Liverpool, Aug. 10 -- Michael Adams, the king of British chess, won his ninth national title today in a sensational three-way playoff finish to the 111th British Chess Championships in Liverpool.
The 53-year-old Cornishman, nicknamed "The Spider", showed all his class to win the rapidplay tiebreaker ahead of International Master Peter Roberson and Grandmaster Stuart Conquest, the 2008 champion. All three had tied on 7/9 during the regular nine-round championship at Liverpool's magnificent St George's Hall.
Adams, who led throughout, takes home £5,000 and the British Crown Trophy he first won in 1989 from the English Chess Federation organised event.
Meanwhile, Lan Yao and Elmira Mirzoeva, both WGM title holders, were crowned joint 2...