The 100th British Chess Championship takes place in Torquay and runs for two weeks from July 28.

Ten grandmasters have entered so far, headed by the best two young players in Britain: 23-year-old David Howell and 25-year-old Gawain Jones.

Oxfordshire is represented in the main event by Witney stars grandmaster Peter Wells and Marcus Harvey. Peter has never won the British before — but he’s come close and has a track record of success at all levels. For 16-year-old Marcus, the experience will be invaluable and he certainly has the ability to make an impact.

Witness this game from last year’s event where, admirably, Marcus keeps his eyes on the prize despite not achieving anything from the opening.

White: Marcus Harvey

Black: Terry Chapman

1.e4 d6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Ne2 Be7 5.0–0 h5! White’s passive opening deserves a reaction like this!

6.d4 The usual reaction to Black’s h-pawn push would be 6.h3 but here White is poorly placed to meet the hyper-aggressive 6...h4! and if 7.g4 then 7...Nxg4! 8.hxg4 Bxg4! 9.f3 Bd7 10.d4? h3 11.Bh1 h2+ would leave White struggling.

6...Nbd7 …and why not 6...h4 you ask? — I can’t tell you.

7.h3 Covering the ...h4 threat but 7.Bg5 might be better.

7...c6 8.f4!? 0–0 9.c3?! Re8 10.Nd2 Qc7 11.Qc2 Bf8 12.Rf2!? Developing the bishop to the long diagonal with 12.b3 and 13.Bb2 looks natural and strong.

12...b5 13.Nf1 Bb7 14.Ne3 Rac8 15.Bd2 a6 16.Re1 g6?! Black doesn’t want White’s knight appearing on f5 — but this move is very weakening and surely here the remedy is worse than the disease.

17.a3?! Here 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Ref1 looks like a plan.

17...c5!? 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.d5 c4! 20.Ref1 Qb6 21.Kh1 Bg7 22.g4!? White has to mix it up before Black can plonk his knight on d3.

22...Re7 23.Ng3 hxg4 23...h4 looks natural — but then White could try 24.Ngf5! and after 24...gxf5 25.Nxf5 Ree8 26.Nxg7! Kxg7 27.Bg5! he is winning.

24.hxg4 Nc5 25.g5 Ne8 26.Ng4 Nd3 27.Be3 Qc7 28.Nf6+ Kf8 29.Nh7+ Kg8 30.Nf6+ Kf8 31.Bh3! Rd8? Black should at least pocket some material for his suffering with 31...Nxf2+.

32.Nh7+ Kg8 33.Nf6+ Kf8 34.Rf3 Bc8? Black had to find 34...Nf4 but even here, after 35.Bxf4 exf4 36.Rxf4 Bxf6 37.gxf6 Nxf6! 38.Rxf6 Qxg3 39.Qg2 White is clearly better.

35.Qh2! Nxf6? Losing a piece for nothing. 35...Nd6 was less compliant — but still losing after 36.Bxc8 Qxc8 37.Qh7.

36.gxf6 Bxf6 37.Rxf6 1–0

  • The Witney Rapid-play takes place on September 29 at Batt School, Witney. This one-day event has sections for both juniors and adults and details of how to enter can be found on the Internet.