Marcus Harvey Claims English Rapidplay Championship Title

Marcus Harvey secured the 2026 English Rapidplay Championship on October 25, defeating Jonah Willow in a playoff held in Peterborough. Both players finished the main tournament tied for first with 9 out of 11 points, ahead of Michael Adams, who ended in third place.

The championship was part of the English Chess Championships, taking place from October 24 to November 1, featuring various formats including classical and blitz chess. The rapidplay event utilized an 11-round Swiss format with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move.

In the playoff, the initial two rapid games ended in a tie, followed by two blitz games that also resulted in a draw. The final match was an Armageddon game, where Harvey, playing with the white pieces, won to claim the championship title.