This round saw the 'Clash of the Titans', Kevin Perrin versus Patrick Cook in their 20th championship encounter! Between them, they have 11 titles. The game itself was a bit of a fizzer. Kevin opted for a cautious line of the Reti, while Patrick responded with a careful defence. He made his usual early draw offer which Kevin declined, only to rather sheepishly offer a draw himself 5 moves later after mass exchanges had left the board bereft of life. (And the overall score? 8-7 with 5 draws in favour of Patrick).

In the other main attraction, John Lavery took on top seed Jing Jia. Both players spent some time on the opening, a "Queen's Pawn Opening", vaguely similar to a Gruenfeld. Jing picked up a pawn in the middle game and in his familiar, precise fashion, increased his advantage to have four pawns for the exchange when the game was adjourned. John resigned without resuming play. Jamie Brotheridge played Gordon Lindberg and was 'blown away' by the Ballarat Uni student after ten moves of a French Tarrasch. Tournament leader Rob Bailey played Charlie Andrews and was very pleased with his position after the opening, the Austrian Attack against Charlie's Pirc Defence. However things went sour for Rob in the middle game where he blundered attempting to sharpen the position. Charlie finished him off with some inventive tactics at the end. A setback for the ambitious Rob Bailey.

John Frangakis played a Reti very similar to that of Kevin Perrin, against Peter Lumsdon and seemed to be holding his own late in the middle game. Superior technique and experience told in the end and Peter gained a winning advantage. The only drama was John's interesting attempt to stave off defeat by aiming for the notoriously tricky ending of King, Bishop and Knight against King. Peter didn't need to prove his technique however, since kept a pawn and registered his 2nd win.

Judd Madden lined up against Scott Stewart and surprisingly found himself facing an Alekhine's Defence. Scott won a pawn in a tough theoretical battle before gaining a decisive advantage when Judd dropped a piece in the late middle game. Scott finished him off with precise technique. Mitchel Bailey and Clint Stewart was postponed.

One other game was played, in advance of round 10, when Peter Lumsdon played Gordon Lindberg. According to Gordon, he gained a winning advantage from a Sicilian Najdorf but 'let it slip away'. An important win for Peter.