The first round saw some the tournament heavyweights in key match-ups, most notably the showdown between arch rivals Peter Lumsdon and seven times club champion, Kevin Perrin. The game was a suitably tense and difficult affair; Lumsdon gained a piece for two pawns after a spirited attack against Perrin's Sicilian Defence and converted his advantage late in the endgame.

The other key pairing had Scott Stewart versus strong newcomer Gordon Lindberg. Another Sicilian, the two players maintained a dynamic equilibrium, typical of the Sicilian, before settling on the only draw of the round. Both players were probably happy with the result.

Top seed, 13 year old Jing Jia, had surprisingly little trouble in disposing of the dangerous Jamie Brotheridge, who dropped a pawn early in a Caro-Kann Defence. Efficient pressure saw Jing win the exchange as well, and Jamie resigned shortly after

John Frangakis, promoted from last years Reserves, faced the experienced John Lavery from Barkers Creek. Lavery eventually ground down Frangakis' Catalan-type structure, despite stubborn resistance. Charlie Andrews, the Houdini of the 2002 event, proved too good for a determined Judd Madden.

Patrick Cook played a Larsen's Opening against Clint Stewart's Dutch set-up: no surprises there. The game was a fighting affair, with Stewart walking into a mate in 1 in a position he may well have been winning! A lucky escape for the four times champion.

The most dramatic game of the round saw the Bailey boys, Robert and Mitchel, square off in a Queen's Gambit Declined. After a typical QGD positional struggle, the game reached a drawn pawn ending. However, Mitchel, believing he'd found a win, set off on a fatal adventure with his King and quickly found himself forced to resign.