Round 4 is always a big round in the Gladstone. In years gone by it’s been round 4 that’s often settled it, as the big beasts meet.
And whilst this year’s competition will go to the final round, the results have put Mister Barton in pole position.
Going in to round 4 Mister Barton was on a cool 3 out of 3, but the ever-improving Doctor Saldanha was chasing him on a 2.5 out of 3 (having taken an half-point bye earlier on). The winner would be odds on to win the cup. Sporting drama at 1 Whitehall Place.
Here’s what happened:
Game 1: Mister Barton v Doctor Saldanha
And so Mister Barton took the full point, and with it goes in to round 4 on the full four points. Doctor Saldanha's campaign has faltered, and he's now playing for a very respectable second place.
Of the game itself, Doctor Saldanha said later: "Solid stuff until 29. ... d4 then Black panics (Black is about a pawn up positionally before this move), blows his position and time advantages and fails to at least score a draw. Note that 30. ... Rf4?? 31. Nf6 (which wasn't played) loses pretty much immediately. Make of that what you will." Hard luck Doctor Saldanha, but second place overall is still in the balance, so it's all to fight for.
Game 2: Mister Dias v Miss Birrane
A critical game for Mister Dias - he needed to win to stay in contention for the cup. If he won he could remain in striking distance of Mister Barton for the final round. Would the pressure get to him?
A smooth game from Mister Dias, who was in control for most of the game. That puts him on 3.5 out of 4, and in second place overall.
Game 3: Our Good Friend Mister Taylor v Mister Jacobs
It was looking fairly even until Mister Jacobs got the kingside pawns rolling and found an outpost for his knight on e3 - a killer square, and Our Good Friend Mister Taylor was duly killed.
Game 4: Mister Ross v Mister Landless
Smooth stuff from Mister Landless saw a queenside attack for Black pay off:
Results
So with those results the table shows:
| Position | Player | Score |
| 1 | Barton | 4 |
| 2 | Dias | 3 |
| 3= | Saldanha | 2.5 |
| 3= | Jacobs | 2.5 |
| 3= | Barnett | 2.5 |
| 6 | Landless | 2 |
| 7= | Taylor | 1.5 |
| 7= | Birrane | 1.5 |
| 7= | Sharland | 1.5 |
| 7= | Singh | 1.5 |
| 7= | Widdicombe | 1.5 |
| 12 | Ross | 0.5 |
Which means it all comes down to round 5. Will Mister Barton score a win or draw and see it home to be 2024 Champion? Or will he slip up, and have Mister Dias (should he win) take him to a tiebreak?
Sporting drama comes no higher than this.