Michael Adams Claims Ninth British Chess Championship - Yao and Mirzoeva Share Women’s Title

Michael Adams, the king of British chess, captured his ninth national crown on Sunday after a sensational three-way playoff at the 111th British Chess Championship in Liverpool.

Adams with the British Crown Trophy | Photo: Yuri Krylov / English Chess Federation

The 53-year-old Cornishman, nicknamed "The Spider," showed his class by winning the rapidplay tiebreak ahead of International Master Peter Roberson and Grandmaster Stuart Conquest, the 2008 champion. All three had scored 7/9 points during the regular nine rounds of the championship, held in the magnificent St. George’s Hall in Liverpool.

Click here for the full list of prize-winners

Adams, who had led the tournament from start to finish, takes home £5,000 and the British Crown Trophy — a prize he first won back in 1989 at the English Chess Federation–organised event.

Meanwhile, Lan Yao and Elmira Mirzoeva, both Woman Grandmasters, were jointly crowned 2025 British Women’s Champions. Lan drew her final-round game, while Mirzoeva won, bringing both to 6/9 points. This marked Lan’s fourth consecutive title and Mirzoeva’s first.

Other notable results:

• 10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan achieved her final Woman International Master norm.
• William Claridge-Hansen earned an International Master norm.
• 11-year-old Supratit Banerjee also achieved an International Master norm.

Roberson and Conquest — the latter having won the last British Championship held in Liverpool 17 years ago — both enjoyed outstanding tournaments. The playoff format had Roberson and Conquest face off in two 10+5 games for the right to challenge Adams.

The 58-year-old Conquest, affectionately nicknamed "The Fox," rolled back the years with a 2–0 victory, earning his shot at the title. But in this clash of golden oldies, the heavy favourite Adams proved too strong, securing the 2025 crown. Adams now sits just behind Jonathan Penrose in the all-time list of British champions — Penrose won ten titles between 1958 and 1969.

"Another brilliant win for the Cornish sensation," said Grandmaster Danny Gormally, the ECF’s resident expert. "An incredible achievement!"

Grandmaster Stuart Conquest | Photo: Yuri Krylov / English Chess Federation

More than 1,000 chess players from across the United Kingdom — including the nation’s top grandmasters and rising prodigies — gathered in Liverpool for a series of tournaments and chess-related events held over nine days.

The final round of the elite nine-round Swiss-system championship began on Sunday with six players tied at 6/8 points. Any of the three grandmasters — Adams, Nikita Vitiugov, and Conquest — as well as the three international masters — Roberson, Richard Pert, and Poland’s Maciej Czopor — still had a chance to win the title.

The drama was palpable. Roberson struck first, defeating Pert to take the lead. But Adams responded with a characteristically grinding win over Czopor, forcing a playoff.

Conquest, also in fine form, then secured his place in the playoff with a sensational victory over England’s current number one, Vitiugov.

"I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Vitiugov — I’m quite sure of that," said Gormally. "He’s going to win national titles, no doubt about it. He just wasn’t at his best in this event."

Shreyas Royal, England’s youngest-ever grandmaster, battled hard until round eight, when a loss to Conquest ended his title hopes. The 16-year-old then fell in the final round to 22-year-old International Master Jonah Willow. Still, Royal’s strong showing made it clear his time will come.

Another youngster who impressed was 11-year-old Supratit Banerjee, who finished on 6/9 after defeating two grandmasters and earning his first IM norm. Gormally tipped the prodigy as a sure bet for a future British champion.

Gormally also praised the performance of 10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, who turned a lost position into victory over veteran grandmaster Peter Wells in the final round.

"How on earth did she manage that? She must be some sort of magician!" said Gormally.

Sivanandan’s win secured her final Woman International Master norm, marking her as another bright prospect for the future.

Defending champion Gawain Jones finished on 6.5/9, later admitting he had been "not quite at his best" during the tournament.

The English Chess Federation announced that the 2026 British Chess Championships — including age-group events from Under-8 to Seniors — will be held at the University of Warwick in Coventry.

The Coventry event will be the 112th British Chess Championship in a series that has run almost uninterrupted since 1904.

Final standings after 9 rounds

...100 players

Games

Links

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