English chess stars pulled off an unprecedented 1-2-3 in the 2024 XTX Markets London Chess Classic against a world-class field at Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium as Grandmaster Gawain Jones was crowned champion for the first time. The 34-year-old father of two from Yorkshire clinched victory and the £25,000 first prize on Friday with a final round win over women’s world champion Ju Wenjun. It left him a full point clear of the pack on 5/7.
Jones said: “The last few days, it felt like a lot of suffering! Today was better.”
Defending champion Michael Adams, the veteran eight-time British title winner, finished second on tiebreaks with 4/7 after a round 7 draw with the 19-year-old American prospect Andrew Hong. Adams, who has played all 14 editions of the London Chess Classic, said: “Really, I ended up with more points than I deserved!” He added: “At least I’m still fighting.”
Hong, playing in his first London Chess Classic, said: “It was very nice to have this opportunity, I’m thankful. It was my first time playing in this sort of event, and it showed a bit because looking through my games I think I could have made more of my chances. It is how the game goes sometimes.”
Grandmaster Nikita Vitiugov, the current England number-two, was third after also drawing his final round game with India’s 2023 world championship candidate Vidit Gujrathi.
English prodigy Shreyas Royal, the UK’s youngest-ever grandmaster, had a tough tournament finishing with 1/7 after a final-round loss against Azerbaijan’s vastly-experienced former world rapid champion Shakrhiyar Mamedyarov. Azerbaijan’s number-one finished on 4/7.
International Master Malcolm Pein, Chief Executive of CSC, said: “It was an incredible result for English chess to cap off an incredible week of world-class competition at a world-class venue. Congratulations to Grandmaster Gawain Jones who showed all his trademark creativity to fight off a strong challenge and win his first XTX Markets London Chess Classic. It is wonderful to have another English name to add to the list of winners that includes such greats as Magnus Carlsen, Vishy Anand, Hikaru Nakamura, Ding Liren and our own Michael Adams. London has hosted a huge international tournament that keeps England on the map in elite-level world chess.”
Report by Leon Watson | Photograph courtesy of CSC/LCC