New tournament with lots of different AIs

[TracySMiller]

TASC R40 takes a commanding 3-0 lead in the match in a game that initially looked like it might fall into a repetition draw, but TASC was able to push its center pawns aggressively and break through.

WHITE TASC R40
BLACK Novag Citrine
RESULT 1-0

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bb5 e6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d3 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. c4 Rb8 10. Re1 Ba6 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. e4 Bc7 13. a3 Ba8 14. e5 Nd7 15. Qc2 Ba5 16. Bc3 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 Qc7 18. Na4 Rb7 19. Ng5 h6 20. Nf3 Rfb8 21. Rab1 a6 22. Nd2 a5 23. Rbc1 Rc8 24. f3 Kh8 25. f4 Kg8 26. Rb1 Rcb8 27. Nf3 Kh8 28. d4 cxd4 29. Nxd4 Qc8 30. Rbc1 Rc7 31. cxd5 exd5 32. e6 Nf8 33. f5 Qd8 34. Nc5 Qf6 35. Qd2 Ra7 36. exf7 Rxf7 37. Rcd1 Qd8 38. Qc3 Qb6 39. Kh1 Kg8 40. Rc1 Nd7 41. Nxd7 Rxd7 42. Re6 Rf7 43. Qd2 Rc8 44. Rce1 Bb7 45. Rg6 Rcc7 46. Re8+ Kh7 47. f6 Qxd4 48. Rxh6+ gxh6 49. Qxd4 h5 50. Qh4 Kg6 51. Qg3+ Kh7 52. Qg5 Rxf6 53. Qxf6 Rg7 54. Qf5+ Rg6 55. Qxh5+ Kg7 56. Qh8+ Kf7 57. Qf8#

[TracySMiller]

TASC R40 wraps up the match with another tactical gem involving a beautiful combination. After winning this match 4-0, it's apparent that TASC should've been higher seeded than Novag Citrine, and will advance to Round Two as the #7 seed.

WHITE Novag Citrine
BLACK TASC R40
RESULT 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. e4 Nd7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Bf4 g5 12. Bg3 Rc8 13. Qa4 a6 14. O-O b5 15. Qd1 h5 16. h3 g4 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Ne5 cxd4 19. cxd4 Nf6 20. Qe2 Qxd4 21. Bxb5+ Kf8 22. Bxa6 Nxe4 23. Bh2 g3 24. Ng6+ Ke8 25. Bb5+ Bc6 26. Nxh8 Qxh8 27. Bxg3 Nxg3 28. Bxc6+ Rxc6 29. fxg3 Bc5+ 30. Qf2 Bxf2+ 31. Rxf2 Qxa1+ 32. Rf1 Qd4+ 33. Kh2 e5 34. g4 Rh6+ 35. Kg3 Qe3+ 36. Rf3 Qe1+ 37. Rf2 Rf6 38. Kh3 Qxf2 39. g5 Rf4 40. g3 Qf1+ 41. Kh2 Rf2#

[TracySMiller]

The 8th and last match of Round One pits Mephisto MMV against M-Chess 8, the last DOS version of the venerable series of the 90's. Best of Six.

Game one goes to M-Chess 8, after Mephisto MMV miscalculates in the early middle game and goes down a piece. M-Chess very methodically chomped away, mating on the edge of the board without need of a Queen.

WHITE Mephisto MMV
BLACK M-Chess 8
RESULT 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. e5 Nfd7 9. Nb5 dxe5 10. Nd6+ Ke7 11. Nxc8+ Qxc8 12. Nf3 e4 13. d6+ Kf8 14. Ng5 Nc6 15. Qd5 Qe8 16. Bc4 Nb6 17. Qxf7+ Qxf7 18. Bxf7 h6 19. Bxg6 hxg5 20. fxg5 Kg8 21. h4 Nc4 22. h5 Nxd6 23. Ke2 Ne7 24. Rd1 Bd4 25. Be3 Nxg6 26. hxg6 Nf5 27. Bf4 Rh4 28. Rf1 Rg4 29. g3 Kg7 30. Kd2 Kxg6 31. Rae1 e3+ 32. Kc2 Nxg3 33. Bxg3 Rxg3 34. Kd3 Rd8 35. Kc4 Rg2 36. b3 Rc2+ 37. Kb5 Rd6 38. a3 a6+ 39. Ka5 Bc3+ 40. b4 Bxb4+ 41. Ka4 Rc3 42. Rf6+ Rxf6 43. axb4 b5+ 44. Ka5 Ra3#

[TracySMiller]

Game two also goes to M-Chess 8, which now leads the match 2-0. M-Chess embarked on a beautiful Kingside assault, including a pretty Bishop sacrifice offer on move 25 (which Mephisto MMV refused).

