Michael Schreenan faced 2^nd. Seed Jamie Brotheridge and ventured the primitive Elephant attack (1.e4  e5 2. d4?!). White inexplicably left his Queen en prise on move 7 and Black won quite efficiently from there.

John Abson met Rob Bailey in a Sicilian. White found himself a piece for a pawn up in the opening after a blunder by Black. He didn’t hold on to it for long though; lack of alertness allowed Black to trap a piece and even the material balance. Thereafter, Black always seemed to have the initiative and soon won the exchange and then a rook to win comfortably.

Chris Segrave took on Swytzar Swytzer and played the English opening (1.c4). It quickly transposed to a main line Nimzo-Indian and a slow manoeuvring game ensued. Black obtained a slight positional edge which soon became a tangible 2 pawn advantage. Playing carefully and sensibly, Black gradually gained a decisive material advantage of a piece and 4 pawns. He then set about slowly handing back all the gained material, spurning several simple wins along the way! He then gave up his rook as well, to reach a completely lost position. White returned the favour, generously blundering his rook and a draw was reached with kings on the bare board.

Rob Loveband versus Kevin Perrin was postponed. John Frangakis and Patrick Cook had a bye.