Back to his games last season, he began with a solid draw against Surrey regular Phil Stimpson (1944) after scaring his opponent with a typical display on the kingside (it might be worth seeing how many games Ben plays ...h5 as black...).
His next game was a masterclass in drawing. Facing a much higher rated (both in rating and reputation) player, Ben quickly neutralised David Shaw (2187) with the French Exchange, and swapped down to a totally drawn minor piece ending. A lesser player might have blundered, or given away an advantage when trying to swap pieces, but, as ever, Ben makes it look easy and picks up rating points into the bargain.
Next day saw another draw, but this time the 28 mover with Michael Hardman (2135) showed that Ben is just as capable of an attacking display as the next man, quickly winning a pawn; shortly afterwards he agreed a draw in an ending in which he would be in the ascendancy, but might not have had enough to win.
Ben then played two out of three games from the Bank Holiday weekend, the first a 12 move draw with Michael Waddington (2184) that I pass over in silence; neither side was in the mood to fight. But the last game was a really sparkling effort, a 33 move demolition of Bristol regular Alex Easton (2123). Trying especially hard to win to make sure Slough 2 stayed up, Ben started with a few confusing tactics, but quickly showed that his game was more than just smoke and mirrors, unleashing a devestating exchange sacrifice to get to grips with the black king. Just when Easton thought the worst was over, ceding a pawn for some drawing chances, Purton hits him with another shot in the shape of 31.d6!, and finishes off mercilessly. This is the kind of chess we'll be expecting more of in 2003-04.