Chess

Michael Adams and Matthew Sadler shared the title of British Champion after a four-way play-off left them level at the top. In the final round of the tournament proper, Sadler and Miles drew quickly to ensure themselves a share of the top prize money.

That decision enabled Michael Adams and John Emms to catch them up and join a play-off for the title. After an all-play-all of 15-minute games, in which Sadler beat Miles and Emms, but lost to Adams, the scores were Sadler and Adams 2; Miles 11/2; Emms 1/2. The best games from the play- off will be featured in tomorrow's extended chess column.

Sadler can be content with the result; Adams can count himself lucky that Miles and Sadler did not fight to the death in the last round; Miles must be wondering whether he should have risked losing everything in pursuit of the title, though he will not be too unhappy with his prize of almost pounds 5,000.

The leaders had each scored 8 points in the tournament, half a point ahead of Krish Sashikiran, Andrew Ledger and Jon Speelman.