But he did not finish 1.5 ahead of the whole field of 64, as in clear second on 6.5 was Hampshire's Steven A Jones (2259 ECF/2175 Fide).
The two met in round one in what at the time was widely thought of as a routine mis-match that occurs at the start of swiss tournaments.
However the game proved to be the decisive encounter of the event, and Adams did not have it all his own way - indeed Jones arguably had a winning advantage in the middlegame
Adams - Jones
Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6!?
This move, which is fourth in popularity behind 3...d6, 3...e6 and especially 3...g6, only goes back to 1936 in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database.
4.Nc3 Qc7 5.d3!?
The mainline in Mega23 runs 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1.
5...d6 6.0-0 e6
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
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7.Bxc6+!?
Adams played this unprovoked surrender of the bishop-pair the previous two times he reached the diagrammed position in Mega23. According to commentary by Russian grandmaster Ernesto Inarkiev, who also later took up the move, it is a "direct attempt to use the development advantage by actions in the centre."
7...Qxc6 8.Bg5!?
In his previous games, both wins against 2550+ players, Adams played 8.Bf4 and 8.e5. The text is preferred by the engines.
8...Be7 9.e5 dxe5 10.Nxe5 Qc7 11.Re1 0-0
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| Now both players have castled, how would you assess the coming middlegame? |
*****
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Black has the bishop-pair but White has a small lead in development - four pieces in play, including a knight that has reached the fifth rank, against Black's three pieces in play. The engines reckon White has a tiny pull.
12.Qf3 Nd7!?
White hopes to generate a kingside attack, so exchanges should help Black's defence even if that means the bishop-pair goes.
13.Nxd7 Qxd7
Also possible is 13...Bxd7!? as 14.Bxe7 is met by 14...Bc6 and 15...Qxe7. However the engines reckon White may be better off in this line playing 14.Nd5!?
14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Re3 Qc7 16.Rae1 Bd7 17.Qh5 b6
Fiddling while Rome burns? Not according to the engines - they reckon this is Black's best continuation.
18.Ne4 f6!?
Not 18...h6? 19.Nf6+!
19.Rh3 h6 20.Rg3 Bc6!?
Setting a little trap.
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| What should White play? |
*****
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21.h3
Not 21.Qxh6?? Qxg3 etc.
21...Rae8 22.Rg7
Now the threat of Qxh6 is real.
22...Kh7 23.Re3 Re7
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| How should White continue the attack? |
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24.Rgg3?!
The engines reckon White had to play 24.Rf3!?, the point being 24...Be8? fails to 25.Nxf6+! Rxf6 (forced) 26.Rfxf6, after which 26...Bxg6 27.Qxg6+ Kg8 28.Rxe6 leaves White two pawns up. Instead Black should probably exchange minor pieces, with what the engines reckon is an equal position.
24...Be8 25.Qh4
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| Black to play and gain at least the upper hand, according to the engines |
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25...g5?
SJ must have missed White's reply, or more likely misjudged the strength of it. Instead 25...e5 is winning (Stockfish16) or gains the upper hand (Komodo14.1), eg 26.Nc3 Bc6 27.Re1 f5 with an initiative for Black. Other moves, including 25...Rd7 and 25...Qe5, also seem to give an edge.
26.Rxg5! fxg5 27.Nxg5+ Kg8 28.Nxe6 Rxe6 29.Rxe6 h5
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| The engines reckon Black's bishop balances out White's three extra pawns, but Black faces the practical problem (for a human, at least) of having a very exposed king |
*****
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30.Qe4 Bf7 31.Rh6 Be8?
31...Re8 gives complete equality, according to the engines.
31...Re8 gives complete equality, according to the engines.
The game finished:
32.Qd5+ Rf7 33.Re6 Bd7 34.Rg6+ Kf8 35.Qg5+ Rf5 36.Rg8+ Kf7 37.Rg7+ Ke6 38.Qe7+ 1-0
It is mate in four, viz 38...Kd5 39.Qe4+ Kd6 40.Rg6+ etc.
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