2025 British Championship: Over 65

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80 players participated in this 7-round tournament, held from 04 Aug 2025 to 10 Aug 2025 in Liverpool, England. 11 titled players from 6 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2197, and top seed was Stephen Pickles (🇦🇺 AUS, 2280).

Nigel E Povah (🇬🇧 ENG, IM, 2206) won with 6.0/7, ahead of Andrew P Lewis (6.0) and Peter Varley (5.5). Povah shared the lead from round 1, winning on tie-break.

The biggest upset came in round 7: Colin A Costello (1876) beat Stephen Pickles (2280), a +404-point gap.

Location

🇬🇧Liverpool, England

Dates

04 Aug 2025 → 10 Aug 2025

Time control

Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 7 rounds

Top seed

🇦🇺Stephen Pickles2280

Avg top 10

2,197

Participants

Titled players · 11

IM×2

FM×6

CM×2

WGM×1

Federations · 6 represented

🇬🇧England×68

🇬🇧Scotland×4

🇬🇧Wales×4

🇮🇪Ireland×2

🇭🇺Hungary×1

🇦🇺Australia×1

Top 3

🥇
IMNigel E Povah
🇬🇧ENG·2206
6.0pts·2365perf+23.8
🥈
FMAndrew P Lewis
🇬🇧ENG·2242
6.0pts·2415perf+26.2
🥉
FMPeter Varley
🇬🇧WLS·2117
5.5pts·2242perf+20.6

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 7 rounds

Tight race until R7; 2 players tied at 6.0/7, decided on Buchholz. Title race narrowed from 7 co-leaders at R4 to 2 at the finish.

Co-leaders

Lewis6Povah6Varley5.5Townsend5Pritchett5Chapman5

R7 · TIEBREAK CLUSTER

2 players finish on 6.0/7. Povah takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (30.0).

R4 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

FM Andrew P Lewis drew with IM Nigel E Povah (Black).

