After the summer congresses held in 1895 and 1919, the chess club at Hastings devised an annual event, a chess festival held around the Christmas holiday, which began with its inaugural tournament held from December 30, 1920 to January 5, 1921. The British Champions section featured former title-holders Henry Atkins (1895, 1897, 1900, 1905-1911), Fred Dewhirst Yates (1913-1914), Richard Griffith (1912) and current champion Roland Scott in a double round robin event. The all British format would soon give way to being an international event with a longevity that spans over 90 years.

The games Griffith 1/2 Atkins (Queen's Gambit) from round 2 and Atkins 1 Gritfith (Petroff) from round 5, are not available; only the opening names are known.

Yates won the first Christmas festival, going undefeated through the event.

            1  2  3  4
1 Yates    ** 1½ ½½ ½1 4.0
2 Scott    0½ ** ½1 1½ 3.5
3 Atkins   ½½ ½0 ** ½1 3.0
4 Griffith ½0 0½ ½0 ** 1.5