WHITE M-Chess 8
BLACK Mephisto MMV
RESULT 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bd6 6. Nc3 d4 7. Ne2 Bg4 8. Bd2 Bxf3 9. gxf3 Nbd7 10. f4 Nc5 11. Rg1 Nxb3 12. axb3 O-O 13. Ng3 exf4 14. Nf5 g6 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Qf3 Rfe8 17. Bxf4 Qc5 18. Kd2 a5 19. Bg5 Nd7 20. Qh3 Qd6 21. f4 c5 22. f5 b5 23. Raf1 Ne5 24. Rg3 Rac8 25. Bf6 Qf8 26. Rf4 h6 27. fxg6 Nxg6 28. Rfg4 Rc6 29. Rxg6+ fxg6 30. Rxg6+ Kh7 31. Qf5 Rxf6 32. Rxf6+ Kg8 33. Rxf8+ Rxf8 34. Qg6+ Kh8 35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. e5 Rf2+ 38. Ke1 Rxc2 39. Qh6+ Kg8 40. e6 Rxb2 41. Qg6+ Kh8 42. e7 Rb1+ 43. Ke2 Rb2+ 44. Kf3 Re2 45. Kxe2 a4 46. e8=Q#

[TracySMiller]

Mephisto MMV paid the price for opening the file in front of its King. M-Chess 8 was merciless, and by move 19 the Mephisto MMV had to give up its Queen for a Rook. M-Chess didn't waste much time, mating on move 34 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the match. This M-Chess program is no joke. It's strong as ****.

WHITE Mephisto MMV
BLACK M-Chess 8
RESULT 0-1

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. Bg5 Re8 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nxd5 Qd8 12. c4 Bg4 13. Qc2 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qh4 15. Rae1 Ne5 16. Be2 Re6 17. Qc3 Nd7 18. Ne3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Rxe3 20. fxe3 Qg5+ 21. Kh1 Qxe3 22. Bd1 Qd4 23. b3 Nc5 24. Re2 Nd3 25. Bc2 Nf4 26. Ref2 Re8 27. Be4 f5 28. Bd5+ Kf8 29. Rc2 Qd3 30. Rcf2 Qc3 31. Bxb7 Re1 32. c5 Qe3 33. Be4 Qxf2 34. Bd3 Qg2#

[TracySMiller]

M-Chess 8 concludes the match with a brutal attack against Mephisto MMV's uncastled King. The game included the beautiful Knight sacrifice offer 14. Ne4, which looks like something out of a Morphy game. M-Chess 8 wins the match 4-0 and advances to Round Two.

WHITE M-Chess 8
BLACK Mephisto MMV
RESULT 1-0

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 h5 9. f4 Bc5 10. Bb5+ Nd7 11. f5 Bxd4 12. Qxd4 Bh7 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Ne4 exf5 15. e6 fxe6 16. Qxg7 fxe4 17. Rf1 Bf5 18. gxf5 Qa5+ 19. c3 Qxb5 20. Qg6+ Kf8 21. fxe6+ Qxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Ne5 23. Qf5+ Ke8 24. Qxe5 Rh7 25. Qxd5 Rg7 26. Rd1 Re7 27. Bxe7 Kxe7 28. Qxb7+ Kf6 29. Qf7+ Ke5 30. Qc7+ Kxe6 31. Rd6+ Kf5 32. Qc5+ Kg4 33. Kg2 Kxh4 34. Rg6 Rb8 35. Qg5#

[TracySMiller]

So Round One has concluded. Here's a summary of the matches and the results:

1. Arasan 23.3 defeated 16. Fidelity Chess Challenger 7 by a score of 4-0
2. Defenschess 2.2 defeated 15. Radio Shack 1650 by a score of 4-0
3. DGT Centaur defeated 14. Radio Shack 1850 by a score of 4-0
4. Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition defeated Excalibur Grandmaster by a score of 4-0
5. Millennium King Performance defeated 12. Kasparov's Gambit by a score of 3.5-0.5
11. Rebel 12 defeated 6. Mephisto Master by a score of 4-0
10. TASC R40 defeated 7. Novag Citrine by a score of 4-0
8. M-Chess 8 defeated 9. Mephisto MMV by a score of 4-0

I'm going to do some re-seeding for Round Two, which will be Best of 8. It feels as though both Rebel 12 and M-Chess 8, running on QEMU, are very strong, likely stronger than both Millennium King Performance and TASC R40. Therefore, the matchups for Round Two will be:

1. Arasan 23.3 vs. 8. TASC R40
2. Defenschess 2.2 vs. 7. Millennium King Performance
3. DGT Centaur vs. 6. M-Chess 8
4. Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition vs. 5. Rebel 12


What are your thoughts on Round One? Were you surprised by any of the outcomes? Do you have a favorite game or favorite moves? What are your predictions about Round Two?

