Officials in Chile begin to count votes as polling places came to a close on Sunday.

The presidential run-off election is tight between conservative Sebastian Pinera and left-wing former president Eduardo Frei.

Recent polls showed airline magnate Pinera narrowly edging out Frei.

Tensions were high as supporters of both candidates gathered waiting for ballots to be read at Chile’s National Stadium.

An early projection from Chile’s Canal 13 has predicted Pinera to win with 52 percent of the vote, defeating Frei with 48 percent.

A win by Harvard-trained economist Pinera would mark a shift to the right in a region dominated by leftist rulers from Venezuela to Argentina.

No major changes to economic policy are expected whoever wins.