Preliminaries '97

The Preliminaries is the first tournament of the Maltese Championship Cycle. The top 6 qualify to the Candidates tournament.

Seven players are taking part in this year's preliminaries.  A big
drop after the 19 that took part last year!  The Federation's decision
to allow second division players to the Candidates tournament must
have affected this.  Thus the main fight this year will be to avoid 
last place thus ensuring a place in the Candidates.

The Players are:  Michael Cuschier, Adrian Urpani, James Cauchi, Ian
Refalo, Mario Haber, Lawrence Agius and Claude Tabone.

Round 1

A. Urpani    - C. Tabone    0-1
J. Cauchi    - L. Agius     0-1
I. Refalo    - M. Haber     0-1
M. Cuschieri bye.


Round 2

L. Agius     - I. Refalo    0-1
C. Tabone    - J. Cauchi    1-0
M. Cuschieri - A. Urpani    0-1
M. Haber bye.


Round 3

M. Haber     - L. Agius     0-1
J. Cauchi    - M. Cuschieri 1-0
I. Refalo    - C. Tabone    0-1
A. Urpani bye.


Round 4

M. Cuschieri - I. Refalo    1-0
A. Urpani    - J. Cauchi    1-0
C. Tabone    - M. Haber     1-0
L. Agius bye.

Round 5
I. Refalo    - A. Urpani   .5-.5
M. Haber     - M. Cuschieri 1-0
L. Agius     - C. Tabone    0-1
J. Cauchi bye.

Round 6
J. Cauchi    - I. Refalo    1-0
M. Cuschieri - L. Agius     0-1
A. Urpani    - M. Haber     0-1
C. Tabone bye.

Round 7
M. Haber     - J. Cauchi    0-1
L. Agius     - A. Urpani    0-1
C. Tabone    - M. Cuschieri 1-0
I. Refalo bye.

Positions:

Players       Played   Points

C. Tabone        6      6
A. Urpani        6      3.5
L. Agius         6      3
J. Cauchi        6      3
M. Haber         6      3
I. Refalo        6      1.5
M. Cuschieri     6      1

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