Yates almost won the British Championship in 1911, when he tied for first place with Henry Atkins, but lost the play-off.

A constant hacking cough went unchecked, as his funds did not stretch to a holiday in warmer climes; the advice given by his doctor.

Nevertheless, in his time, he defeated most of his illustrious adversaries, the most notable exceptions being Emanuel Lasker and José Raúl Capablanca.

[4] As a journalist he was the chess columnist of the Manchester Guardian and with William Winter, the co-author of Modern Master Play (1929).

Competing within the British Isles, he was first at Glasgow 1911, Cheltenham 1913, Chester 1914, Malvern 1921, Edinburgh 1926 and Tunbridge Wells 1927.