Host team Grand Master Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son was held to a draw by International Master Croatian Saric Ivan in the sixth game at the World Youth Chess Championships 2008 in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

Son now has five points and is leading in the U18 male category as other contenders David Howell of Britain, Matlakov Maxim of Russia and Tomczak Jacek of Poland didn’t win the sixth game.

Meanwhile, Vietnam medal hopeful in the girls’ U16 category Hoang Thi Nhu Y is almost out of the running for a medal now with only 3.5 points, 1.5 points from the leading group.

Reported by Quang Huy