Super Grandmaster Le Quang Liem of Viet Nam earned his first win at the Spice Cup Chess Festival in the US, beating Csaba Balogh of Hungary in the ninth round yesterday.

Liem, with eight draws and one win, scored five points to rank second among six contenders.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France leads the tournament with 5.5 points.

Liem still has a chance to defend his title by winning the last round today when he faces Wesley So of the Philippines and if Vachier-Lagrave does not triumph.-VNS