The scene at Pall Mall
Chess in central London got a major glow-up this past weekend with the inaugural Army and Navy Club Pall Mall Masters. Sponsored by Chess England, the event brought elite speed chess into the heart of the city’s clubland, marking a fresh vibe for the local tournament scene. It was a serious test for UK players going up against some heavy-hitting international competition.
The results are in
It was a massive W for the visitors. France’s GM Jules Moussard absolutely ate, taking home the Super Rapid title with a 7.5/10 score, plus a win in the Blitz at 7/10. GM Gawain Jones held it down for the UK, landing a strong second place in the Super Rapid.
Meanwhile, US GM Praveen Balakrishnan secured his bag in the Challengers bracket, tying for the top spot in the Rapid and winning the Blitz outright. It’s giving main character energy for the international crowd, especially since some local players like GM Luke McShane seemed a bit gassed after returning from the Samarkand Olympiad.
A new format for the win
The tournament organizers tried something different by running both Rapid and Blitz events over a single weekend with civilized 10am to 7pm hours. Real talk, this might be the fix for tournament burnout—players usually bail early if they’re out of contention, but this structure keeps the momentum going.
What’s next?
The focus now shifts to the English Championships in Peterborough, happening October 24 to November 1. With a £20,000 prize pool, it’s going to be a battle between GM Jones and nine-time British champ GM Michael Adams. Plus, keep your eyes on 11-year-old prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, who is looking to defend her title at the upcoming UK Blitz Championships after sweeping her qualifier in Belfast.
Why it matters
This event proved that a faster, more condensed tournament format is a total vibe for chess fans, potentially solving the issue of dropouts in longer events. With a larger prize pool on the horizon for the English Championships, the local scene is heating up fast.
