British Championship 2023

[Reg Clucas]

I feel quite sure that Terry Chapman has 6/7, but am confident of little else.

Chess Results is showing he lost by default ?!?

[Joey Stewart]

Great result for Steven Jones, securing am IM norm in style with the black pieces whilst simultaneously punishing the board 3 players who presumably thought to guarantee themselves a share of the prize money with that draw!

[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).

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

oh ... apart from that then .... so are you saying they played in round three in 2004/5, or what?

[Pete Morriss]

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.

According to chess_results, in the over 65s Terry lost by default, and so has 5/7. Is that wrong?

[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.

I've sent Steven a text, passing on my congratulations, with the headline "WOW, WOW, WOW."

[LawrenceCooper]

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.

Terry defaulted the last round so finished on 5/7 after a round 6 loss.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Rowson and Arakhamia-Grant played in round 3 in Scarborough 2004. They did not play each other in Swansea 2006, but finished first and second respectively.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Well, don't rely on anything I say today, folks. I relied on chess 24 in saying that Terry won today. Who did win the over 65s then?

[Graham Borrowdale]

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.

Chess-Results shows Chapman losing by default in Rd7, as Lawrence says, with Sheila Jackson, Alan Punnett, and David Fryer joint winners on 5.5/7. No idea if that is correct, but he might have been a victim of the early start?

[Jonathan Rogers]

Thanks.

Total guess, but does that make Sheila the first female winner of an adult open event at the British?

[Jonathan Rogers]

Rowson and Arakhamia-Grant played in round 3 in Scarborough 2004. They did not play each other in Swansea 2006, but finished first and second respectively.

Thanks

a propos nothing in particular, Rowson's rampage to win the last the last four games in style in 2005/6 was, quality-wise, one of the highlights of all British Championships (in my view).

[Alan Walton]

Thanks.

Total guess, but does that make Sheila the first female winner of an adult open event at the British?

Technically it's not open since you have to be over 65; but under them rules didn't Harriet and Ruth win junior sections back in the day?

Edit : Ruth Sheldon, Harriet Hunt, Marieann Howard, Alexandra Kelly, Eesha Karavade, Sabrina Chevannes, Anya Corke, Tania Sachdev, Selina Khoo, Sheila Dines, Megan Owens, Anna Wang, Akshaya Kalaiyalahan, so quite a bit down the list according the ECF website

[Jonathan Rogers]

to be clear, I said "adult" events (anticipating that one had to exclude juniors).

[Reg Clucas]

Chess-Results shows Chapman losing by default in Rd7, as Lawrence says, with Sheila Jackson, Alan Punnett, and David Fryer joint winners on 5.5/7. No idea if that is correct, but he might have been a victim of the early start?

I wondered that myself. There are four games in the O65 showing as defaults. As an O65 myself, I personally have more trouble staying awake in the afternoon, and much prefer morning sessions!

[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.

Hi Jonathan. I'll try to fill in some gaps of your knowledge of Steven Jones. I'm also good friends with Damian McCarthy, one of Steven's best friends.
I've also been in contact with Damian today.
Steven regularly plays at the Blackpool and Scarborough Congresses.