Michael Adams is an English Grandmaster and one of the most successful British chess players in history. He was born on November 17, 1971, in Truro, Cornwall, England. At age 15, he earned the title of International Master, and just three years later, he achieved his Grandmaster title in 1989.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Adams won several prestigious international tournaments such as Dos Hermanas tournament in 1999, Dortmund Sparkassen meeting in 2000 and others. He was also the recipient of various awards such as the British Championship in 1989, 1997 and 2010. In 1993, 1997 and 1998 he was the European Rapid Chess Champion.
Adams reached his peak ranking as the world's number 4 player in 2000 and 2001. He has also twice, in 2004 and 2005, narrowly missed out on the opportunity to compete for the world championship.
He has represented England in thirteen Chess Olympiads, helping the team win silver and bronze in 1996 and 1998 respectively. His Olympiad record also led him to be awarded the 1st Board Gold Medal in 2002.