British Chess Championship

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British Chess Championship, Torquay 2009 British Chess Championship 2009.jpg
British Chess Championship, Torquay 2009

The British Chess Championships are organised by the English Chess Federation. The main tournament incorporates the British Championship, the English Chess Championships and the British Women's Chess Championship so it is possible, although it has never happened, for one player to win all three titles in the same competition. The English Women's Chess Championship was also incorporated into this event but did not take place in 2015 and was held as a separate competition in 2016. Since 1923 there have been sections for juniors, and since 1982 there has been an over-sixty championship. The championship venue usually changes every year and has been held in different locations in England, Scotland, Wales and once on the Isle of Man. [1]

Contents

The championship was originally open to citizens of any Commonwealth country and has previously been won by Mir Sultan Khan (India) and Abe Yanofsky (Canada). After the Indian R. B. Ramesh finished first in 2002 and several other Indians took top prizes at the same event, many top Britons declined to compete in the 2003 championship. Following the victory of Indian Abhijit Kunte in 2003 and criticism that the British Championship was not serving the interests of British players, it was announced that starting in 2004 only British and Irish players would be eligible to take part. Players excluded by these rules are however welcome to participate in the Commonwealth Chess Championship.

BCA Congress (1857–1861)

These were the first large tournaments organised by the British Chess Association, international players were allowed to participate. [2]

YearCityWinner
1857 Manchester Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Johann Löwenthal  (Austrian Empire) / Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1858 Birmingham Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Johann Löwenthal  (Austrian Empire) / Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1860 Cambridge Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg  Ignaz von Kolisch  (Austrian Empire) / Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1861 Bristol Flag of Germany.svg  Louis Paulsen  (Germany) / Flagge Furstentum Lippe.svg Lippe

London international tournaments (1862–1883)

In July 1862, Adolf Anderssen won the first international tournament organized by the British Chess Association (BCF Congress), held in London. Second place went to Louis Paulsen, followed by John Owen. This was the first round-robin tournament. [2] [3] In August 1872, Wilhelm Steinitz won the second British Chess Federation international tourney, held in London. Second place went to Joseph Henry Blackburne. [4] The great London 1883 chess tournament was won convincingly by Johannes Zukertort (22 points ouf of 26) ahead of Steinitz (19/26).

#YearCityWinner
1* 1862 LondonFlag of Germany.svg  Adolf Anderssen  (Germany) / Flag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg Prussia
2*1872LondonFlag of Austria-Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Wilhelm Steinitz  (Austria-Hungary) / Flag of Bohemia.svg  Bohemia
3* 1883 LondonFlag of the German Empire.svg  Johannes Zukertort  (German Empire) / Flag of Poland.svg  Poland

BCA Congress (1885–1899)

In 1884, a new British Chess Association was inaugurated. In July 1885, Isidor Gunsberg won the first British Chess Association championship in London. In August 1886, Blackburne and Amos Burn tied for first in the second British Chess Association championship, held in London. Blackburne won the play-off. In December 1887, Burn and Gunsberg tied for first in the third British Chess Association Congress in London. [2]

#YearCityWinner
11885LondonFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Isidor Gunsberg  (United Kingdom) / Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
21886LondonFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Joseph Henry Blackburne  (United Kingdom) / Flag of England.svg  England
31887LondonFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Amos Burn  (United Kingdom) / Flag of England.svg  England

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Isidor Gunsberg  (United Kingdom) / Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary

41888 Bradford Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Isidor Gunsberg  (United Kingdom) / Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
51889LondonFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Henry Bird  (United Kingdom) / Flag of England.svg  England
61890 Manchester Flag of the German Empire.svg  Siegbert Tarrasch  (German Empire) / Flag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg Prussia
71892LondonFlag of the German Empire.svg  Emanuel Lasker  (German Empire) / Flag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg Prussia
8 1895 Hastings Flag of the United States.svg  Harry Nelson Pillsbury  (United States)
91899LondonFlag of the German Empire.svg  Emanuel Lasker  (German Empire) / Flag of Prussia (1892-1918).svg Prussia

BCA Challenge Cup (1866–1872)

The first British Championship was organized by the British Chess Association as an event at the 1866 London Congress. A rule awarded the B.C.A. Challenge Cup permanently to a player who won two consecutive titles. John Wisker accomplished this in 1872 by defeating Cecil De Vere in a play-off. The British Championship was then discontinued until 1904.

YearCityWinner
1866LondonFlag of Scotland.svg  Cecil De Vere  (Scotland)
1869LondonFlag of England.svg  Joseph Henry Blackburne  (England)
1870LondonFlag of England.svg  John Wisker  (England)
1872LondonFlag of England.svg  John Wisker  (England)

British Amateur Championship (1886–1902)

Ten amateur championships were held between 1886 and 1902, but they did not include the strongest players and were unrepresentative, especially in the earlier years.

