Adams Outplays the Field in Thrilling Playoff to Win 9th British Championship

Michael Adams has done it again. The 53-year-old chess legend from Cornwall – known as “The Spider” – has won Liverpool’s grand St George’s Hall was the stage for a thrilling finish to the 2025 British Chess Championships — and once again, it was Michael Adams who stood tallest.

At 53, the Cornish Grandmaster nicknamed “The Spider” proved that experience, patience, and a touch of ruthlessness are still the most dangerous weapons in chess. On Sunday, he captured his ninth national crown after a dramatic playoff, adding yet another chapter to a career that has spanned decades at the top.

A Playoff Fit for a Champion

After nine rounds of intense battle, three players were tied on 7 points: Adams, International Master Peter Roberson, and 2008 champion Grandmaster Stuart Conquest.

The rules called for a rapidplay showdown. First, “The Fox” — Conquest’s long-standing nickname — rolled back the years to defeat Roberson 2-0, earning the right to face Adams in the final.

But when the Spider and the Fox faced off, there was no room for sentiment. Adams showed his trademark precision, outplaying Conquest to secure the £5,000 prize and the British Crown Trophy he first lifted in 1989. Only Jonathan Penrose, with ten titles between 1958 and 1969, has more British Championship wins.

“Another brilliant win for the Cornish sensation,” said GM Danny Gormally, the event’s commentator. “An unbelievable score!”

A Historic Women’s Result

The women’s championship produced a special moment of its own. WGMs Lan Yao and Elmira Mirzoeva both finished on 6/9 to share the title.

For Lan, it was her fourth consecutive British Women’s Championship victory, a feat of consistency rarely seen. For Mirzoeva, it was the first taste of national glory, earned with a final-round win to catch her rival.

Young Talents Steal the Spotlight

While the veterans took the big prizes, the next generation of British chess made their presence felt:

• Bodhana Sivanandan (10) — Pulled off a miracle win against GM Peter Wells from a lost position, earning her final Women’s International Master norm. Gormally called her play “some kind of magic.”
• Supratit Banerjee (11) — Beat two grandmasters, scored 6/9, and secured his first International Master norm. Tipped as a future British Champion.
• William Claridge-Hansen — Achieved an IM norm with a strong performance in the open section.

Shreyas Royal, England’s youngest-ever grandmaster, also impressed but fell short after losing to Conquest in round eight. Still, at just 16, his time seems inevitable.

A Final Round Full of Drama

Heading into the last day, six players were tied for first on 6 points: Adams, Conquest, Roberson, GM Nikita Vitiugov, IM Richard Pert, and Polish IM Maciej Czopor.

Roberson struck first, beating Pert to go top. Adams then squeezed a win from a difficult position against Czopor to join him. Conquest, needing a victory, stunned Vitiugov — currently England’s number one — to secure his own playoff spot.

That set the stage for the rapidplay decider. Conquest’s 2-0 win over Roberson raised hopes of a fairy-tale finish. But Adams, calm and clinical, closed out the event with the same coolness that has defined his career.

Liverpool’s Festival of Chess

This year’s championship was more than just the elite competition. Over 1,000 players from across the UK took part in events ranging from under-8 tournaments to senior championships.

It was the first time since 2008 that Liverpool had hosted the event, and fittingly, Conquest, the champion from that year, played a starring role again.

Looking Ahead to Coventry 2026

The English Chess Federation has announced that the 112th British Chess Championships will be held next year at the University of Warwick in Coventry. The nine-day chess festival will once again bring together players of all ages and skill levels in the battle for national glory.

For now, the story is simple: in a game where youth is rising fast, Michael Adams is still the king of the board.