British Championship 2023

[Phil Makepeace]

25… Re8 from Jones and the end surely must be nigh.

[LawrenceCooper]

25… Re8 from Jones and the end surely must be nigh.

0-1 39 moves.

[Richard Bates]

Can’t be often that Mickey’s closest challenger (pts) and arguably toughest over the board test comes from his round 1 opponent.

[Paul Cooksey]

A very impressive tournament from Steven Jones. I've felt he was 100 points underrated for a long time, the effect of playing a lot of weaker opponents in opens. But perhaps I was underestimating it.

[Simon Rogers]

25… Re8 from Jones and the end surely must be nigh.

0-1 39 moves.

Well done Steven Jones. A terrific result. A great tournament for him all round.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Can’t be often that Mickey’s closest challenger (pts) and arguably toughest over the board test comes from his round 1 opponent.

Must be the first time (in the swiss) era that the top finishers played in the first round. It did happen (at least) once in the second round though (Rowson 1-0 Arakhamia-Grant, 2005/6).

[Jonathan Rogers]

A very impressive tournament from Steven Jones. I've felt he was 100 points underrated for a long time, the effect of playing a lot of weaker opponents in opens. But perhaps I was underestimating it.

Inactive as I am, I have not met him, though had also noted him as being a dangerous player with white when following various swiss events. What a tremendous result - it would be nice if he were to log on and tell us a bit about himself, for the benefit of the rest of us who don't attend tournaments in person.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

A very impressive tournament from Steven Jones. I've felt he was 100 points underrated for a long time, the effect of playing a lot of weaker opponents in opens. But perhaps I was underestimating it.

Inactive as I am, I have not met him, though had also noted him as being a dangerous player with white when following various swiss events. What a tremendous result - it would be nice if he were to log on and tell us a bit about himself, for the benefit of the rest of us who don't attend tournaments in person.

If you Google "Steven Jones" and "chess" you get the reports on the website of Surbiton Chess Club. I have met him a few times but cannot recall much else. For some reason Southampton is ringing a bell.

A well deserved and impressive result. I think he scored 7/11 in a previous British. Maybe someone can look up his previous results and his qualification record (I presume this result qualifies him for next year).

[Simon Rogers]

A very impressive tournament from Steven Jones. I've felt he was 100 points underrated for a long time, the effect of playing a lot of weaker opponents in opens. But perhaps I was underestimating it.

Underestimate Steven Jones at your own peril.
I remember at the British Chess Championships at Sheffield 2011, people underestimated Jonathan Hawkins.
Andrew Martin said in his commentary about Jonathan then "It's like he casts a magic spell over them and then they dash themselves on the rocks."

[Alan Walton]

Steven is originally from Warrington, played him quite a lot before he went to University in northern tournaments

[Reg Clucas]

Steven is originally from Warrington, played him quite a lot before he went to University in northern tournaments

Yes, he played some games for Urmston in the local leagues a few years ago.

[GrahamStuart]

A very impressive tournament from Steven Jones. I've felt he was 100 points underrated for a long time, the effect of playing a lot of weaker opponents in opens. But perhaps I was underestimating it.

Inactive as I am, I have not met him, though had also noted him as being a dangerous player with white when following various swiss events. What a tremendous result - it would be nice if he were to log on and tell us a bit about himself, for the benefit of the rest of us who don't attend tournaments in person.

If you Google "Steven Jones" and "chess" you get the reports on the website of Surbiton Chess Club. I have met him a few times but cannot recall much else. For some reason Southampton is ringing a bell.

A well deserved and impressive result. I think he scored 7/11 in a previous British. Maybe someone can look up his previous results and his qualification record (I presume this result qualifies him for next year).

Southampton may come to mind as Steven played in the Southampton Chess League.

Not often that someone who played in the SCL Division Two manages to achieve 2nd place in the British Chess Championship though!
Steven played for Basingstoke and actually lost to our talented Chandlers Ford junior Iwan Cave in the match at Basingstoke.
http://www.sotonchessleague.org.uk/Fixtures/2

[Jonathan Rogers]

In other news, Keith recovered from his reverse in round 2 to win the over 50s. As for the over 65s, just following chess24 leaves me confused, looking at the games being shown. I feel quite sure that Terry Chapman has 6/7, but am confident of little else.

[Simon Rogers]

A very impressive tournament from Steven Jones. I've felt he was 100 points underrated for a long time, the effect of playing a lot of weaker opponents in opens. But perhaps I was underestimating it.

Inactive as I am, I have not met him, though had also noted him as being a dangerous player with white when following various swiss events. What a tremendous result - it would be nice if he were to log on and tell us a bit about himself, for the benefit of the rest of us who don't attend tournaments in person.

If you Google "Steven Jones" and "chess" you get the reports on the website of Surbiton Chess Club. I have met him a few times but cannot recall much else. For some reason Southampton is ringing a bell.

A well deserved and impressive result. I think he scored 7/11 in a previous British. Maybe someone can look up his previous results and his qualification record (I presume this result qualifies him for next year).

Steven played for Basingstoke Chess Club.
There is a nice picture of Steven on their Homepage receiving a trophy.
https://www.basingstokechessclub.co.uk

[IM Jack Rudd]

Can’t be often that Mickey’s closest challenger (pts) and arguably toughest over the board test comes from his round 1 opponent.

Must be the first time (in the swiss) era that the top finishers played in the first round. It did happen (at least) once in the second round though (Rowson 1-0 Arakhamia-Grant, 2005/6).

That was (a) a third round game and (b) two separate years' events.