Only two games were played on the night. Many of the postponed games may well finish as forfeits!

John Abson faced unbeaten Rob Loveband in a Sicilian. Black quickly won 2 pawns in the opening stage with a savage attack. White survived and limped into the middlegame, only to drop a rook, prompting his resignation.

The important game Joel Beggs versus Peter Miitel was also a Sicilian. A tough theoretical battle ensued. Black grabbed a pawn and tried to hang on to it, but allowed White to seize the initiative. White then landed an excellent tactical blow to win Queen for Rook and Piece and quickly wrapped up the point thereafter.

Bill Coutts versus Chris Segrave, Michael Schreenan versus Patrick Cook and Kevin Perrin versus Boris Skontra were all “postponed”.