score of five points from five games.

Krishna Gray and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Zhu Hui trail her with 3.5 points each.