Michael Adams, the 54-year-old grandmaster from Taunton, aimed for a record-equalling 10th British title but faced an unexpected setback in the fourth round of the 2026 British Championship. After starting strong with three wins, he suffered his first championship defeat since 1988, resigning a lost rook endgame after 60 moves against rising Ukrainian talent Svyatoslav Bazakutsa, 18, who resides in Liverpool.

Adams, who has won nine British titles, trails just behind Jonathan Penrose’s record. His remarkable streak of 87 classical British Championship games without a defeat included notable victories from 1989—when he became the youngest winner at 17—to his recent triumphs in 2023 and 2025.

The championship, featuring 108 players and a £34,000 prize fund, is being held at the University of Warwick in Coventry. This year’s competition showcases a strong youthful challenge, with five of the eight leaders after the fifth round being under 21, and four still under 18.

Among the standout performances, Bodhana Sivanandan, just 11 years old, secured her fourth victory over a grandmaster, defeating GM Ameet Ghasi with an impressive 99% accuracy. Her gameplay has drawn comparisons to Bobby Fischer’s iconic 1956 Game of the Century, showcasing her tactical acumen at such a young age.

In the sixth round, frontrunners Bazakutsa and Harry Grieve settled for a quiet draw, while Luke McShane emerged victorious after a marathon 119 moves against Freddy Waldhausen Gordon. As the championship nears its conclusion, Bazakutsa, Grieve, Adams, McShane, and Shreyas Royal all lead with 5/6, indicating a potential tie and playoff on Sunday.