Michael Adams: A class of his own

Michael Adams demonstrated why he is the leading player from the British Isles as he left everyone in his wake in the 97th British Championships in Canterbury (in Kent in the south of England).
Jovanka Houska was the highest placed female in the 78-player swiss event and was thus awarded the title of British Ladies Champion.

Nicholas Pert, who plays less these days, had a good result finishing on 8/11, a score that in some years is sufficient for first place.

However the main man was Michael Adams who only dropped three draws on his way to a convincing victory.

His 9.5/11 isn't a record however, as his good friend Julian Hodgson managed 10/11 in 1992.

A 9-round GM norm for Adam Hunt © official site.

Among the players in equal third was Adam Hunt (from a chess family as he is the brother of the strong English woman Harriet Hunt) who obtained a GM norm.

The final rankings in this 11-round swiss, with first prize being a useful 5,000 pounds sterling, as well as the title:

Rank	Title	Name	Country	Rating	Score
1	GM	Michael Adams	ENG	2706	9.5
2	GM	Nicholas Pert	ENG	2551	8
3	GM	Stuart Conquest	ENG	2523	7.5
4	IM	Andrew Greet	ENG	2451	7.5
5	FM	Jonathan Hawkins	ENG	2423	7.5
6	IM	Adam Hunt	ENG	2408	7.5
7	IM	Richard Pert	ENG	2460	7.5
8	FM	Alexei Slavin	RUS	2417	7.5
9	GM	Keith Arkell	ENG	2465	7
10	GM	Stephen Gordon	ENG	2534	7
11	-	Donald Mason	ENG	2219	7
12	IM	Thomas Rendle	ENG	2391	7
13	GM	Aaron Summerscale	ENG	2428	7
14	GM	Peter Wells	ENG	2488	7

For more information see the Official site

Victory by one-and-a-half points @ official site

British ladies champion despite a last round defeat @ official site