Three of Luton Chess Club's top players entered the biggest national tournament in the calender, the 2026 British Chess Championships at Warwick University. The event ran for nine days, with an enormous number of players in over 20 FIDE rated sections, including the for the title of British Chess Champion, won by Shreyas Royal.
First to arrive from Luton, was the club's most active tournament competitor, Tommy O'Brien in the Under 2050 section. In 6 rounds alongside 50 competitors, Tommy moved up the ranks with 2 wins, 1 loss and 3 draws, to finish on an impressive 3.5/6.
Next was the ambitious Jonadab Oki, entering the Major Open section which had 150 competitors playing 9 rounds. Jonadab scored 4 wins, 3 losses and a draw to end on a very respectable 4.5/9. His round 3 match was quite something and will be posted in the games section.
And finally Luton's Abiodun Nelson entered in the Over 50 section with 58 others playing 7 rounds. Abi had a very tough draw, with 5 of his 7 opponents as titled players. Undettered, Abi gained draws against two FIDE Masters, a Womens International Master and a FIDE International Master to finish on 3/7, above the current Bedfordshire county champion.
Congratulations to the three Luton chess players who competed at this event. The last word goes to Tommy O'Brien who posted these words of encouragement to everyone in the club:
Lutonian warriors, let's take on the 2027 British Chess Championships by storm. Well done to Abiodun and Jonadab who held their ground against very strong players [as did Tommy].