In the heavyweight battle of the round, 7 times club champion Kevin Perrin took on top seed Scott Stewart. A Dutch Defence, as expected, the game become a tense, theoretical duel. In the middlegame, Scott sacrificed a pawn for the iniative, then the exchange as well for an attack. Scott admitted later that he thought Kevin was winning, but in the complications, White went astray and Scott triumphed in a difficult game.

John Frangakis had the daunting task of playing defending champion Patrick Cook. A Nimzo-Indian Defence produced an even position and after a mass exchange of pieces in the middlegame a Queen and pawns ending was reached. Patrick probed the White position for some time trying to provoke a weakness but was eventually forced to concede a draw. An excellent, solid result for John.

Rob Bailey faced Rob Loveband. In a Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, White emerged from the opening a pawn up and then, with excellent attacking chess won Black's Queen, and the game shortly after.

Michael Schreenan played Jamie Brotheridge who defended with the Scandinavian Defence (1. e4 d5), normally the specialty of Kevin Perrin. Michael turned it into an odd French, but after dropping his Queen in a lively middlegame, was unable to survive for long.

John Abson met James Eldridge in another Scandinavian and gained a positional advantage with inventive play. John held a slight edge into the endgame but was then outplayed by James who went on to score a fine win.

The last game to finish on the night was Tim Commons versus Clint Stewart. From a Sicilian Defence, a typically complicated, evenly balanced middlegame was reached. Clint gained a pawn with excellent tactical play and turned down Tim's draw offer. Tim then regainded the pawn with splendid counter-attacking play and a draw was subsequently agreed upon anyway.