John Abson took on Michael Schreenan in an Italian Game. In a sharp opening phase, White typically sacrificed a pawn for an attack. Black defended well, and after a great many exchanges in the middle game a draw seemed likely. However, White went badly astray, trapping his own Bishop ala Fischer from the famous first game of the Fisher-Spassky match in 1972. Black jumped on the chance and went on to win.

Chris Segrave met Rob Loveband. White played the Grand Prix attack against the Sicilian Defence. Black snatched a pawn early after an oversight by White and then patiently improved his position, picking up two more pawns along the way. By the middle game, Black had two powerful central pawns which soon crashed through for a decisive advantage and mate followed shortly after.

Swytzar Swytzer faced Patrick Cook in a French Defence, Advance variation. After several positional errors early, Black gained an edge and tactical errors in the middle game soon gave Black a decisive material advantage before finishing the game with a crisp mate.

The big game of the night saw Rob Bailey face Kevin Perrin in a classical Sicilian Dragon. White gave a master class in how to play against it, gaining strong pressure against an isolated c pawn in the middle game. White soon won the pawn to reach a technically winning position, but blundered a rook just after the first time control, missing a winning line to find himself in a lost position instead. Black inexplicably returned the favour late in the end game and a drawn rook and pawn ending was reached.

John Frangakis and Jamie Brotheridge had a bye.

Earlier in the week, John Frangakis met Rob Loveband in their postponed Round 7 game. In something like a Colle opening, White gradually built up a promising position, but went astray in the middle game tactics, finally resigning in despair after a final oversight.