[fourthirty]

Hey Tracy,

That's quite the eclectic group of characters you've assembled there.

Hopefully we'll see some interesting games and perhaps a few surprises. Will be following with interest.

Multifarious regards,
Greg

[Kasparov111]

Welcome back, very interesting matches, some opponents way too powerful for the other side lol

Not sure of Arasan's rating, that should be a good match with R40, King to beat Defense, DGT to beat M-Chess and Chessmastert to beat Rebel 12

[TracySMiller]

Round Two gets underway featuring #1 seed Arasan 23.3 going up against #8 seed TASC R40. Best of Eight.

Game One goes to Arasan, which incorporated a few really nice sacrifices which broke open TASC's kingside, along with a deadly advanced h-pawn. Arasan leads the match 1-0.

WHITE TASC R40
BLACK Arasan 23.3
RESULT 0-1

1. b3 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. Ne5 Bf5 4. e3 Nd7 5. Nxd7 Qxd7 6. Bb2 e6 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. cxd3 h5 9. O-O h4 10. Qg4 O-O-O 11. Rc1 Nf6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qd4 Kb8 14. Qxf6 Rh6 15. Qf4 e5 16. Qxe5 Bd6 17. Qg5 Rg6 18. Qh5 Rdg8 19. Qf3 Rxg2+ 20. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Qg4+ 22. Kf1 Bxh2 23. Nc3 h3 24. Ke1 Be5 25. d4 Bxd4 26. Ne2 h2 27. Ng3 Bxa1 28. d4 Qxg3 29. fxg3 h1=Q+ 30. Kd2 Qg2+ 31. Kd1 Bb2 32. Rc2 Qf1+ 33. Kd2 Ba3 34. Rc3 Bb4 35. g4 Qf2+ 36. Kd3 Qe1 37. e4 Bxc3 38. exd5 Qd2+ 39. Ke4 Bxd4 40. Kf5 Qe3 41. a3 Qe5#

[TracySMiller]

Arasan masterfully handles a Rook+passed pawn vs. two knights situation to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

WHITE Arasan 23.3
BLACK TASC R40
RESULT 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 c5 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Na3 Bxc5 11. Nxc4 Qe7 12. Nfe5 Nd4 13. Qd1 Nf5 14. Nd3 Rd8 15. Bd2 Bd6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Ba5 Rd7 18. Rc1 Nd5 19. Re1 Nf6 20. Nc5 Qxd1 21. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 h6 23. Nxb7 Bxb7 24. Bxb7 Ra7 25. Rd8+ Kh7 26. Bc8 Ne7 27. Bb6 Nxc8 28. Bxa7 Nxa7 29. Ra8 Nc6 30. Rxa6 Nd4 31. a5 Nxe2+ 32. Kf1 Nd4 33. Rb6 Nd5 34. Rb7 Nf3 35. a6 Nd2+ 36. Kg2 Nc4 37. a7 Ncb6 38. Rxf7 Kg6 39. Rf8 Nc7 40. h4 Nca8 41. b4 Nc7 42. h5+ Kxh5 43. Rf7 Ne8 44. Rb7 Na8 45. Rb8 Nec7 46. b5 Kg5 47. b6 Nxb6 48. Rxb6 g6 49. Rc6 Na8 50. Rc8 Nb6 51. Rb8 Nd5 52. a8=Q Kf5 53. Rf8+ Ke5 54. Qc6 Kd4 55. Qxe6 g5 56. Rd8 Kc4 57. Qc6+ Kb3 58. Rxd5 Ka2 59. Rb5 g4 60. Qa8#

[TracySMiller]

Arasan makes it 3-0 with another tactical onslaught. TASC R40 fought bravely but let Arasan's Queen and Rook infiltrate its position and it was all over.

