This round saw the first and second seeds, Jing Jia and Patrick Cook, finally meet, though the outcome was important only for Jing Patrick defended with the French, as expected, but Jing surprised many by playing the Alekhine-Chatard Attack. The same position as in Lumsdon-cook from round 8 was reached, but Patrick erred badly on move 9 and Jing won a fine Miniature. Mitchel Bailey played Kevin Perrin and played Kevin’s own favorite Fianchetto variation against the Kings Indian. Mitchel won a piece in the opening by staying alert and seemed headed for a convincing win when he suddenly squanders his entire advantage with an ill-timed piece sacrifice. The game fizzled to a draw shortly after.

John Lavery versus Judd Madden was a tough manoeuvring game. Judd Tried to play the French, But John wasn’t in the mood and sidestep it into a strange Sicilian, which seemed a bad idea after Judd picked up a pawn with strong play. Judd continued confidently, swapping down to a rook and pawn ending. It was here that John’s great experience told, as he played aggressive endgame strategy to dominate the position and regain his material with interest. It was an impressive win for the Barkers Creek Veteran.

Robert Bailey took on Jamie Brotheridge in a Queens Gambit Accepted. A tight, interesting positional struggle ensued, with Jamie eventually winning a pawn late in the middle game. Robert however, patiently frustrated Jamie efforts to simplify the position and was duly rewarded, winning back his pawn and coming close to winning. The mutual back rank weakness forced a draw. John Frangakis met Clint Stewart and a horrendously complicated Dutch Leningrad was reached. Both players used a lot of time trying to fathom the complexities of the position, and it appeared Black who gained the upper hand when he grabbed a pawn and exposed the white’s King in the middle game.

John, though, is nothing if not persistent, and it paid off when he regained his pawn and won anther with a neat tactical trick. On move 32 he missed a golden opportunity to win a piece and finish off Clint, but confessed after the game that he just didn’t see it. With everything still to play for, John walked into a mate in one. Anther terrible blow for last years reserves champion. Charlie versus Scott Stewart was postponed while Peter Lumsdon versus Gordon Lindberg was played earlier.