David Howell to play at Hastings …

… and with a rating of 2701 he now leads the field of eighteen grandmasters taking part. These include Romain Edouard (FRA), Erik van den Doel (NED), Deep Sengupta (IND) and English grandmasters Simon Williams, Keith Arkell and Mark Hebden.

The new Caplin Systems sponsorship has enabled the Congress to attract the strongest field in the Masters for some time and as well as the sponsorship, their enthusiasm and commitment has been key in this regeneration.

[Photograph of David courtesy of John Saunders]