As long as he's ahead of Adams I'm happy
Nigel Short, age 44, and back to the top !
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I don't dislike Micky Adams, but for me I've never seen him do much to promote chess in the UK, considering he's been the number one UK player for such a long time. In fact, when I started playing chess a couple of years ago, I'd never even heard of him!
Chessoholicalien, why don't you like Adams?
I don't dislike him. I just think Short is a better player overall and has a more interesting personality. Plus he promotes chess alot more.
At a time when Chess was becoming more and more a " Soviet " game and people were losing interest in the game, Short aroused the interest of the world ( non- chess public in particular) in no small way. A personality always and a GM who could come up with h4 !!!!! as the starting move.
Can't wait for the blitz match Short is going to play against Kasparov in Belgium this Sunday!
Oct 7, 2011
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#147
Slightly unusually, I have considered Micky Adams was the stronger player for a couple of decades. I think this was originally influenced by a slight dislike of Short's apparent egotism contrasted with Adams lack of it, but also because I was impressed by his win in a tournament at Hastings one year (1987?) when I happened to be playing in a lower tournament in the same room (I came 3rd, which was ok 
).
The numbers support my view as Adams peak rating (and current rating) is significantly higher than Short's. Short has the distinction of being the oldest player in the current top 50 (49th), but Adams is retaining his form as well (18th). Of course, both have played (and lost) world championship matches, but Adams' match was closer (against a weaker opponent).
I prefer Adams as well. I think he's generally underrated and personality-wise he's much more level headed and discreet than Short (who sometimes comes across as a complete idiot, such as when he thought the obituary for Tony Miles was a good place to boast about having slept with his girlfriend), and has achieved higher, more consistent peaks.
He's also had some truly great games, such as the one below where he just calmly outplays Topalov as white in a Sicilian.
Why is everyone writing in bold?
Er, what? They're not as far as I can tell.
Oct 8, 2011
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#152
Saber4 wrote:
Why is everyone writing in bold?
Bold statements require bold fonts!
They are both brilliant players. Their moves are so strange. Love em both. xx
Dec 13, 2016
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#156
Since this thread was started 7 years ago, it should now read "age 51". Any accomplishments, however, are long in the past.
Dec 13, 2016
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#157
Yeah, the guy is the world #75 and rated 2671 - but I know that for you this is nothing.
I'm 44 and I play better than ever before! 
True, but if you ask Nigel, he has very little interest in the ratings system.