Three protagonists shaped the action at the British Championships, held at De Montfort University in Leicester last month, with sharply different stories to tell. ‘Business as usual’ was a fair description of the top seed Michael Adams’s performance, who was undefeated on 7.5/9 and secured his eighth championship title by a comfortable margin. His closest pursuer for much of the event was Daniel Fernandez, whose energetic play earned him six wins in the first seven games. But his tournament unravelled in the penultimate round when he succumbed to a mating attack from a tense middlegame. In the final round, Fernandez was a heavy favourite, at least on paper. But his opening play looked impulsive, as if the previous day’s disappointment still weighed heavily. His opponent, Steven Jones, seized his chance and became the heroic underdog, finishing in second place with 6.5/9 – an extraordinary achievement for a player who began as the 32nd seed.

In a quirky endgame, arising from the Scotch Opening, a bold sacrifice from Jones turned his scruffy pawns into an invincible phalanx.

Oscar Pollack-Steven Jones
British Championships, Leicester, 2023
(See left diagram)

23… Re4 If White refrains from capturing this rook, it will swing across to c4 and invade. 24 Bxe4 dxe4 25 Nb2 Rxb4 26 Nc4+ Ke6 27 Ne3 h5 28 Rc5 Rb1+ 29 Kg2 Rb5 Exchanging rooks would suit Black well, as the central king is well placed to support the advancing pawns. 30 Rc4 f5 31 Ra4 a5 32 Nc4 The decisive mistake. Instead, 32 Rc4, to forestall d7-d5, was essential. After 32…Rb6 (to threaten d7-d5) a draw by repetition could arise after 33 Rc5 Rb5 34 Rc4 Rb4 Now the rook exchange is forced, and there is no holding back the pawns. 33 Rxb4 axb4 34 Kf1 d5 35 Na5 c5 36 Nb3 Kd6 37 Ke2 d4 38 Nc1 c4 39 Kd1 d3 40 Kd2 Kd5 41 Ke3 Kc5 42 Kd2 Kd4 White resigns

Jones met Michael Adams in the first round, and put up stubborn resistance. In the diagram below, 25…e5! was best, when White lacks a comfortable response to threats of g7-g5 and f7-f5. Advancing the g-pawn first backfired:

Michael Adams-Steven Jones
British Championships, Leicester, 2023
(See right diagram)

25…g5 26 Rxg5 fxg5 27 Nxg5+ Kg8 28 Nxe6 Rxe6 29 Rxe6 h5 30 Qe4 Bf7 31 Rh6 Be8 Black is hanging by a thread. 31…Re8! was the only good defence. After 32 Qh7+ Kf8 33 Qh8+ Bg8 it is surprising that White has no more than a draw. 32 Qd5+ The only way, with the point that 32…Qf7 33 Rg6+ wins. Rf7 33 Re6 Clever. Not 33 Rg6+ Kf8 34 Qg5 Rg7 and Black clings on. Bd7 34 Rg6+ Kf8 35 Qg5 Rf5 36 Rg8+ Kf7 37 Rg7+ Ke6 38 Qe7+ Black resigns