WHITE TASC R40
BLACK Arasan 23.3
RESULT 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. Qb3 c5 9. dxc5 Qa5 10. Bd2 Qxc5 11. Be3 Qc7 12. e5 Be6 13. exf6 Bxb3 14. fxg7 Rd8 15. axb3 Nc6 16. Be2 Nb4 17. Rc1 Kxg7 18. O-O Rac8 19. Ne4 Qb8 20. Bb6 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8 22. Rd1 Qf4 23. Nc3 Kf8 24. Be3 Qc7 25. Rd4 Qa5 26. Rd7 Qa1+ 27. Nd1 b5 28. Bd2 Ke8 29. Rd4 Na2 30. Ne5 Nc1 31. Bxc1 Rxc1 32. Rd2 Qa5 33. Nf3 e5 34. Rd6 Qb4 35. Rd5 e4 36. Nd2 Rc2 37. Nc3 Rxb2 38. Ncxe4 f5 39. Re5+ Kf8 40. Bf1 fxe4 41. Nxe4 Qe1 42. h3 Rb1 43. Kh2 Qxf1 44. Rc5 Qg1+ 45. Kg3 Rxb3+ 46. f3 Rb2 47. Rc8+ Ke7 48. Kf4 Qxg2 49. Rc7+ Kd8 50. Rxh7 Rb3 51. Ng5 Qd2+ 52. Kg4 Qd4+ 53. Ne4 Qe5 54. Ng3 Rb4+ 55. Ne4 Rb1 56. Rh8+ Kc7 57. Rh7+ Kb6 58. f4 Qf5+ 59. Kf3 Rb3+ 60. Nc3 Rxc3+ 61. Kg2 Qc2+ 62. Kf1 Qb1+ 63. Ke2 Qb2+ 64. Kd1 Rc1#

[TracySMiller]

Arasan gets ahead the exchange and proceeds to wrap up the game with exemplary technique. Arasan now takes a 4-0 lead in the match and is just one win away from advancing to the semifinals.

WHITE Arasan 23.3
BLACK TASCR40
RESULT 1-0

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Qd1 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nc3 Rd8 13. Qb3 Na5 14. Qa4 b6 15. Rad1 Bd7 16. Qf4 Qxf4 17. gxf4 Be6 18. Ne5 f6 19. f5 Bxf5 20. Bxd5+ Rxd5 21. Nxd5 fxe5 22. b4 Bg4 23. Rfe1 Bxb4 24. Nxb4 Nc4 25. Nc6 a6 26. f3 Be6 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Nxd8 Bf5 29. e4 Bh3 30. Rc1 b5 31. Kf2 g5 32. Rd1 Kg7 33. Nb7 Bc8 34. Nc5 Kf6 35. Rd8 Be6 36. Ra8 Nd6 37. Rxa6 Ke7 38. Ra7+ Kf6 39. Nxe6 Kxe6 40. Kg3 Kf6 41. Kg4 Nc4 42. Rb7 Nd6 43. Rb8 Kf7 44. Kh5 Kg7 45. Rb6 Nc4 46. Rxb5 Nd2 47. a4 g4 48. Kxg4 h5+ 49. Kg3 h4+ 50. Kg4 Nf1 51. Kh3 Nd2 52. a5 Nxf3 53. a6 Ng5+ 54. Kg4 Nxe4 55. a7 Nd6 56. Rb8 Kf6 57. a8=Q Ke7 58. Qc6 h3 59. Qc7+ Ke6 60. Rb6 Kd5 61. Rxd6+ Ke4 62. Qc6+ Ke3 63. Qf3#

[TracySMiller]

TASC R40 plays its best game of the match, but it let Arasan's King penetrate its position and support a passed pawn to victory, and Arasan 23.3 takes the match 5-0 and advances to the Semifinals.

WHITE TASC R40
BLACK Arasan 23.3
RESULT 0-1

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Bc4 e6 7. cxd4 d6 8. O-O Be7 9. exd6 Qxd6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bd2 Nb6 12. Ne4 Qd8 13. Bb5 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Bg5 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 f6 17. Be3 Nd5 18. Bc5 Bxc5 19. Nxc5 Rd8 20. Re1 Kf7 21. Rad1 b6 22. Bc6 Rb8 23. Nb3 Bb7 24. Bxb7 Rxb7 25. f4 Rbd7 26. Re4 h6 27. Rde1 Rd6 28. h4 a5 29. g3 f5 30. Rd4 Nb4 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. a3 Nd3 33. Rb1 e5 34. Nc1 e4 35. Nxd3 Rxd3 36. Kg2 a4 37. Kh3 Ke6 38. Rc1 Kd5 39. Rc7 Kd4 40. Rxg7 Ke3 41. Rc7 Kf3 42. Rc1 e3 43. Rf1+ Ke2 44. Rc1 Rd1 45. Rc3 Kf2 46. Kh2 e2 47. Rc2 h5 48. b3 axb3 49. Rb2 b5 50. a4 bxa4 51. g4 hxg4 52. Rxe2+ Kxe2 53. Kg2 b2 54. h5 b1=Q 55. h6 Rh1 56. h7 Qg1#

[Kasparov111]

Artasan must be rated high to do that to R40