British Championship 2023

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I was just looking at the history of the British chess championship and it turns out in terms of most championships won Adams is miles off a guy called Atkins, who was apparently a major player back in the 1800s and early 1900s."

See https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/britchamps.html

Scroll down for winners' totals. When Atkins was winning, it was an all-play-all and probably one of the most important events he played. It was a small Swiss when Penrose played, and then became a bigger Swiss, and Mickey and (Nigel Short) probably thought there were more interesting overseas events to play, with better prize money.

[Roger de Coverly]

I was just looking at the history of the British chess championship and it turns out in terms of most championships won Adams is miles off a guy called Atkins, who was apparently a major player back in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Penrose is the record holder with 10 wins, the last one in 1969. Some of us were there!

One might speculate that Adams is targetting the Penrose record. He didn't play last year possibly because of the timing clash with the Olympiad.

[Graham Borrowdale]

Back to the present, predictions for today’s final round:

Adams (6.5) Willow (5.5) 1-0
Fernandez (6) Jones (5.5) 1-0
Han (5.5) Grieve (5.5) 0-1

Grieve has form for winning a big last round game, so I have stuck my neck out there. The alternative would see 3 draws, but I think some long fights are possible.

[LawrenceCooper]

Board 3 drawn in 10 moves.

[Phil Makepeace]

Might we see another draw offer from Mickey soon? Fernandez is getting thumped. Could be an incredible norm (and outright 2nd!) for Jones after all.

[LawrenceCooper]

Some (unofficial) norm updates, again by my own calculations:

Can still reach a norm in Rd.9:
Lan Yao (WGM) - needs to draw as white against Richard Pert
Lan Yao (IM) - needs to win as white against Richard Pert
Steven Jones (IM) - needs to win as black against Daniel Fernandez

Draw for Lan Yao so British women's champion and WGM norm but no IM norm.

Jones norm chances are very much alive in the current position.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Reminds me a bit of Fernandez v Palliser from a few years back. Still, let's see what happens.

[Simon Rogers]

Might we see another draw offer from Mickey soon? Fernandez is getting thumped. Could be an incredible norm (and outright 2nd!) for Jones after all.

Looks like castling kingside for Steven Jones might be a mistake. Bg4 could be better. According to chess.com black has now only a small advantage.
Great to see Steven Jones having a decent British. He is one of the good eggs.

[Jonathan Rogers]

still a pretty large advantage really, but choosing between the many tempting continuations will be an (unexpected) test.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I am a bit curious that Grieve did not try today, by the way. On any objective appraisal, sole third (or even shared second) is a good follow-up to winning it, especially when Adams has entered (and in fact losing to Adams would then have been the main difference between the two performances).

[Simon Rogers]

I've played Steven a couple of times but came second best, he attended Poulton-le-Fylde Chess Club a few times. Very approachable guy.
He plays very attacking and tactical chess, which I enjoy.
His games are never dull, always a pleasure to watch.

[LawrenceCooper]

I am a bit curious that Grieve did not try today, by the way. On any objective appraisal, sole third (or even shared second) is a good follow-up to winning it, especially when Adams has entered (and in fact losing to Adams would then have been the main difference between the two performances).

He did appear in the commentary room and mentioned being tired, no realistic chance of the title or a norm etc I guess he felt that black against a very solid opponent and being slightly worse weren't good odds to try for more. Judging by the Mickey draw offer yesterday Yichen Han is an opponent that commands respect.

[Graham Borrowdale]

I have been watching in Lichess and the Fernandez- Jones game seems to be several moves behind - 17 Nf3 just played, compared with chess.com 23 d5 just played. It does look as though Jones could win, whichever platform it is on.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I am a bit curious that Grieve did not try today, by the way. On any objective appraisal, sole third (or even shared second) is a good follow-up to winning it, especially when Adams has entered (and in fact losing to Adams would then have been the main difference between the two performances).

He did appear in the commentary room and mentioned being tired, no realistic chance of the title or a norm etc I guess he felt that black against a very solid opponent and being slightly worse weren't good odds to try for more. Judging by the Mickey draw offer yesterday Yichen Han is an opponent that commands respect.

Yes, so it seems. But the tiredness of all the leading players stands out too, though it is more understandable with Adams, who would be eligible to play in the veterans after all, and was perhaps not in full gear even from the start.

[David York]

I was just looking at the history of the British chess championship and it turns out in terms of most championships won Adams is miles off a guy called Atkins, who was apparently a major player back in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Penrose is the record holder with 10 wins, the last one in 1969. Some of us were there!

One might speculate that Adams is targetting the Penrose record. He didn't play last year possibly because of the timing clash with the Olympiad.

Adams chasing down the Penrose record is why he is the GM playing a simul for the Penrose Memorial event that opens the Jonathan Penrose Chess Park in Colchester in October.