We had a record nine players available for this round, and it proved useful when Richard was taken ill overnight, with Rob subbing in to fill the vacant place.

Nigel took a calm draw with the Black side of the Caro, and Charlie also halved out early having found no edge. Rob outplayed his opponent massively but missed the finishing coup and instead lost the initiative, after which his position fell apart.

The other three games all looked promising. Mike invaded the centre of the board with his Rooks and won a-pawn, while Chris gambited a-pawn in the opening and in return gained two, achieving connected passed-pawns on the queenside. David's game was just very complicated.

Towards the time control both Mike and Chris achieved winning positions; however David having the choice between perpetual or a strong initiative chose to play for the whole point, but failed to seize the winning move and ended up in collapse. The other two were more sure-footed so the match ended up a draw — not everything we wanted but at least half way there.

So after ten rounds, still in third place.