Michael Adams Plays for Mate

Michael Adams of England, born in 1971, became one of the strongest players in the world.  His father taught him the game of chess at the age of 6.  His father had intended to teach him checkers, but Michael wanted to play the game with the knights and rooks and queens and kings that surrounded the board they were using.  His father told him that chess was for grown-ups, and wait until he was 18 to learn the game.  But Michael persisted, so they bought a chess set and borrowed a chess book from somewhere.  Michael soon learned the game, and over the years steadily improved.  By the time he was 13, he was the highest rated 13-year old ever.  Here is a game that Michael played at the age of 12.  He plays a complicated Sicilian, Najdorf and takes advantage of the enemy king stuck in the center.  He offers a knight to open up the position, then finally finds the mating combination.  Very impressive for a 12 year old.  See the chessopedia for more details on Michael Adams.