Michael Adams has secured his ninth British Chess Championship title in Liverpool, moving within one victory of equalling Jonathan Penrose’s all-time record of 10 titles. The 53-year-old grandmaster first won the championship in 1989 at the age of 17, still the youngest champion in history, and has since focused on adding to his national titles alongside international competitions. Adams, also the reigning world over-50 champion, triumphed after a tense speed tie-break against fellow veteran Stuart Conquest.
The 2025 championship proved to be one of the most closely contested in recent years, with six players sharing the lead going into the penultimate round. The final standings saw Adams, Conquest, and Peter Roberson tied on 7/9 points, with Roberson eliminated earlier in the tie-breaks. Gawain Jones, Svyatoslav Bazakutsa, and Jonah Willow followed closely with 6.5 points.
The tournament also highlighted a new generation of British chess talents. England’s youngest-ever grandmaster, 17-year-old Shreyas Royal, impressed early on before falling to an experienced trap. The most remarkable breakthrough, however, came from 10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, who achieved her third and final Women’s International Master norm with a 2300 performance rating a year younger than the previous record holder. In the final round, she made history by becoming the youngest girl ever to defeat a grandmaster in a classical game, overcoming Peter Wells in a time scramble. Her victory broke the record previously held by US player Carissa Yip, set in 2014 at age 10 years and 11 months.
Another standout was 11-year-old Supratit Banerjee, who achieved his first International Master norm the youngest in UK history and scored wins against two grandmasters. His performance included an extraordinary 145-move draw, demonstrating resilience far beyond his years.
Despite the excitement, the championship format drew criticism, as a large number of players were still in contention late in the event. Suggestions for improvement include restoring an 11-round format or raising the minimum rating requirement. Prize money remains modest, with Adams taking home £4,400. There are calls for a portion of the recently announced £1.5 million government grant for elite chess talent to be allocated toward boosting championship rewards.
With the 2026 edition set for the University of Warwick, all eyes will be on Adams as he seeks to equal or surpass Penrose’s historic record, while Britain’s junior stars continue their rapid rise on the world stage.
