Going into Round 12, only 3 players were left in the for the title: Gordon Lindberg, Scott Stewart and Charlie Andrews with a theoretical chance.

Top seed, Jing Jia toon on Gordon Lindberg and played his favourite version of the Larsen (1. Nf3 2. b3). White picked up a pawn early at the cost of an uncastled king and gained more space in the unusual middle-game position. However, Gordon regained the pawn with a neat combination late in the middle-game and seized the initiative in a tricky rook ending where white’s far advanced king appeared caught in a mating net. Jing escaped into a lost ending and patient harassment caused Gordon to slip up and Jing snatched a lucky draw. Gordon Lindberg thus finishes on 11 points and is the player to catch.

2nd seed Patrick Cook faced his recent bete noir Scott Stewart and for only the 2nd time in this tournament left his Larsen’s Opening at home, preferring to directly challenge Scott’s Dutch Defence. The players followed a CC game they are currently playing until Scott varied on move 9. A complex, dynamic position arose in which black was close to being in zugswang. White, in trying to confuse his opponent, succeeded only in confusing himself and quickly lost control of the game. Scott was typically ruthless in finishing Patrick off. A vital win for Scott who can now win the tournament outright if he wins his last two games.

Charlie Andrews was white against Clint Stewart and played what he himself called a “trash opening” 1. c3 (actually the obscure Saragassa Opening) which quickly transposed into Bird’s Opening (1. f4). Clint, having won three games in a row, was inspired and trapped a bishop as early as move 12 to Charlie’s astonishment. Clint had little trouble having in the full point thereafter. This defeat knocked Charlie out of the running for the title.

Peter Lumsdon took on Jamie Brotheridge and a pretty standard Sicilian saw white holding the initiative against seemingly solid defence by black. On move 22, white missed a marvellous combination that would win outright, opting for a modest retreat instead, before committing hari-kara shortly after with a grotesque blunder.

Robert Bailey versus Kevin Perrin was a Slav/Grunfeld hybrid; a typically manoeuvring game was played. With both sides having solid positions Rob offered a draw which Kevin declined, after which Rob “blundered” the exchange and discovered that he’d gained a winning attack.

Mitchel Bailey faced John Lavery’s Benko Gambit and handled this dangerous defence with calm assuredness, keeping the gambit pawn from the opening. White then picked up the exchange as well in the middle-game to be well placed for an upset win. The Barkers Creek veteran is tough to beat however, and after finally regaining the gambit pawn accepted Mitchel’s draw offer.

John Frangakis versus Judd Madden was a Catalan type opening typical of John in recent years. Looking to get on the scoreboard after 10 straight losses. White lashed out with a Queen sacrifice that never looked like working and registered loss no. 11.

One adjourned game was decided this week, when the John Lavery versus Charlie Andrews game from round 3 was “resumed”. As if to emphasise his gambling style of play, Charlie suggested the outcome be decided by the toss of a coin: “Heads you win, tails it’s a draw”. Heads it was, so John “won” a game he would probably have won anyway.