Reigning champion Helge Hjort was impressive on top board, countering former champion Adam Raoof's unusual opening with a very solid defence and eventually winning the exchange. Malcolm Gesthuysen withstood tactical complications against promising junior Ivan Kiskin, who developed his pieces quickly but was outplayed positionally.
Vivian Cohen beat second team captain and club secretary Chris Rogal in perhaps the most exciting game of the round, exploiting the advantage of queen against two pieces. Kishan Pattni had the quickest win of the evening. Veteran David Jones took advantage of a blunder from Justin Robertson. David Iwi and Jonathan Landau made progress. Henry Armburg Jennings scored his first win, as did Russian newcomer Peter Limonov.
There are now 24 competitors, and there are three rounds to go. Hjort and Gesthuysen lead with 3/4 (and will play each other in the next round in two weeks' time); Cohen has 3/4; and there are seven players on 2/4.
The championship gives way next week to the regular six-round blitz tournament (10 minutes per player per game).
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