Michael Adams, the long-time highest rated English player on the FIDE rating list, has won the British Chess Championships 2016 in Bournemouth to add to his 4 previous British titles.
His score of 10/11 equalled the record set by Julian Hodgson in 1992 and, given that future championships are planned to be run over 9 rounds, this was probably the last opportunity for the record to be equalled or exceeded.
At the start of the final round there was a chance that there would be a play-off as, had Adams lost and David Howell won, they would have both been on 9/11 necessitating a play-off.
Unusually for the final round of the Championships however, the leader was playing black against an untitled opponent, Martin Brown, over whom he had close to a 500 point rating advantage. Adams won the theoretical duel and scored a fine victory to close the event.
Congratulations also to Jovanka Houska who has won the British Women’s title with a score of 7/11. She defeated Lentzos in the final round but already had the Championships in the bag with a round in hand.
A full report on the British Championships will follow in the next couple of days and there will be more coverage in the ECF eNewsletter.
Report by Mark Jordan, Manager of Publicity for English Chess Federation
Final standings:
1 GM Adams Michael 2727 – 10
2 GM Howell David 2663 – 8.5
3 GM Jones Gawain 2650 – 8
IM Tan Justin 2438 – 8
5 GM Hebden Mark 2509 – 7.5
GM Fodor Tamas 2505 – 7.5
GM Gormally Daniel 2494 – 7.5
GM Emms John 2467 – 7.5
9 GM Pert Nicholas 2570 – 7
GM Ward Chris 2437 – 7
GM Wells Peter 2419 – 7
IM Houska Jovanka 2386 – 7
FM Claridge-Hansen William 2299 – 7
FM Duncan Chris 2292 – 7
Brown Martin 2252 – 7
16 GM Arkell Keith 2455 – 6.5
IM Palliser Richard 2422 – 6.5
IM Eggleston David 2376 – 6.5
FM Batchelor Peter 2341 – 6.5
IM Kolbus Dietmar 2315 – 6.5
FM Storey Charles 2256 – 6.5
Jones Steven A 2186 – 6.5
Moreby James 2040 – 6.5
24 FM Harvey Marcus 2324 – 6
Hill Alistair 2257 – 6