So the highs and lows of the British are over for another year and it is now time to reflect on what actually happened.

Blair Connell, a fellow Drunken Knights player has kindly offered his take on the event. Hopefully Blair will become a regular contributor.

Anyway let’s welcome the ‘View from the Sofa’ man. I would just like to say that the views are Blair’s opinion and therefore they do not necessarily reflect the views of the website….

A review of the leading players from the recent British Championships,  who’s up and who’s down.

Michael Adams (9.5/11) -

Ruthlessly exposed the gulf in class between 2700+ and 2500.  Managed to mesmerise opponents into positional and occasional tactical errors.  Made the game look ridiculously simple based on sound openings and accurate play.  Challenging for the record of king being in check fewest times during a tournament.  Deserved winner but greater challenges lie ahead and much stiffer task defending the title in Sheffield next year but on current form would have to start as favourite.

 Nick Pert (8/11) -

All round decent performance.  Despite being black was the only player to seriously challenge Adams when the tournament was still alive but understandably took a draw.  Undefeated and arguably deserved luck not to lose to Williams.  Excellent finish propelled him to outright 2nd.

 Adam Hunt (7.5/11) -

Superb tournament and justified many commentators belief that he was playing at GM strength by achieving 2nd GM norm and looking every inch a GM in the waiting.  Deserved more than mass split for 3rd (undone by back door Swiss pairings system) but achieved primary goal.  Appears to play better when his sister is not in the same tournament.  Will walk away very happy and surely optimistic of gaining a 3rd and final GM norm very soon.

 Richard Pert (7.5/11) -

Only loss came against Adams.  Solid performance including excellent defeat of Rendle but overall didn’t quite convince as a likely future GM despite all round decent display.

 Stuart Conquest (7.5/11) - 

Gained rating points by closing the tournament with back to backvictories.  Undone by a masterful display by Williams and never really convinced as a serious title contender.

 Jonathan Hawkins (7.5/11) -

Improving player but only real highlight was his surprising defeat of Williams in final round.

 Alexei Slavin (7.5/11) -

Russian

  Stephen Gordon (7/11) -

Hypnotised by Adams into rank blunder in roughly equal position but did manage consecutive checks against him which separated him from the field.  A positive result in this game would surely have changed his tournament.

Keith Arkell (7/11) -

Played a lot of moves but not always good ones.  Was in fine form coming into the tournament but may have played too much beforehand.  Having dinner with me possibly the highlight of his tournament so one to forget.

 Simon Williams (6.5/11) -

Played well at times and certainly one of the more entertaining players in a somewhat mundane championships.  Superb skill in outplaying Conquest from a slightly inferior position demonstrated his class but tournament ultimately marred by last round loss, failure to compete with Adams in round 10 and rush of blood against Jack Rudd as early as round 3.  Once again showed his potential to push past 2550 but needs to tighten up his play and take full advantage of the opportunities he creates (e.g. vs N. Pert) if this is to happen.

 Jovanka Houska (6.5/11) -

Turned up and stayed alive to secure women’s title.  Decent but exposed as short of top class vs British men.

 Danny Gormally (6/11) -

Looked one of Britain’s finest prospects when pushing 2600 a few years ago but lost his way and mentally if not physically a shadow of his former self.  No longer punching above his weight and needs to rededicate himself to chess if his obvious talent is once again going to come to the fore.