WIN STREAKS · 2 top finishers

FM Andrew P Lewis 3 wins (R1–R3)IM Nigel E Povah 3 wins (R1–R3)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1FMAndrew P Lewis	*	½	—	—
2IMNigel E Povah	½	*	1	½
3FMPeter Varley	—	0	*	—
4M Paul Townsend	—	½	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Povah, Nigel EIM	2206	ENG	+45N	+27B	+5N	=2B	+3N	+10B	=7N	6.0	30.0	33.0	27.50	2365	+23.8
2	Lewis, Andrew PFM	2242	ENG	+57B	+9N	+21B	=1N	+6B	=4N	+11B	6.0	29.5	32.0	26.50	2415	+26.2
3	Varley, PeterFM	2117	WLS	+58B	=46N	+52B	+44N	−1B	+26N	+12B	5.5	23.5	26.0	18.50	2242	+20.6
4	Chapman, Terry P DFM	2263	ENG	=28N	+67B	+19N	+15B	=7N	=2B	=5N	5.0	29.0	31.0	21.00	2207	-5.8
5	Page, Mark E	2025	ENG	+64B	+38N	−1B	+29B	+22N	=6N	=4B	5.0	27.5	30.0	19.00	2177	+24.0
6	Pritchett, Craig WIM	2181	SCO	=67N	+28B	+47N	+12B	−2N	=5B	+21N	5.0	26.5	28.5	19.00	2173	+0.3
7	Townsend, M Paul	2167	ENG	+40B	+66N	=44B	+63N	=4B	=11N	=1B	5.0	24.5	27.0	17.75	2234	+14.0
8	Hodge, Steve R	1973	ENG	+71B	−20N	+51B	=23N	+63B	+15N	=14B	5.0	22.5	24.5	16.25	2185	+40.2
9	Hutchinson, Paul A	2019	ENG	+80N	−2B	+69N	+50B	=25N	=34B	+20B	5.0	22.5	23.0	13.25	2194	+32.8
10	Bray, David	1950	ENG	+60N	+25B	=11B	+20N	=26B	−1N	=18B	4.5	27.0	29.5	17.00	2161	+40.0
11	Brooks, Phil J	2127	ENG	+76N	+48B	=10N	=22B	+21N	=7B	−2N	4.5	26.5	28.5	15.75	2166	+6.8
12	Hughes, Roy	2019	ENG	+54B	+43N	=20B	−6N	+24B	+23N	−3N	4.5	26.0	29.0	16.50	2087	+15.4
13	Clark, Robert G	1991	ENG	=59B	=30N	=24B	=16N	+31B	=35N	+39B	4.5	23.5	26.0	16.75	1944	-7.4
14	Kennaugh, Charles WFM	2203	ENG	−22B	+61N	=57B	+35B	=17N	+36B	=8N	4.5	23.0	25.5	15.50	2103	-10.8
15	Smith, Andrew PhilipFM	2104	IRL	+70N	=47B	+36N	−4N	+44B	−8B	+37N	4.5	23.0	25.0	13.50	2079	-3.0
16	Costello, Colin A	1876	ENG	−49N	+32B	=17N	=13B	=47N	+48B	+34N	4.5	22.5	25.5	16.50	2108	+42.0
17	Moore, Geoffrey R	1996	ENG	=53B	=59N	=16B	+58N	=14B	+22B	=23N	4.5	22.5	25.0	15.75	1993	+0.8
18	Orton, Stephen L A	2137	ENG	−38B	+64N	=45B	=57N	+40B	+29B	=10N	4.5	21.0	23.5	15.00	2009	-20.2
19	Wager, John D	1972	ENG	=39N	+65B	−4B	−24N	+61B	+57N	+35B	4.5	21.0	23.5	12.75	1959	-1.6
20	Granat, Russell G	2164	ENG	+31N	+8B	=12N	−10B	+27N	=25B	−9N	4.0	27.0	31.0	17.25	2037	-22.0
21	Dawson, Jeff R	2024	ENG	+72N	+41B	−2N	+37B	−11B	+45N	−6B	4.0	25.5	27.5	12.00	2028	+2.6
22	Johnson, Simon	0	ENG	+14N	+42B	=63B	=11N	−5B	−17N	+46B	4.0	25.0	27.5	14.50	2082	0.0
23	Giulian, Philip MFM	2075	SCO	+69N	=36B	=29N	=8B	+41N	−12B	=17B	4.0	25.0	27.0	14.00	1971	-17.0
24	Wilson, Edgar	1866	ENG	−25N	+60B	=13N	+19B	−12N	+62B	=27N	4.0	24.0	26.5	13.75	1998	+25.4
25	Hewson, Brian W R	2062	ENG	+24B	−10N	+38B	+46N	=9B	=20N	F	4.0	24.0	24.0	15.00	2105	+7.2
26	Hardman, Michael J	2057	ENG	=37N	=50B	+76N	+48B	=10N	−3B	=30N	4.0	23.5	25.5	12.50	1984	-12.6
