Chile poll shows presidency race likely in run-off

SANTIAGO Nov 11 (Reuters) - Chile's presidential race is seen going to a January run-off between conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera and the ruling bloc's candidate, former President Eduardo Frei, top pollster CEP said on Wednesday.

The survey by CEP, or Center for Public Studies, regarded as Chile's benchmark poll, showed Pinera of the opposition center-right Renovacion Nacional party winning 36 percent of the vote in a first round in December against 26 percent for Frei of the ruling center-left coalition and 19 percent for independent Marco Enriquez-Ominami.

That would push the election into a January 10 run-off between Pinera and Frei. (Reporting by Simon Gardner and Rodrigo Martinez, editing by Jackie Frank)