From Chesspedia, the Free Chess Encyclopedia.
British Chess Championship
The British Chess Championship is organised by the English Chess Federation. There are separate championships for men and women. Since 1923 there have been sections for juniors, and since 1982 there has been an over-sixty championship.
The championship was originally open to citizens of any Commonwealth country, although only British players won the title until 2002, when the Indian R. B. Ramesh finished first and several other Indians took top prizes. This led to many top Brits not competing in the 2003 championship and accompanied criticism that the British Championship was not serving the interests of British players. This, combined with the victory of Indian Abhijit Kunte in 2003, led to an annoucement from the organisers that from 2004 only British and Irish players would be eligible to take part.
List of British Men's Chess Champions
- 1904 - William Ewart Napier
- 1905 - Henry Atkins
- 1906 - Henry Atkins
- 1907 - Henry Atkins
- 1908 - Henry Atkins
- 1909 - Henry Atkins
- 1910 - Henry Atkins
- 1911 - Henry Atkins
- 1912 - Richard Griffith
- 1913 - Frederick Yates
- 1914 - Frederick Yates
- 1915-1919 - no contest
- 1920 - Roland Scott
- 1921 - Frederick Yates
- 1922 - no contest
- 1923 - George Thomas
- 1924 - Henry Atkins
- 1925 - Henry Atkins
- 1926 - Frederick Yates
- 1928 - Frederick Yates
- 1929 - Sultan Khan
- 1931 - Frederick Yates
- 1932 - Sultan Khan
- 1933 - Sultan Khan
- 1934 - George Thomas
- 1935 - William Winter
- 1936 - William Winter
- 1937 - William Fairhurst
- 1938 - C.H.O'D Alexander
- 1939-1945 - no contest
- 1946 - Robert Forbes Combe
- 1947 - Harry Golombek
- 1948 - Reginald Broadbent
- 1949 - Harry Golombek
- 1950 - Reginald Broadbent
- 1951 - Ernst Klein
- 1952 - Robert Wade
- 1953 - Abraham Yanofsky
- 1954 - Leonard Barden and Alan Phillips
- 1955 - Harry Golombek
- 1956 - C.H.O'D Alexander
- 1957 - Stefan Fazekas
- 1958 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1959 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1960 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1961 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1962 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1963 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1964 - Michael Haygarth
- 1965 - Peter Lee
- 1966 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1967 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1968 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1969 - Jonathan Penrose
- 1970 - Robert Wade
- 1971 - Ray Keene
- 1972 - Brian Eley
- 1973 - William Hartston
- 1974 - George Botterill
- 1975 - William Hartston
- 1976 - Jonathan Mestel
- 1977 - George Botterill
- 1978 - Jonathan Speelman
- 1979 - Robert Bellin
- 1980 - John Nunn
- 1981 - Paul Littlewood
- 1982 - Tony Miles
- 1983 - Jonathan Mestel
- 1984 - Nigel Short
- 1985 - Jonathan Speelman
- 1986 - Jonathan Speelman
- 1987 - Nigel Short
- 1988 - Jonathan Mestel
- 1989 - Michael Adams
- 1990 - James Plaskett
- 1991 - Julian Hodgson
- 1992 - Julian Hodgson
- 1993 - Michael Hennigan
- 1994 - William Watson
- 1995 - Matthew Sadler
- 1996 - Chris Ward
- 1997 - Michael Adams and Matthew Sadler
- 1998 - Nigel Short
- 1999 - Julian Hodgson
- 2000 - Julian Hodgson
- 2001 - Joe Gallagher
- 2002 - R. B. Ramesh
- 2003 - Abhijit Kunte
- 2004 - Jonathan Rowson
- 2005 - Jonathan Rowson