James Bernard Adams

[John Upham]

In 1988 Jimmy's first substantial biography was published:


ISAAC BOLESLAVSKY Selected Games, Caissa Books, Jimmy Adams, 1988

ISAAC BOLESLAVSKY Selected Games, Caissa Books, Jimmy Adams, 1988

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[Paul Heaton]

Some very nice comments from a range of people, including Ray Keene.

Jimmy was a top guy and always made you feel welcome. He was a walking encyclopedia when it came to chess books and he had plenty of entertaining ancedotes. A brilliant chess editor at Batsford and Chess magazine.

If you have a fond or positive memory of the author, chess player and editor Jimmy Adams, February 7th, 1947- June 6th, 2026, please share it at
https://www.online-tribute.com/JimmyAdams
The idea is that his newly born granddaughter will one day be able to read that he made a difference to other people.

[Jon Mahony]

including Ray Keene.

Ray loved examining other authors works, when bereft of inspiration

[John Upham]

We had to wait until 2014 when Jimmy substantially raised the biographical bar once more with:


Johannes Zukertort: Artist of the Chessboard, New in Chess, Jimmy Adams, 2014

Johannes Zukertort: Artist of the Chessboard, New in Chess, Jimmy Adams, 2014

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[John Upham]

Two years later, in 2016, Jimmy gave us this masterpiece:



Mikhail Chigorin, the Creative Genius: New in Chess, Jimmy Adams, 2016


I've greatly enlarged it as requested.

Mikhail Chigorin, the Creative Genius: New in Chess, Jimmy Adams, 2016

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[John Upham]

and a year later we had


Gyula Breyer : The Chess Revolutionary, Jimmy Adams, New in Chess, 2017

Gyula Breyer : The Chess Revolutionary, Jimmy Adams, New in Chess, 2017

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[SarahHurst]

I have written an obituary of Jimmy for The Guardian's Other Lives section.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/ ... s-obituary

[John Upham]

Jimmy' final publication appeared on June 17th 2026

I've not yet been sent a review copy but am definitely looking forward to receiving it.



Salo Flohr: From Chess Fighter to Chess Writer, Jimmy Adams, New in Chess, 2026

Salo Flohr: From Chess Fighter to Chess Writer, Jimmy Adams, New in Chess, 2026

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[John Upham]

Due to incompetence I managed to miss out the following publication:


Torre Attack, Jimmy Adams, The Chess Player, July 1981

Torre Attack, Jimmy Adams, The Chess Player, July 1981

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[John Clarke]

I have written an obituary of Jimmy for The Guardian's Other Lives section.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/ ... s-obituary

I see your obit mentions the novel John And The Chessmen, which I read as well at around 11-12 years of age. Wonder if anyone else here remembers it?

[Kevin O'Connell]

RIP Jimmy