Michael Adams
Notable Games

Michael Adams

15 celebrated games · 1468 in the full archive
Player Index ◈ Biography 1468 CURATED GAMES

Notable Games

  • 1994 Adams, Michael vsTiviakov, Sergei 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 92 moves PCA-Wch Candidates m1 playoff The game Adams calls his most memorable. The sixth and last tie-break game of a marathon 1994 PCA Candidates match in New York — a 92-move Sicilian Alapin that clinched the tie 7½–6½ and sent the 22-year-old into the semi-finals.
  • 1994 Adams, Michael vsKarpov, Anatoly 1-0 Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation, Kasparov Attack 59 moves Dortmund A 59-move win over World Champion Anatoly Karpov at Dortmund 1994, meeting his Caro-Kann — a marquee scalp as Adams established himself among the world elite.
  • 1994 Adams, Michael vsAgdestein, Simen 1-0 Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation 40 moves Oslo m An Alekhine's Defence win over Simen Agdestein in their 1994 Oslo match — long a fixture on lists of Adams's best games.
  • 1998.07.03 Adams, Michael vsAnand, Viswanathan 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Closed 57 moves Dortmund SuperGM 26th A Sicilian win over future World Champion Viswanathan Anand at Dortmund 1998 — one of Adams's few classical victories over a lifelong rival who usually held the upper hand.
  • 1999.04.13 Polgar, Judit vsAdams, Michael 0-1 Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Modern Variation 45 moves Dos Hermanas 10th With Black, Adams defends the Marshall Attack to beat Judit Polgar at Dos Hermanas 1999 — the event he won outright ahead of Kramnik, Anand, Karpov and Topalov.
  • 2001.01.17 Morozevich, Alexander vsAdams, Michael 0-1 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Mieses Defense 27 moves Corus Invited into an Evans Gambit by the ever-inventive Alexander Morozevich, Adams defends precisely and wins in 27 moves as Black at Corus (Wijk aan Zee) 2001.
  • 2002.02.24 Adams, Michael vsPonomariov, Ruslan 1-0 Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev System 76 moves Linares 19th A patient Ruy Lopez win over reigning FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov at Linares 2002, Adams grinding out the full point over 76 moves.
  • 2004.01.17 Adams, Michael vsBareev, Evgeny 1-0 French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line 25 moves Corus A 25-move French Defence miniature against Evgeny Bareev at Corus 2004 — the kind of clean attacking win that belied Adams's quiet, positional reputation.
  • 2004.06.11 Adams, Michael vsAkopian, Vladimir Eduardovic 1-0 French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack 25 moves ARM-ROW m A crisp 25-move French Defence win over Vladimir Akopian in the 2004 Armenia vs. the Rest of the World match in Moscow — often cited as one of Adams's very best games.
  • 2004.01.19 Adams, Michael vsKramnik, Vladimir 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack 43 moves Corus "Grizzly Adams": a tactical slugfest against the Najdorf that beat reigning World Champion Vladimir Kramnik at Corus 2004 — one of a string of classical wins Adams scored against Kramnik in these years.
  • 2006.01.15 Adams, Michael vsTopalov, Veselin 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation 42 moves Corus "Adam's Grapple": a Scheveningen Sicilian win over reigning FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov at Corus 2006.
  • 2010.09.27 Adams, Michael vsCarlsen, Magnus 1-0 Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense, Norwegian Gambit 38 moves Olympiad-39 "Mad Dogs and Englishmen": Adams punishes Magnus Carlsen's offbeat Modern Defence at the 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad, with Carlsen then the world No. 1 and three years from the world title.
  • 2013.07.28 Caruana, Fabiano vsAdams, Michael 0-1 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation, Berlin Wall Defense 41 moves Dortmund SuperGM 41st A Berlin Defence win with Black over Fabiano Caruana at Dortmund 2013 — the tournament Adams won outright ahead of Kramnik with a 2923 performance, the finest result of his career.
  • 2015.09.12 Muzychuk, Mariya vsAdams, Michael 0-1 English Opening: King's English Variation 52 moves FIDE World Cup Playing Black, Adams defeats reigning Women's World Champion Mariya Muzychuk in their first-round match at the 2015 World Cup in Baku.
  • 2016.12.13 Adams, Michael vsTopalov, Veselin 1-0 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation 33 moves London Classic 8th A 33-move Berlin win over former World Champion Veselin Topalov at the 2016 London Chess Classic — a late-career reminder of Adams's enduring class, the year he took a record-tying British Championship.
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