Players
Michael Adams
Photo: English Chess Federation / Yury Krylov
GM

Michael Adams

EnglandBorn 1971 (age 55)FIDE ID 400041

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2601
FIDE

FIDE classical

25002600270028002900200020052010201520202025
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2597
Luft

Flair

Michael Adams's classical flairs

0 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • TitanLuft classical rating averaging 2800+ over the last 4 years
  • Serial WinnerWon 2+ elite events in the last 12 months
  • UnderdogRegularly beats players rated 50+ higher
  • Fortress25+ games in a row without a loss
  • Black BeltDoes better with black than with white
  • IronmanPlayed 50+ games over the last 12 months
  • RisingAged 18 or under, Luft rating up 40+ over the last 12 months
  • Endgame SpecialistEndgame 90+: converting, saving and not throwing endgames
  • TacticianTactics 90+: sharp, tactical games they made sharp
  • LightningTop 20 at speed chess (mostly blitz, some rapid)
  • Hot StreakAt least 6 points from 7 straight games against strong opposition
  • SignatureSticks to one defence with black far more than most
  • ChameleonPlays a wide range of defences with black
  • WildcardBrilliant one event, off the next: hard to predict
  • ReliableConsistent across all top events
  • FighterRarely draws, and wins far more than they lose
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both 90+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events

No classical flair in the last year yet.

Trophy cabinet

Michael Adams's classical titles

9 classical titles, 8 medals, newest first

  • British Championship 20251st
  • British Championship 20231st
  • European Team Championship 2019Bronze, team · England
  • British Championship 20191st
  • British Championship 20181st
  • British Championship 20161st
  • Chess Olympiad 2014Silver, board 1 · England
  • European Team Championship 2011Gold, board 1 · England
  • British Championship 20111st
  • British Championship 20101st
  • European Team Championship 2007Bronze, board 1 · England
  • Chess Olympiad 2004Bronze, board 1 · England
  • European Team Championship 2001Gold, board 1 · England
  • European Team Championship 1997Gold, team · England
  • World Team Championship 1997Bronze, board 2 · England
  • British Championship 19971st
  • British Championship 19891st
  • British Championship×9

Attributes

Tactics 80Positional 78Endgame 80Openings 81Composure 74Defence 82Speed 74Consistency 86

Luft classical rating

2601No. 115

From 11 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2637 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2637 level, blended with their FIDE rating+8
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year0
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity11 classical games in top events−6

Openings

Their most-played, from 57 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Ruy Lopez1164%
Sicilian Defense967%
French Defense450%
Italian Game250%
Caro-Kann Defense225%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 11 games, won 4, drew 6, lost 1 · 64%

VariationGamesScore
Morphy Defense580%
Berlin Defense367%
Closed333%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 9 games, won 4, drew 4, lost 1 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation275%
Richter-Rauzer Variation1100%
Taimanov Variation1100%
Modern Variations1100%
Kan Variation150%
French Variation150%
Hyperaccelerated Dragon150%
Moscow Variation10%

French Defense

With White: 4 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Advance Variation250%
Exchange Variation150%
Tarrasch Variation150%

Italian Game

With White: 2 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Giuoco Pianissimo250%

Caro-Kann Defense

With White: 2 games, won 0, drew 1, lost 1 · 25%

VariationGamesScore
Advance Variation150%
Endgame Offer10%

Ruy Lopez

With Black: 6 games, won 1, drew 4, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Closed540%
Marshall Attack1100%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 5 games, won 1, drew 4, lost 0 · 60%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation275%
Kmoch Variation150%
Normal Variation150%
Sämisch Variation150%

Catalan Opening

With Black: 3 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 0 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Open Defense275%
Closed150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 2 games, won 1, drew 1, lost 0 · 75%

VariationGamesScore
Harrwitz Attack1100%
Three Knights Variation150%

Italian Game

With Black: 2 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation250%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
English Chess Championships 202631 Oct 20262½/4−1−2
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20264½/8−1+1
FIDE World Cup 20258 Nov 20253½/6−5−4
European Team Chess Championship 202514 Oct 20253/7−11−12
World Senior Team Chess Championship26 Feb 20255/7−3−3

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMA. Indjic26 Feb 2023 · Bundesliga 20222630
GME. Bacrot21 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262620
GMV. Kazakouski19 Sep 2024 · 45th Chess Olympiad Budapest 20242577
GML. Livaic13 Nov 2023 · European Team Championship2553
GMZ. Kozul4 Feb 2023 · Bundesliga 20222549

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GML. LodiciLast 8 Nov 2025 · FIDE World Cup 20253021
GMA. KorobovLast 14 Oct 2025 · European Team Chess Championship 20252011
GME. BacrotLast 21 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262110
GMN. KacharavaLast 20 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262020
FMA. AlrehailiLast 2 Nov 2025 · FIDE World Cup 20252200

Compare Luft

GMMichael AdamsEngland

Pick a player to compare with Michael Adams

How attributes are calculated

From their games in top events over the last 12 months, each judged against the opponent's rating

  • TacticsHow well they score in sharp games they chose to make sharp.
  • PositionalHow well they score in quiet, manoeuvring games they steered.
  • EndgameHow they do in endgames against what the position promised when it began: converting a winning one earns a little, saving a losing one earns a lot, and throwing a winning one costs a lot.
  • OpeningsThe engine's verdict on their position around moves 15 to 20, against what's normal for that colour, as the score it points to. Over the last 4 years, with older games counting less.
  • ComposureHow well they score under pressure: the game straight after a loss, and the last 3 games of an event while they can still win it. Over the last 4 years.
  • DefenceHow they do in games where they were 0.8 pawns or more worse after move 18, against what that position usually scores: holding the draw earns, turning it around earns more, and losing costs a little.
  • SpeedTheir Luft rapid and blitz ratings. With neither, an estimate a little below their classical level.
  • ConsistencyTheir Luft rating, less their off days: tournaments (5+ games each) over the last 4 years where they played 50+ below it. Anything better never counts against them.

  • "How well they score" is a performance rating: the opponent's rating, plus 400 for a win and minus 400 for a loss, averaged. So it's always judged against who they played.

    The score out of 100: 80 is a 2600 level, and each 13 rating points adds one, so 2860 and up is 100.

    Fair to everyone: with only a few games of a kind, the result leans towards their overall Luft rating. Strengths and weaknesses are measured against their overall level and compared with the top 100, so a specialist's best side stands out. A little recent form is added to all but Speed.