The British OTB championships, Swiss tournaments in various categories have been held in two different locations – University of Hull and Milton Keynes – and stretched over two weeks:

Open Championship Final – Saturday 2nd October to Sunday 10th October
Women’s Championship Final – Thursday 14th October to Sunday 17th October
Senior Championships Finals (50+ and 65+) – Monday 4th October to Sunday 10th October
Junior Finals – Saturday 2nd October to Sunday 3rd October

In the absence of the top-six English grandmasters with a 2600-plus rating, Nicholas Pert (pictured below) entered the open competition (a 9-round Swiss tournament) as the top-rated participant and lived up to his reputation. The former World U18 champion scored 6½ points and clinched his maiden national title.

There was a large 5-way tie for the second place, with Daniel Gormally and Marcus Havey finishing second and third respectively, thanks to better tiebreaks. Andrew Ledger gave the champion a good run for his money, coming into the final round as joint-leader. Unfortunately, the defeat at the hands of Hamish Olson relegated him to the sixth position in the final standings.

Final standings open:

Mike Waddington Photo: Brendan O’Gorman

In the Senior Championship 50+ (a 7-round Swiss tournament), Mike Waddington came in the clear first with an excellent score of 6/7,  a full point ahead of Ian Robson and Donald Mason.

Roger De Coverly netted 5 points in 7 games and emerged as the winner in the 65+ tournament, followed by Ivan Myall (4½) and Philip Stimpson (4).

Roger De Coverly Photo: Brendan O’Gorman

Kumar Avait Keerthi (U8), Cameron Crose (U10), Jude Shearsby (U12), James Merriman (U14) and Timur Kuzhelev (U18) took the titles in the British Junior Championship.

Official website: www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk