English Chess Forum

What was the tv program that GM Michael Adams went on in the early 90s? I'm pretty sure it was the game show You Bet! but its not showing in their records. If you remember Matthew Kelly was hosting and the bet was he could name 20 games by being shown the final position, one of which was Morphy verses the count and the duke, and another was The Immortal Game. He won the bet without making much effort, does anyone remember watching it, I may have misremembered parts of it. The other was a late night BBC2 with GM Speelman where he challenged the nation to a game of chess and you could call to suggest a move. I distinctly remember the notation had to be changed because it would cause problems and 1 (representing the first rank of course) had to be changed to a 9. It was a Sicilian defence and for some odd reason 4. a3 or perhaps 5. a3 was voted as a good move and chosen, much to his amusement.

I looked for both on youtube but can't find any records of either. And lastly, as seem of you may know, the BBC produced a documentary on the 1988 Chess Olympiad, and was presented by Stephen Fry, it focused on the English team's attempt to win it and was called Grandmaster Clash. Does anyone have it? About 10 years ago I contacted the BBC Archives but they wanted £150 for a copy of it to be sent. A bit pricey I thought. I would be grateful if someone knows of which tv programs I am referring to.

My recollection was that it was Matthew Sadler on "You Bet" rather than Michael Adams.

Neil Graham wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:07 pm

My recollection was that it was Matthew Sadler on "You Bet" rather than Michael Adams.

I would associate that with Matthew Sadler as well, but wasn't his feat on positions from Fischer games? I think they made it relatively easy by only using games from MSMG rather than the whole canon.

ok, may well be, I know it was a GM but assumed it was Adams

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:16 pm

ok, may well be, I know it was a GM but assumed it was Adams

It may even have been when Matthew was a young chess prodigy rather than a GM. He did seem to pop up on TV from time to time. I seem to recall his participation at the Lloyds Bank forming part of a broadcast.

Yes it was Saddler, he even mentions it on his website. There's a pic of him and Adams but I can't name the other two players. I wondered if anyone could?

Michael Hennigan and Ali Mortazavi

What event is that they are holding the cup for?

"What event is that they are holding the cup for?"

Judging from Mickey's apparel, a golf tournament.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:41 pm

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:16 pm

ok, may well be, I know it was a GM but assumed it was Adams

It may even have been when Matthew was a young chess prodigy rather than a GM. He did seem to pop up on TV from time to time. I seem to recall his participation at the Lloyds Bank forming part of a broadcast.

Yes, I remember that. The programme was called "The Lowdown"
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2531394/ch ... /nm7796118

Yes it was Matthew Sadler. He knew all Fisher's positions and results, Truely amazing. Could have been number one for England but realise full time job was the best option.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 4:59 pm

What event is that they are holding the cup for?

The event was the British Lightning team championship 1987, staged near Forest Hill, south-east London, and won by the England under-16 team (pictured) with I think 7/7, defeating London University in the deciding match where Adams won a French against Neil McDonald with an attack on a long castled king.

The pic was taken by Adams's father, who acted as team captain. The team dynamics were not without incident. Before the start Hennigan and Mortazavi asked that Sadler should be replaced by their buddy James Cavendish, who was top board for the B team, but this was refused.

I believe there was an individual championship next day, and Adams possibly won that also though my memory is hazy.There was a printed report of the event, probably in the BCF Chess News.

"The event was the British Lightning team championship 1987, staged near Forest Hill, south-east London, "

I'm told it was in Crofton Park near Forest Hill. A friend of mine found himself playing some junior in round 1 and decided to play the Sicilian. Having lost horribly, he predicted that young Adams would be a very strong player. I think I struggled to about 50 % from memory. If anyone can dig up a cross table, it would be interesting to see it.

Ronnie Burton wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:13 pm

Yes it was Matthew Sadler. He knew all Fisher's positions and results, Truely amazing. Could have been number one for England but realise full time job was the best option.

The same could be said of Luke McShane, who I believe still isn't technically a professional player by that I mean he holds down a full time job.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:01 am

Ronnie Burton wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 11:13 pm

Yes it was Matthew Sadler. He knew all Fisher's positions and results, Truely amazing. Could have been number one for England but realise full time job was the best option.

The same could be said of Luke McShane, who I believe still isn't technically a professional player by that I mean he holds down a full time job.

McShane’s LinkedIn profile would suggest he has not had a full time job for 7 years.