British Chess Championship 2026 Begins at the University of Warwick

The 2026 British Chess Championship began at the University of Warwick, with Michael Adams, Harry Grieve and Svyatoslav Bazakutsa among the players on 2/2.

The 2026 British Chess Championships are under way at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. After two rounds of the main Championship section, several players have perfect scores, including former champion GM Michael Adams, IM Harry Grieve and IM Svyatoslav Bazakutsa.

The Championship is a 9-round Swiss played at a classical time control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 more minutes, with 30 seconds added after every move. The festival also includes junior, senior and Major Open sections, so players of every age and level are competing.

The top seeds mostly started smoothly. GM Luke McShane, the top seed, won his first game with Black in the Italian Game, but in round 2 he was held to a draw by GM Peter Wells. Michael Adams won both of his games, beating Oleg Verbytski in round 1 and IM Richard Bates in round 2.

GM Shreyas Royal, one of England's brightest young talents, won his opening game in just 24 moves. In round 2 he drew with IM Andrew Ledger and has 1.5 points.

Other players on 2 out of 2 include IM Maciej Czopor, GM Simon Williams and IM Yichen Han.

The British Championships have a very long history and are a highlight of the English chess calendar. For many young players, the festival is their first experience of a big tournament with a mix of grandmasters and club players in the same hall.

Early rounds of a Swiss tournament often pair strong players against lower-rated opponents. Draws like McShane's in round 2 show that nothing is guaranteed. Every opponent can play well on the day. This is why experienced players take every game seriously from the very first move.

Seven rounds remain, and the leaders will start meeting each other soon.