Round 3 was a great night of chess with all 8 games decisive! First game to finish was the encounter between Michael Schreenan and Jason Brotheridge. In a virtual lightning game, Michael played his usual 1. e4 after which the game “devolved” into what he described as “Morphy at the opera”, a 19th century mess in which Jason was wiped off the board.

Simon Feros met Scott Stewart in a full-blooded Sicilian. Scott won the exchange in the middlegame and later picked up 2 pawns as well to win efficiently. Earlier in the week, Scott’s adjourned Round 1 game against Joel Beggs was completed. From the initial even position, Scott outplayed his dangerous opponent, who missed chances to hold, and scored an important win.

Joel Beggs, bruised after 2 losses, met dark horse Robert Loveband. Another main-line Sicilian, it was a tough, even, theoretical game until Rob picked up a pawn in the middlegame complications. Thereafter, Joel collapsed and Rob's pieces went on a pawn picking spree before Joel resigned. A major blow for the title aspirant.

Jamie Brotheridge faced Robert Bailey’s Benoni Defence. Rob seemed to have the better of a mind-bogglingly complicated middlegame until Jamie managed to break out of his cramped position and force Black’s resignation with a withering attack on his king.

Peter Miitel met John Abson and he played his usual Colle/London system hybrid. White picked up a pawn early in a complex position and quickly increased the pressure to break through John’s defence, winning a piece and several more pawns. The win was easy from there.

Darren Young faced Patrick Cook and surprised the defending champion by accepting the offer of an Alekhine Defence. White dropped a pawn early and found himself in a very awkward position. Patrick squeezed until Darren gave away a piece and then traded down to an easy endgame win.

James Eldridge played John Frangakis in a Caro-Kann. The game was dead even throughout, but neither player offered a draw. In a long game, both gained passed pawns, but James turned out to have one too many and scored a good win.

The last game to finish was the meeting of Tim Commons and Ballarat chess legend Kevin Perrin. Another Sicilian, Tim got into difficulties early before embarking on a sacrificial adventure that restored the balance and created an interesting position. Tim took the fight to the 7-time champion who survived by the skin of his teeth and eventually won a Queen and pawn’s endgame that Tim might have been able to save.