British Chess Championships 2008

St. George's Hall, Liverpool

Main Menu

Latest News

22nd Aug - some minor gamescore corrections to rd2, rd4 and rd10 have been made to the Championship PGNs.

A full list of 2008 prize winners has been added to this website. It is envisaged that more PGN files will be ready in the near future too.

Prize-winners photographs are now posted. Names missing will be added as soon as possible but please feel free to send details or email the website manager if you can provide these yourself.

The Championship play-off match was won by Stuart Conquest 1½-½. See the games in viewer or PGN. See first few photos after the second game plus Stuart as Champion. See two videos of their play-off.

Saturday's Live games: Playoff final starting at approximately 10.45am

Games: Rounds 1-11 British Championship and rounds 1-10 Major Open in PGN or Chesstheatre are available. Round 11 Major Open to follow asap.

Round 11 GM & IM Title Norm Chances

Read about John Healy and his redemption through chess. My only association with him was giving him a free entry at The Evening Standard Islington Congress in the 1970's. - SR

Read Publicity Officer Bob Jones's personal blog.

Player lists for each section now posted; see Results & Pairings for details.

List of entrants updated 26th July (now at 690). Very close to last year's figures.

The 2008 Programme is now available online (30 pages) in Word or PDF.

There is no charge for spectators for the British Championships to be held in St George's Hall 28 July to 8 August. Play takes place from 2.15pm each day, except Sunday 3 August. Andrew Martin's live commentaries on the games in progress are also free.

Parking: Liverpool Airport long stay car parks. 5 days £32, 13 days £47. Bus fare to Lime Street Station £2.50.
Entries are currently running at 90 - 95% of those for Great Yarmouth at the same time last year.

Special Events - details now posted.

Leading entrants to the British Championship by Stewart Reuben.

Top places to visit in Liverpool by Gemma Robertson (download as PDF).

Events and What's On in Liverpool by Stewart Reuben.

British Championships Quiz answers announced with prize-winners.

See some British Championship player photos - courtesy of Cathy Rogers, Bob Jones and Stephen Connor.

Events and What's On in Liverpool by Congress Manager Stewart Reuben.

GM Nick Pert describes some of the leading players for the British; see www.nickpert.com.

New additional prizes announced for the British Championships ... more.

Liverpool John Moores University Prizes for Excellence at the British Chess Championships.

£100 Best Game Prizes for each of the 11 rounds of the British Championship.

The overall Best Game Prize will receive in addition the £100 Alexander Prize.
Best achievement by a Merseyside player in the Congress as decided by the event arbiters: £200, £100.
Best Swindle Prize in the Congress £50.
Best Combination £50.
Details of a further £500 junior prizes will be announced in due course.

This generous support has been arranged by Professor David Robertson of Liverpool John Moores University.

British Championships Quiz (devised by Congress Manager Stewart Reuben)
Playing in the British Championships in Liverpool
Accommodation Form for the 2008 British Championships

CHESS MAGAZINE will be providing the bookstall at the 95th British Chess Championships. This is always an important part of the congress, it gives people the opportunity to make a reasoned choice from all the material on offer. They are also generously providing a number of book prizes and a free sample magazine to some of the competitors.

Press release

The 95th British Chess Championships celebrating the contribution by Mike O’Hara to British chess administration will take place in St George’s Hall, Liverpool Sunday 27th July to Saturday 9th August. The showpiece of this event, which will attract about 900 entries, is the British Championship. The English Chess Federation has decided to make funds available for start money for the leading players.

President of the English Chess Federation, Gerry Walsh, said ‘commemorating Mike O’Hara is particularly apt. He was an extremely active organiser in the North-West and treasurer of the event for many years. Much of the true wealth of English chess lies in the many administrators in chess who give up their time voluntarily.

The provision of fees for the grandmasters and leading women players is very welcome news. This will mean the British Championship will be an event worthy of the magnificent St George’s Hall and be a major part of the 08 Liverpool European Capital of Culture. Other chess activity in Liverpool this summer includes the Glorney/Faber Cup in July, which was the first-ever international junior chess team championship, and the European Union Individual Championship in September. We will be able to witness a truly exciting chess festival in a truly exciting city.’

Further details: www.englishchess.org.uk/events/bc2008/index.html

01424 775222 or stewartreuben@aol.com

Stewart Reuben

Manager of Congress Chess