This year’s event was held in NCCU territory, more specifically the Old Swan Inn, Swan Road, Harrogate, HG1 2SR (where Agatha Christie once stayed in hiding from the world) from Saturday 4th July to Saturday 11th July 2026.

Such events are open to members and associate members of the Braile Chess Association, associate members usually being sighted people accompanying blind players. At this event, it is possible that Tristram Cole was accompanying Mark Kirkham. Both are from Sheffield. Somewhat enigmatically, Mark plays in the Sheffield league for Sheffield Deaf! Currently, the strongest Braille CA player is Chris Ross, relatively recently of Sheffield but now living in Thornaby-on-Tees, Cleveland, but he was not participating in this event. Other (sighted) associate members are Rosie Irwin of Sheffield and Gerry Walsh of Cleveland.

There seem to have been the Championship and a “Challengers” merged into one event.

Final Scores as presented on the BCA website were

6 points: Brandan Read – Championship 1st, British Braille Chess Champion

5½ points: Bryan Wood – Championship 2nd

4½ points: Tristram Cole, Stan Lovell and Mark Kirkham – Championship =3rd. Mark also qualified for a Rating Prize

4 points Bill Armstrong, Norman Andrews and Mark Hague. Mark finished 1st in the Challengers.

3½ Ian Blencowe, Richard Murphy, John Jenkins, Des Masterson, George Phillips and Ashar Smith. John, Des, George and Ashar finished joint second in the Challengers.

3 Gary Wickett

2½ Lea Ryan and Abdul Khan, who shared the Challengers Rating Prize, and Voldi Gailans.

1½ Gill Smith.

½ Richard Harrington.