Round 8 commenced with the unfortunate announcement that Jamie Brotheridge and his brother Jason have withdrawn from the tournament. A decision on the status of their games is pending.

The heavyweight clash on the night was the 22nd championship encounter between the 2nd seed Patrick Cook and 3rd seed Kevin Perrin. Once again Patrick left the Larsen at home, preferring the difficult and complex Catalan. White took quite a few risks in the middle game, attempting to gain an edge, but only succeeded in conceding a pawn, prompting his “usual” draw offer. Kevin declined but quickly went astray, thus becoming the latest victim of “Patrick’s curse”, when White found a winning pawn push.

Rob Loveband faced John Abson, white winning a pawn early in a Queen’s Gambit Declined. Rob increased his material advantage in the middle game with incisive play and had no trouble wrapping up the point.

Michael Schreenan met Simon Feros who played a Pirc Defence. The game quickly became the usual “Michaelmess” with White throwing everything into attack! Black garnered 2 pieces and a pawn for rook in the process, survived the assault, and went on to win comfortably.

James Eldridge played Darren Young who played, unsurprisingly, a Philidor, although in a roundabout way White gained space in the opening, but not much else, and had to work hard to convert it into a decisive material advantage, which he duly did.

John Frangakis played his usual Trompovsky opening against Tim Commons. Tim came well-prepared, having “booked up” and countered with the main line (2… Ne4), something no one else seems to have done at the club. The game was very complicated, with a material imbalance and chances for both sides and deservedly ended with the point shared, the only draw of the round.

The game of the round was probably Rob Bailey versus Peter Miitel. Rob attacked form the start with the ultra-sharp Morra Gambit. Peter calmly accepted the material on offer, gaining 2 pieces and a pawn for rook and set about converting to a win with excellent endgame technique.

The postponed round 7 game Darren Young versus Michael Schreenan was played during the week and was a win for Michael in a reprise of last years round 1 upset.