The major pairings in this round had Peter Lumsdon take on Charlie Andrews' usual Pirc Defence. Black created a serious K-side pawn weakness to aim at and quickly organized his pieces for an attack that netted a pawn and shortly after, a piece as well, to force Peter's resignation. A feature of the game was a pleasing Queen offer by Charlie on move 20, wisely declined by Peter.

Also important was the game between Kevin Perrin and Gordon Lindberg. Kevin opened with the English (1.c4) but the game quickly transposed into the fianchetto variation of the King's Indian Defence. Static pawn structures and major piece maneuvering followed with all the pieces and pawns still on the board into the middle game. Gordon pressed home his advantage with Q sacrifice for R and N with what he thought was forced mate. Kevin coming to the same conclusion resigned, Gordon pointed out that it was perhaps premature seeming a rook ending 1 pawn better for Gordon would have resulted if he sought to regain his material after a counter Q sacrifice from Kevin.

John Lavery, reeling after 3 losses in 2 weeks, faced a dangerous Scott Stewart. John ventured the Moscow variation, a rare line, against Scott's Sicilian Defence, but gained nothing from the opening. A dour battle around John's isolated Q-pawn ensued, and with a Bishops-of-opposite-colour ending looming, a draw was agreed.

Rob Bailey was looking to arrest a 2 game slump when he met 2 nd seed Patrick Cook. Patrick left his Chigorin Defence in the repair shop and opted for the safe and solid Queens Indian Defence. Neither player gained any advantage, which encouraged Rob to offer a draw after 20 moves. Patrick unsurprisingly accepted, after, surprisingly (!) thinking for some time.

Mitchel Bailey versus Jamie Brotheridge featured another Queens Indian Defence. Jamie won a pawn early in the middle game and held on to it into a probably winning rook ending. However, in a bizarre reversal of fortune, Jamie somehow managed to lose! A confidence booster for Mitchel after the disaster in round 1.

Judd Madden built up a nice position against Clint Stewart's Sicilian Defence, culminating in a neat piece sacrifice on move 20 to reach a winning position. He let the win slip with a few inaccuracies and Clint grabbed his chance to snatch a draw by perpetual check. John Frangakis proved no match for the ruthless Jing Jia who swept to victory with the Gruenfeld Defence after just 20-odd moves. Another comprehensive win for the top seed who has recovered from his round 2 shock against Judd Madden.

No less than 4 other games were played during the week. The postponed round 4 game, Mitchel Bailey versus Clint Stewart was a demoralizing disaster for Clint who dropped a rook on move 8 in a Leningrad Dutch. He resigned on the spot of coarse.

The round 7 clash, Gordon Lindberg versus John Lavery was a French Winawer which John was just unable to hold, despite reaching a bishops of opposite colour ending. Another important win for the club debutant. From round 8, Rob Bailey faced Gordon's Queens Indian Defence and was crushed! Black gained a dominant position after an exchange sacrifice and finished Rob off with a rook sacrifice to boot!

The mayhem continued when Gordon played his round 9 game against John Frangakis who seems to have added the Scandinavian Defence (1.e4 d5) to his repertoire. He was probably out of book on move 2!(e5) and was outplayed by Gordon to register his 6 th tournament loss.

Gordon Lindberg is now the player to catch and if he wins his last 2 games, only Scott Stewart could theoretically match his final score!