Round four is often the important one.
The field has separated over the earlier rounds and the big beasts have started playing one another. Some prosper, others drop away.
The one who can stay ahead of the pack after Round four often has enough to see things through the final round and grab glory. Would it prove that way this time?
Round 4 results
After a Round 3 that was dominated by defaults (it being held in mid-August), the players were very definitely back in Round 4.
The match of the round was Mister Ioannou v Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon). Both hotly tipped for the cup, who would triumph?
Mister Ioannou played his stock Scandinavian. Mister Giffin developed well, countered queenside thrust and had two passed outside pawns. But time trouble ensued…
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Here are the full results:
- Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon) 0 – 1 Mister Ioannou
2. Mister Barnett 1 – 0 Mister Purle
3. Mister Zama 1 – 0 Mister Sharland
4. Mister Ng 0 – 1 Bailey (by default)
5. Miss Birrane 0 – 1 Mister Kir
6. Mister Rhatighan 0 – 1 Mister Rosenbaum
7. Miss Widger 1 – 0 Mister Dias (by default)
8. Our Good Friend Mister Taylor 0 – 1 Mister Saldanha
Mister Ncouzi (bye)
Mister Widdicombe (bye)
Young Master Jacobs (bye)
Standings after Round 4
So where does that leave us?
| Position | Player | Points |
| 1 | Widger | 4 |
| 2= | Jacobs | 3 |
| 2= | Ioannou | 3 |
| 2= | Barnett | 3 |
| 5= | Giffin | 2.5 |
| 5= | Dias | 2.5 |
| 5= | Rosenbaum | 2.5 |
| 8= | Purle | 2 |
| 8= | Widdicombe | 2 |
| 8= | Bailey | 2 |
| 8= | Zama | 2 |
| 8= | Saldanha | 2 |
| 13= | Taylor | 1.5 |
| 13= | Rhatigan | 1.5 |
| 13= | Kir | 1.5 |
| 16 | Ng | 1 |
| 17 | Sharland | 1 |
| 18 | Birrane | 1 |
| 19 | Nacouzi | 0.5 |
So Miss Widger was the beneficiary, and is out in the lead by a full point going into the final round. Will anyone catch her?