27	Fletcher, JohnCM	1981	WLS	+74B	−1N	+68N	+34B	−20B	=39N	=24B	4.0	23.0	25.0	11.25	2031	+9.0
28	Moore, Gerald	1928	ENG	=4B	−6N	=41N	+65B	−34N	+60B	+49N	4.0	22.5	25.0	12.25	2030	+13.6
29	Myall, Ivan J	1938	ENG	=78N	+39B	=23B	−5N	+59B	−18N	+51B	4.0	22.5	23.5	11.50	1926	+0.6
30	Gregg, Alan M	1930	ENG	=34N	=13B	−35N	+72B	=37N	+68B	=26B	4.0	21.0	23.0	11.75	1997	+11.4
31	Marks, Ian A	1904	SCO	−20B	+71N	=49N	=42B	−13N	+55B	+47N	4.0	21.0	23.0	11.25	2001	+15.0
32	Clancy, Martin J	1765	ENG	−44B	−16N	=61B	+54N	+58B	=33N	+52B	4.0	20.0	22.5	11.75	1963	+37.0
33	Jackson, SheilaWGM	2046	ENG	=50N	=37B	=70N	=36B	=68N	=32B	+45N	4.0	19.0	21.0	12.00	1908	-23.8
34	Pickles, Stephen	2280	AUS	=30B	+53N	=46B	−27N	+28B	=9N	−16B	3.5	24.5	27.5	13.00	1943	-52.8
35	Prince, Alan R	1791	ENG	−66B	+40N	+30B	−14N	+46B	=13B	−19N	3.5	24.0	26.5	12.75	1995	+35.6
36	Lawson, Maurice E	1938	ENG	+56B	=23N	−15B	=33N	+53B	−14N	=38B	3.5	23.5	26.5	11.75	1959	+4.6
37	Newton, Robert A	1851	ENG	=26B	=33N	+66B	−21N	=30B	+44N	−15B	3.5	23.5	26.0	11.50	2019	+30.4
38	Collinson, Mark I	1900	ENG	+18N	−5B	−25N	+77B	=48N	=49B	=36N	3.5	23.0	25.0	11.25	1980	+11.4
39	Tedd, Bernie	1740	ENG	=19B	−29N	+67N	=62B	+70N	=27B	−13N	3.5	21.5	23.5	9.50	1946	+36.6
40	Ewart, Brian R	1906	ENG	−7N	−35B	+78N	+60B	−18N	+73B	=42N	3.5	21.0	22.0	7.25	1874	-4.8
41	Clare, Steve	1709	ENG	+55B	−21N	=28B	+52N	−23B	F	+57N	3.5	20.5	20.5	10.50	1980	+32.2
42	Dilleigh, Stephen P	2048	ENG	+61B	−22N	=58B	=31N	−45B	+53N	=40B	3.5	20.0	22.5	10.50	1929	-17.2
43	Jerome, Stellio	1669	ENG	+62N	−12B	−48N	−68B	=69N	+80B	+58B	3.5	16.5	17.0	6.50	1906	+40.4
44	Bonafont, Philip R	1978	ENG	+32N	+49B	=7N	−3B	−15N	−37B	=50N	3.0	25.5	28.5	11.00	1938	-7.8
45	Hutchinson, Norman A	1914	ENG	−1B	+74N	=18N	=49B	+42N	−21B	−33B	3.0	25.0	27.0	9.25	1996	+13.6
46	Spanton, Tim R	1982	ENG	+73N	=3B	=34N	−25B	−35N	+50B	−22N	3.0	23.5	25.5	9.50	1976	-1.6
47	Habershon, Paul F	1959	ENG	+79B	=15N	−6B	=59N	=16B	=51N	−31B	3.0	23.5	24.5	8.25	1861	-18.8
48	De Coverly, Roger D	1969	ENG	+75B	−11N	+43B	−26N	=38B	−16N	=54B	3.0	23.0	25.0	8.75	1832	-25.0
49	James, Geoffrey HCM	2088	ENG	+16B	−44N	=31B	=45N	=57B	=38N	−28B	3.0	22.0	24.5	11.00	1867	-41.2
50	Goodwin, Ed H	1827	ENG	=33B	=26N	+55B	−9N	=66B	−46N	=44B	3.0	22.0	24.5	9.75	1888	+9.0
51	Stevens, Brian	1833	ENG	−63B	+56N	−8N	+55B	=62N	=47B	−29N	3.0	20.5	23.0	8.75	1786	-14.4
52	Kelly, Ian G	1953	ENG	=65N	+78B	−3N	−41B	=73N	+59B	−32N	3.0	20.0	21.0	5.75	1728	-34.0
53	Erdogan, Hassan	1792	ENG	=17N	−34B	=65N	+69B	−36N	−42B	+71N	3.0	19.5	21.5	7.50	1911	+15.0
54	Pugh, Glyn D	1824	ENG	−12N	−62B	=79N	−32B	+77N	+67B	=48N	3.0	18.0	19.0	6.00	1759	-10.6
55	Sage, Geoffrey W	0	ENG	−41N	+72B	−50N	−51N	+75B	−31N	+73B	3.0	17.5	19.5	6.00	1750	0.0
56	Collins, Nigel	1589	ENG	−36N	−51B	=73N	=67B	=72N	+69B	=68N	3.0	14.5	16.5	6.00	1806	+34.8
