2026 British Chess Championships

[Alex Holowczak]

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/2026-br ... ouncement/

[Kevin Thurlow]

Very impressive - spectacularly early notice of the venue.

[Simon Rogers]

1st to 9th August.
It appears that next year's championships will be shorter than this year's.

[Alex Holowczak]

1st to 9th August.
It appears that next year's championships will be shorter than this year's.

That's right, but we expect to fit in all of the same tournaments that we held as part of the schedule in 2025.

[Roger de Coverly]

Coventry will be transformed into a city of chess next summer as the University of Warwick hosts the 2026 British Chess Championships

By no means the first time the University of Warwick campus has hosted the British Championship. It was there in 1970 and again in 2015. The latter event saw a lot of infighting and bad will between organisers, arbiters and ECF directors. Details would be in the forum's archive.

Being a Campus there was student accommodation on site. That did have some peculiar features. The kitchens in the flats were almost totally devoid of utensils, cutlery and crockery. There was a refectory as part of the main hub. For some unknown reason, chess players were banned from taking breakfast or other meals there.

One possible tip is that Kenilworth and even Leamington are within easy reach of the campus with a regular electric bus service. Kenilworth in particular will be familiar given the number of Enhlish Championships held there or nearby.

[Roger de Coverly]

That's right, but we expect to fit in all of the same tournaments that we held as part of the schedule in 2025.

It wouldn't be possible to keep the weekend events in the same format. If they are going to be on the first weekend, the lack of Friday play would mean three rounds on Saturday. That in turn could lead to a faster time limit which makes the inclusion of players over 2400 problematic. If they switch to the second weekend that rules out players from playing in a weekender and then the Senior events.

Given the popularity of the Senior events, perhaps they should be lengthened to 9 rounds anyway.

It might also be a struggle to schedule both a second weekend Friday evening round against the possibility of overruns from the pm tournaments.

[NickFaulks]

Could Roger be co-opted onto the organising committee?

[Ken Norman]

Given the popularity of the Senior events, perhaps they should be lengthened to 9 rounds anyway.

I think that is an excellent suggestion by Roger. When Stewart Reuben introduced the British Seniors Championship it was 11 rounds.
Also the winner received a place in the following years British Championship. Perhaps that could be reinstated.

[Roger de Coverly]

Also the winner received a place in the following years British Championship. Perhaps that could be reinstated.

When the Over 60s was split into Over 50 and Over 65, it was the Over 50 event that inherited the British Championship place.

There are players who are eligible for the British Championship who elect to play in the Seniors. The GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs obviously but eligibility for the British used to include former Champions, including the Women's ones. That rule now seems to have been dropped although with the exception of Peter Lee, all the living former open British Champions are IMs or GMs.

[Joey Stewart]

By no means the first time the University of Warwick campus has hosted the British Championship. It was there in 1970 and again in 2015. The latter event saw a lot of infighting and bad will between organisers, arbiters and ECF directors. Details would be in the forum's archive.

Wasn't there also some sort of controversy in the 1970 event as well, it's one of those semi urban myths of the chess world so I imagine it's been embellished in the last 50 years but I've heard tales of riots and police squads needing to be involved, some players were never seen again?

[NickFaulks]

some players were never seen again?

I would certainly like to know more about that.

[Paul Habershon]

Wasn't there also some sort of controversy in the 1970 event as well, it's one of those semi urban myths of the chess world so I imagine it's been embellished in the last 50 years but I've heard tales of riots and police squads needing to be involved, some players were never seen again?

In 1970 I stayed on campus and don't remember anything like that, unless it was the young player with 0/3 in a junior championship kicking off about his pairing with Robert Bellin (also on 0/3) in Round 4. However, student bars were no doubt operating so maybe there was trouble when I was tucked up in bed.

I played in the Major Open, but unfortunately didn't get to play the legendary P S Milner-Barry. I did, however, lose early on to the winner, the late Nick J Kalton.

[Leonard Barden]

with the exception of Peter Lee, all the living former open British Champions are IMs or GMs.

1954 Nottingham Leonard William Barden,
Alan Phillips

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well only one of those is still alive, but yes

How soon we forget eh!

[Mick Norris]

BBC report

Paul Bartlett, director of Warwick Conferences, which will operate the venues, said: "We're looking forward to welcoming players from across the country to a campus that champions ambition, focus and community, qualities that align well with the game of chess."

The championships were last held in the city in 2015, and since then the hosts, which has one of the largest and most successful university chess clubs in the UK, have won the British Universities' Championship three times.

Mr Bartlett added that the university was proud to be hosting the event and said the campus combined "excellent transport links, modern event spaces, and a strong track record in delivering major events".

Alex Holowczak, director of events for the English Chess Federation, said: "The event continues to grow in size and significance, and Warwick provides the facilities, experience and chess pedigree needed to support that growth."