Clint Stewart took on Jamie Brotheridge who surprised many club members by adopting the Scandinavian Defence. A popular opening in this championship it seems. White misplayed the opening badly and dropped a piece after just 6 moves. He never recovered and resigned when 3 pieces for a rook down.

Rob Loveband versus James Eldridge was a Sicilian. White built up a dangerous attack and gained the exchange for a pawn. Black fought back bravely and inventively late in the middle game confused White enough to win a rook, prompting White's resignation shortly after.

Tim Commons faced the unlucky John Abson in a weird Ruy Lopez. The two players were out of the blocks after 3 moves! By the middle game White had won the exchange and 3 pawns to be in a winning position. Black fought back bravely, however, and then stunned his opponent with a brilliant mating attack to record his first points of the tournament.

John Frangakis versus Michael Schreenan was on innocuous Queen's Pawn Opening. White won a pawn in the opening, then a rook in the middle game and won with difficulty thereafter.

The best game of the night saw Rob Bailey take on the doyen of Ballarat Chess, Kevin Perrin who defended with the Caro-Kann Defence, rather then his usual Scandinavian! The game proved to be a tough, even battle between experience opponents, featuring opposite sides castling. Blacks attack proved to be quicker than White's and Kevin broke through to score the full point and his first win of the championship.

The confrontation between defending champion Patrick Cook and top seed Scott Stewart was postponed.