57	Punnett, Alan K	1919	ENG	−2N	+80B	=14N	=18B	=49N	−19B	−41B	2.5	26.0	26.5	6.50	1920	-3.0
58	Marshall, Michael	1886	ENG	−3N	+73B	=42N	−17B	−32N	+72B	−43N	2.5	23.0	25.0	5.75	1783	-20.6
59	Robinson, David	1784	ENG	=13N	=17B	=62N	=47B	−29N	−52N	=64B	2.5	21.5	24.0	8.50	1843	+19.2
60	Walkowiak, Adam	1657	SCO	−10B	−24N	+74B	−40N	+64B	−28N	=61B	2.5	21.0	23.0	5.75	1767	+17.4
61	Phillips, William	1832	WLS	−42N	−14B	=32N	+79B	−19N	=71B	=60N	2.5	21.0	22.0	5.25	1769	-14.8
62	Campbell, Ian	1952	ENG	−43B	+54N	=59B	=39N	=51B	−24N	F	2.5	19.5	19.5	7.50	1729	-35.6
63	Surtees, Mike J	2055	ENG	+51N	+68B	=22N	−7B	−8N	F	F	2.5	19.0	19.0	7.00	1952	-10.4
64	Dennis, Nigel W	1824	ENG	−5N	−18B	+71N	−76B	−60N	+79B	=59N	2.5	18.5	19.5	4.25	1748	-16.6
65	Butterworth, Joe W	0	ENG	=52B	−19N	=53B	−28N	=67N	+70B	F	2.5	18.5	18.5	6.00	1848	0.0
66	Fegan, Chris	1994	ENG	+35N	−7B	−37N	+70B	=50N	F	F	2.5	17.0	17.0	7.00	1902	-12.0
67	Hawkins, James N H	1908	ENG	=6B	−4N	−39B	=56N	=65B	−54N	=74B	2.0	22.0	24.0	6.25	1703	-33.4
68	Kane, Robert	1834	ENG	F	−63N	−27B	+43N	=33B	−30N	=56B	2.0	21.0	21.0	7.00	1754	-12.8
69	Armstrong, William G	1875	ENG	−23B	+77N	−9B	−53N	=43B	−56N	=75B	2.0	20.5	22.5	4.75	1538	-49.4
70	Stephens, Ian Paul	1877	ENG	−15B	+79N	=33B	−66N	−39B	−65N	=77N	2.0	19.0	20.0	4.00	1766	-15.0
71	Barnes, David	1758	ENG	−8N	−31B	−64B	=74N	+78B	=61N	−53B	2.0	19.0	20.0	3.25	1648	-39.5
72	Hall, Alan	1824	ENG	−21B	−55N	+75B	−30N	=56B	−58N	=80N	2.0	18.5	19.0	3.75	1701	-19.4
73	O`mahoney, Mike J	1780	ENG	−46B	−58N	=56B	+78N	=52B	−40N	−55N	2.0	18.0	19.0	4.00	1685	-15.0
74	Tidmarsh, David A	1776	ENG	−27N	−45B	−60N	=71B	=79N	=77B	=67N	2.0	15.5	16.5	3.50	1626	-23.4
75	Stinson, William James	1720	IRL	−48N	−76B	−72N	+80B	−55N	=78B	=69N	2.0	13.0	13.5	2.00	1693	-9.2
76	Binks, Michael	1894	WLS	−11B	+75N	−26B	+64N	F	F	F	2.0	13.0	13.0	4.50	1932	+3.6
77	Clissold, Julian	0	ENG	F	−69B	+80N	−38N	−54B	=74N	=70B	2.0	13.0	13.0	2.50	1718	0.0
78	Wright, George A	1540	ENG	=29B	−52N	−40B	−73B	−71N	=75N	F	1.0	16.5	16.5	3.00	1567	+1.2
79	Lawrence, Roy	1693	ENG	−47N	−70B	=54B	−61N	=74B	−64N	F	1.0	15.0	15.0	2.50	1576	-31.2
80	Mak, Janos	1804	HUN	−9B	−57N	−77B	−75N	F	−43N	=72B	0.5	17.0	17.0	1.00	1464	-36.8

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Costello, Colin AENG
+42.0
4.5 pts · #9
2Jerome, StellioENG
+40.4
3.5 pts · #35
3Hodge, Steve RENG
+40.2
5.0 pts · #8

Top rating losers

1Pickles, StephenAUS
-52.8
3.5 pts · #39
2Armstrong, William GENG
-49.4
2.0 pts · #78
3James, Geoffrey HCMENG
-41.2
3.0 pts · #44

Biggest upsets

R7+404 Elo gap
Costello, Colin A1876 beat Pickles, Stephen2280
R4+299 Elo gap
CMFletcher, John1981 beat Pickles, Stephen2280
R6+286 Elo gap
Collins, Nigel1589 beat Armstrong, William G1875