English Chess Forum

Over the board chess finished? Tell that to England No1 Michael Adams, who a few minutes ago completed a Caruana by winning his SEVENTH successive international classical game. All seven wins have been played since lockdown.

Adams won his final two rounds at Biel a few weeks ago, and this week has won his first five for Baden-Baden in the German Bundesliga, which for 2020 is a week-long eight-team event in Karlsruhe.

Game seven just now was a nail-biter as it seemed headed for a draw until Adams's opponent fell for a queening tactic.

Adams has jumped from No34 to No27 in the live world ratings.

The seven victims of Adams:

1-0 Noel Studer 2580 Biel
1-0 Arkadij Naiditsch 2701 Biel
1-0 Vincent Keymer 2568 Baden-Baden v Deizisau
1-0 Michael Fedorovsky 2422 Baden-Baden v Bayern Munich
1-0 Felix Blohberger 2467 Baden-Baden v Berlin
1-0 Jan Smeets 2585 Baden-Baden v Solingen
1-0 Woeter Spoelman 2571 Baden-Baden v Werner Bremen

Luke McShane, playing Board 2 for Bremen, also had a fine morning today with the better of a draw against world No4 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

Adams has a chance for No8 this afternoon (4pm start, live on Chessbomb and Chess24) when B-B meet the tail-enders Aachen. On Sunday morning (10am) there is the title decider Baden-Baden v Wertheim, both teams having so far won every match.

Thanks for this, Leonard. I was going to post something in recognition of Mickey's achievement in the Bundesliga but you have done a far better job than I would have done, particularly since I had forgotten that Mickey won in the last 2 rounds at Biel.

Currently in play

Vandenbussche, Thibaut vs Adams, Michael

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Ne4 6. Qe2 Nc5 7. O-O Ne6 8. c3 d5 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. Bg5 Qd7 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Be3 Nf4 13. Bxf4 Bxf4 14. Qe4 Qf5 15. Bd3 Qxe4 16. Bxe4 Bd7 17. Nc3 Rfe8 18. Rfe1 Kf8 19. h3 Rad8 20. Rad1 a6 21. g3 Bd6 22. Kg2 g6 23. Bd5 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Be8 25. a3 Be7 26. Be4 f5 27. Bd5 Bf6 28. Rd1 b5 29. Kf1 a5 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 31. Ne5

Nice position for Mickey as Black. Two bishops and play against the isolated Q Pawn, Eight in a row certainly on the cards.

But lucky to get a draw in the end. The computer's best line from the final position has him losing a pawn and stops with him in a lost rook and pawn ending.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 19, 2020 7:54 pm

But lucky to get a draw in the end. The computer's best line from the final position has him losing a pawn and stops with him in a lost rook and pawn ending.

I haven't got time to put it into a proper computer but would be surprised if that's true.

Looked to me as though Black was pushing all the way through. If White has to play 38. Rd1, he must be worse.

Nick Ivell wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:36 pm

Looked to me as though Black was pushing all the way through. If White has to play 38. Rd1, he must be worse.

The game score I'm looking at shows the game finishing with the rook on c2, with the last few moves being 36. Rc2 h5 37. Ke3 Rd7 38. h4 Rd5 ½-½.

8/2p5/2N1kbp1/1p1r1p1p/p2P3P/P3K1P1/1PR2P2/8

Black must be worse after 39. f4 followed by Ne5.

Ah, sorry, I meant 28. Rd1. Things clearly turned a bit later.

Good save by Adams today.

Clearly Leonard should apologise for jinxing Mickey!

But holding the draw today probably made him happy, no gloss taken from his recent good form. Plus as the last game, the difference between his team winning the event on match points rather than goal difference.