Gawain Jones Wins the XTX Markets London Chess Classic 2024

Grandmaster Gawain Jones had a spectacular tournament, clinching his first title at the XTX Markets London Chess Classic, held at Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium. Jones secured the championship with an impressive victory in the final round, which also won the best game prize. He finished a full point ahead of a competitive field that included some of the world’s top players. This marks a new milestone for English chess, as Jones joins the illustrious list of past winners, including Magnus Carlsen, Vishy Anand, and Hikaru Nakamura.

In an unprecedented achievement, English players dominated the event with Michael Adams and Nikita Vitiugov completing an all-English podium finish. Both Adams and Vitiugov finished with identical scores of 4/7, narrowly edging out Super Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on tiebreaks

The tournament featured a mix of thrilling games and a variety of chess-related events, including a Super Blitz tournament and simultaneous exhibitions by the grandmasters. Commentary by Peter Svidler and Lawrence Trent added depth to the spectators’ experience, making the event a celebration of chess at its finest.