YearCityWinner
1886LondonWalter Montague Gattie
1887London Charles Dealtry Locock
1888 Bradford Anthony Alfred Geoffrey Guest
1889LondonGeorge Edward Wainwright
1890 Manchester Daniel Yarnton Mills
1892LondonE. Jones-Bateman
1895 Hastings Henry Ernest Atkins
1897 Southampton Henry Ernest Atkins
1900 Bath Henry Ernest Atkins
1902 Norwich Reginald Pryce Michell

British Championship (1904–present)

The current championship series was begun by the British Chess Federation in 1904. The championship was not held in war years. It was also not held in 1919, 1922, 1927, and 1930 as major international events were then being held in England. José Raúl Capablanca won the BCF Victory Congress held in Hastings 1919 and the 1922 London International tournament, [5] [6] Alexander Alekhine won the 16th BCC Major Open at Portsmouth/Southsea 1923, [7] [8] [9] Aron Nimzowitsch and Savielly Tartakower won at London 1927, and Edgard Colle won at Scarborough 1930. [10] In 1939 the championship was also not held as the British team was in Buenos Aires for the 8th Chess Olympiad. In that time, Max Euwe won an international tournament at Bournemouth 1939, played during the BCC. The women's championship was held in most of those years.

YearCityMen's ChampionWomen's Champion
1904 Hastings William Ewart Napier Kate Belinda Finn
1905 Southport Henry Ernest Atkins Kate Belinda Finn
1906 Shrewsbury Henry Ernest Atkins Frances Dunn Herring (née Gwilliam)
1907London Henry Ernest Atkins Frances Dunn Herring (née Gwilliam)
1908 Tunbridge Wells Henry Ernest Atkins Grace Curling (née Ellis)
1909 Scarborough Henry Ernest Atkins Gertrude Alison Anderson
1910 Oxford Henry Ernest Atkins Mary Mills Houlding
1911 Glasgow Henry Ernest Atkins Mary Mills Houlding
1912 Richmond Richard Griffith Gertrude Alison Anderson
1913 Cheltenham Frederick Yates Amabel Nevill Moseley (née Jeffreys)
1914 Chester Frederick Yates Mary Mills Houlding
1915–1918–no contestno contest
1919 Hastings no contest Edith Holloway
1920 Edinburgh Roland Scott Agnes Stevenson (née Lawson)
1921 Malvern Frederick Yates Gertrude Alison Anderson
1922Londonno contest Edith Charlotte Price
1923 Southsea George Alan Thomas Edith Charlotte Price
1924 Southport Henry Ernest Atkins Edith Charlotte Price
1925 Stratford-upon-Avon Henry Ernest Atkins Agnes Stevenson (née Lawson)
1926 Edinburgh Frederick Yates Agnes Stevenson (née Lawson)
1927–no contestno contest
1928 Tenby Frederick Yates Edith Charlotte Price
1929 Ramsgate Mir Sultan Khan Mary Dinorah Gilchrist
1930 Scarborough no contest Agnes Stevenson (née Lawson)
1931 Worcester Frederick Yates Edith Michell (née Tapsell)
Amy Eleanor Wheelwright
1932London Mir Sultan Khan Edith Michell (née Tapsell)
1933 Hastings Mir Sultan Khan Miss Fatima
1934 Chester George Alan Thomas Mary Dinorah Gilchrist
1935 Great Yarmouth William Winter Edith Michell (née Tapsell)
1936 Bournemouth (M)
Nottingham (W)		 William Winter Edith Holloway
1937 Blackpool William Fairhurst Rowena Mary Dew
1938 Brighton C. H. O'D. Alexander Minnie Musgrave
1939 Bournemouth no contested Championship Elaine Saunders
1940–1945–no contestno contest
1946 Nottingham Robert Forbes Combe Elaine Saunders
1947 Harrogate Harry Golombek Eileen Betsy Tranmer
1948LondonReginald Broadbent Edith Charlotte Price
1949 Felixstowe Harry Golombek Eileen Betsy Tranmer
1950 Buxton Reginald Broadbent Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1951 Swansea Ernest Klein Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1952 Chester Robert Wade no contest
1953 Hastings Abraham Yanofsky Eileen Betsy Tranmer
1954 Nottingham Leonard Barden
Alan Phillips 		Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1955 Aberystwyth Harry Golombek Joan Doulton
Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1956 Blackpool C. H. O'D. Alexander Elaine Pritchard (née Saunders)
1957 Plymouth Stefan Fazekas Anne Sunnucks
1958 Leamington Jonathan Penrose Anne Sunnucks
1959 York Jonathan Penrose Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1960 Leicester Jonathan Penrose Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1961 Aberystwyth Jonathan Penrose Eileen Betsy Tranmer
1962 Whitby Jonathan Penrose Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1963 Bath Jonathan Penrose Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
1964 Whitby Michael Haygarth Anne Sunnucks
1965 Hastings Peter Lee Elaine Pritchard (née Saunders)
