British Championships Underway

Quick 1-Minute Summary

The 106th British Championships is being held in Torquay between the 27th of July and the 4th of August. Always a prestigious event, hard fought and entertaining to watch, this year’s principal event has attracted 54 players, which includes 11 GMs and 15 IMs.

First prize is a cool 5,000 English Pounds. The championship is run as a 9-round Swiss. One game a day. Time control is 90 minutes/40 moves + 30 minutes +30′ per move. You can follow the games LIVE on any of numerous websites.

47-year old Michael Adams is looking for his 7th British title. ‘Mickey’, as he is affectionately called by his fans, has a remarkably subtle style of play. He often seems to be manouevring his pieces aimlessly…and then all of a sudden his opponents realize that they are lost.

I very much like Adams 3rd round game against Adam Ashton (2323). It is vintage Adams all the way!

gm Adams – Ashton (2323)
British Ch. 29.7.2019 (1-0)

The Brit Style of Play?

I think that the typical British player is well known for his/her uncompromising style of play. Witness the following really entertaining game where both sides unrelentlessly attack each other, wave after wave, and neither player seems interested in defending. A really nice touch is the ‘spite’ check at the end before Black resigns…

Smith,A (2147) – im Eggleston,D (2399)
British Ch. 29.7.2019 (1-0)