Although John Wheeler was playing for Devon at the time of this game (and still is today), he has played in the Portsmouth League for many years and is the current Hampshire Chess Association's Secretary, so certainly qualifies as a Hampshire player (Webmaster)
At the time, there was not much difference in the grades of the players, as Michael was 192 and John was 187, but John still has the distinction of having 1½ out of 2 against the current world number 4! (G.Stuart)
The first time I had played Mickey Adams was in the Devon v Cornwall match a year earlier, when we had drawn quickly on board 3. In 1985 I was not surprised to see Adams on top board for Cornwall, but I was disturbed that Devon had several absentees, and I was therefore on board 1 and playing Adams again.
The venue was a cold dark school-room in Liskeard, on a wet Saturday afternoon. Adams was probably expecting an interesting game, but he got me and a boring Pirc defence instead. Several of the other games became very violent, and there was a real chance that Cornwall would beat Devon for the first time in their chess history. Adams took a great interest in all this, which probably led to his oversight on move 20.
Devon just scraped home 9-7 in this match. However, Cornwall won in the following year, achieving their historic first victory, and Adams beat Wheeler on board 1. But it wasn't me - it was my brother. I was back on board 4 where I belonged.
I haven't played Adams since 1985, and with a bit of luck I should be able to keep it that way.
1.e4
d6
2.d4
Nf6
3.Nc3
g6
4.Nf3
Bg7
5.Be2
0-0
6.0-0
c6
7.h3
Qc7
8.a4
e5
9.Be3
Nbd7
10.Qd2
Re8
11.dxe5
dxe5
12.Rad1
Nf8
13.Bc5
N6d7
14.Bd6
Qb6
15.Bc4
Ne6
16.Kh1
a5
17.Qd3
Qd8
18.Qe3
Qf6
19.Ne2
b6
20.Nh2
Nd4
21.Ba3?
[ 21.f4!
]
21...Nxc2
22.Ng4
Nxe3
23.Nxf6+
Nxf6
24.fxe3
Be6
25.b3
Bxc4
26.bxc4
Nxe4
27.Rd7
f5
28.g4
Rad8
29.Rxd8
Rxd8
30.Bc1
fxg4
31.hxg4
Rf8
32.Rxf8+
Kxf8
33.Kg2
c5
34.Kf3
Nd6
35.Nc3
Kf7
36.Nd5
Nxc4
37.Ke4
Ke6
38.Nc7+
Kd7
39.Nd5
Nd6+
40.Kd3
e4+
41.Kc2
b5
42.axb5
Nxb5
43.Kb3
a4+
44.Kc4
a3
45.Kb3
a2
46.Kxa2
Nc3+
47.Nxc3
Bxc3
48.Kb3
Bf6
49.Kc4
Kc6
50.Ba3
Be7
51.g5
Bxg5
52.Bxc5
h5
53.Bb4
Bxe3
54.Be7
Bf2
55.Kc3
Kd5
56.Kd2
h4
57.Ke2
Bg3
58.Kf1
h3
0-1