1966 Sunderland Jonathan Penrose Margaret Eileen Clarke
Gillian Moore
1967 Oxford Jonathan Penrose Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
Dinah Margaret Dobson
1968 Bristol Jonathan Penrose Dinah Margaret Dobson (later Mrs Norman)
1969 Rhyl Jonathan Penrose Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew)
Dinah Margaret Dobson
1970 Coventry Robert Wade Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1971 Blackpool Raymond Keene Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1972 Brighton Brian Eley Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1973 Eastbourne William Hartston Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1974 Clacton George Botterill Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1975 Morecambe William Hartston Sheila Jackson
1976 Portsmouth Jonathan Mestel Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1977 Brighton George Botterill Jana Hartston (née Malypetrova)
1978 Ayr Jonathan Speelman Sheila Jackson
1979 Chester Robert Bellin Jana Miles (née Malypetrova)
1980 Brighton John Nunn Sheila Jackson
1981 Morecambe Paul Littlewood Sheila Jackson
1982 Torquay Tony Miles Jane Garwell, Mrs Richmond
1983 Southport Jonathan Mestel Rani Hamid
Helen Milligan (née Scott)
1984 Brighton Nigel Short Bhagyashree Sathe (now Thipsay)
Vasanti Unni (née Khadilkar)
1985 Edinburgh Jonathan Speelman Rani Hamid
1986 Southampton Jonathan Speelman Susan Arkell (née Walker, now Lalic)
1987 Swansea Nigel Short Cathy Forbes (now Warwick)
1988 Blackpool Jonathan Mestel Cathy Forbes (now Warwick)
1989 Plymouth Michael Adams Rani Hamid
1990 Eastbourne James Plaskett Susan Arkell (née Walker, now Lalic)
1991 Eastbourne Julian Hodgson Susan Arkell (née Walker, now Lalic)
1992 Plymouth Julian Hodgson Susan Arkell (née Walker, now Lalic)
1993 Dundee Michael HenniganSaheli Dhar
1994 Norwich William Watson Cathy Forbes (now Warwick)
1995 Swansea Matthew Sadler Harriet Hunt
1996 Nottingham Chris Ward Harriet Hunt
1997 Hove Michael Adams
Matthew Sadler 		Harriet Hunt
1998 Torquay Nigel Short Susan Lalic (née Walker)
1999 Scarborough Julian Hodgson Harriet Hunt
2000 Street Julian Hodgson Humpy Koneru
2001 Scarborough Joe Gallagher Melanie Buckley
2002 Torquay Ramachandran Ramesh Humpy Koneru
2003 Edinburgh Abhijit Kunte Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
2004 Scarborough Jonathan Rowson Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
2005 Isle of Man Jonathan Rowson no contest
2006 Swansea Jonathan Rowson Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
2007 Great Yarmouth Jacob Aagaard Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
2008 Liverpool Stuart Conquest Jovanka Houska
2009 Torquay David Howell Jovanka Houska
2010 Canterbury Michael Adams Jovanka Houska
2011 Sheffield Michael Adams Jovanka Houska
2012 North Shields Gawain Jones Jovanka Houska
2013 Torquay David Howell Sarah Hegarty (now Longson)
Akshaya Kalaiyalahan
2014 Aberystwyth David Howell
Jonathan Hawkins 		Amy Hoare
2015 Coventry Jonathan Hawkins Akshaya Kalaiyalahan
2016 Bournemouth Michael Adams Jovanka Houska
2017 Llandudno Gawain Jones Jovanka Houska
2018 Hull Michael Adams Jovanka Houska
2019 Torquay Michael Adams Jovanka Houska
2020–no contestno contest
2021 Hull Nicholas Pert Harriet Hunt
2022 Torquay Harry Grieve Lan Yao
2023 Leicester Michael Adams Lan Yao
2024 Hull Gawain Jones Trisha Kanyamarala
Lan Yao

See also

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References

  1. ↑ British Chess Championship Venues at chess.about.com Archived April 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "London". Xoomer.alice.it. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  4. ↑ "Londra". Xoomer.alice.it. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  5. ↑ "Tournament: 15th BCF Congress - London".
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2009-10-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "BRITBASE - British Chess Game Archive - Tournament: 16th British Chess Championship".
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2010-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Name Index to Jeremy Gaige's Chess Tournament Crosstables, An Electronic Edition, Anders Thulin, Malmö, 2004-09-01" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  10. ↑ "BritBase: 1930-39". Saund.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
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