Cambridge International Open

The Cambridge International Open, held last week in fine surroundings at the University Arms Hotel in the city centre, is a valuable addition to the UK tournament scene. Organised by the English Chess Federation, demand for this debut event was strong and registrations had to close early at around 120 participants, when the capacity of the playing hall was reached. Nine grandmasters took part in the open tournament, including England’s top player Michael Adams. Despite being a huge favourite in his first round game, he drifted into serious trouble in the early middlegame. Seeing the storm clouds gathering, he wisely ventured a draw offer, which was accepted – that being a tremendous achievement for his teenage opponent and namesake Henry Adams.

Henry Adams-Michael Adams
Cambridge International Open, February 2023
(See left diagram)

Black’s pieces lack coordination, and Michael was perhaps most afraid of 24 f3! opening lines for attack. 24…Nf6 25 Nf7+ Kh7 26 Qe5 is grim, or after 24…exf3 25 Re8 f2+ 26 Kf1 Rf8 27 Nf7+ Kh7 28 Nxh6 gxh6 29 Re7+ and Black must give up his queen. Nevertheless, draw agreed.

Michael Adams’s near miss was a spur to success, as he won his next seven games in a row and sealed tournament victory with a draw in the final game. Several times, Adams showed his skill in squeezing the maximum advantage from seemingly innocuous positions, such as in his seventh round game against Peter Roberson. In the diagram position he has just advanced his queen to c5 to attack the d5-pawn.

Peter Roberson-Michael Adams
Cambridge International Open, February 2023
(See right diagram)

Now, 36 e4 Rf8! puts White in a terrible pin which cannot be shaken off as 39 Kf1 Qc1+ spells disaster. 36 Qf3 e4 37 dxe4 Qc4 38 Qf4 Rxe4 39 Qxd6 Rxe3 With material equality and a passed pawn on d5, White seems to be doing fine.