The British Rapidplay Championship was held at the Holiday Inn, Peterborough on the 1st – 2nd March 2025. After a very close contest, a playoff was required between grandmasters Nikita Vitiugov and Alexander Kovchan, both of whom scored 9 points out of 11. After both winning with white in round 1 of the play off, an Armageddon game was needed to separate them.
With Nikita Vitiugov playing black and just needing to draw to win the title, Alexander Kovchan was unable to generate enough for a win and a draw was agreed with black in a clearly winning position.
Congratulations to grandmaster Nikita Vitiugov for his winning his first British Rapidplay title. Also, congratulations to grandmaster Alexander Kovchan who pushed him all the way. Six players tied for 3rd place: grandmasters Gawain Jones, Ameet Ghasi and Daniel Gormally, international masters Yichen Han and Graeme Buckley and FIDE master Maciej Czopor.
The Women’s title was won by woman grandmaster Elmira Mirzoeva on 7½, a half point ahead of woman FIDE master Bodhana Sivanandan. Third place was shared by international master Susan Lalic and woman FIDE master Elis Dicen.
A big thank you goes to the hotel staff, the control team who ran the tournament with quiet efficiency and especially the players, who made the tournament a pleasure to run.
— Adrian Elwin, Chief Arbiter
| Rapidplay Championship | ||||
| 1st | ENG | GM | Nikita Vitiugov | 9 |
| 2nd | UKR | GM | Alexander Kovchan | 9 |
| 3rd = | ENG | GM | Gawain CB Jones | 8½ |
| 3rd = | ENG | GM | Ameet K Ghasi | 8½ |
| 3rd = | ENG | GM | Daniel W Gormally | 8½ |
| 3rd = | NED | IM | Yichen Han | 8½ |
| 3rd = | POL | FM | Maciej Czopor | 8½ |
| 3rd = | ENG | IM | Graeme N Buckley | 8½ |
| Rating – 2135 and above | ENG | Oleg Verbytski | 8 (2.89) | |
| Rating – 1990 to 2134 | SCO | FM | Rishi Vijayakumar | 8 (3.00) |
| Rating – 1750 to 1989 | SCO | Louis Cheng | 6½ (4.08) | |
| Rating – 1575 to 1749 | ENG | Jael J De Sousa Muachikape | 6½ (2.81) | |
| Rating – up to 1574 | ENG | Prathik Karthisamy | 4½ (3.37) | |
| Women’s Rapidplay Championship | ||||
| 1st | ENG | WGM | Elmira Mirzoeva | 7½ |
| 2nd | ENG | WFM | Bodhana Sivanandan | 7 |
| 3rd = | ENG | WFM | Elis Denele Dicen | 6½ |
| 3rd = | ENG | IM | Susan K Lalic | 6½ |
Photograph of Nikita Vitiugov with Adrian by Dennis Dicen | more pictures will follow