World Computer Chess Championship 2008 Hiarcs wins!

[Watchman]

R5 Jonny and Shredder Draw

[Event "16th WCCC"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2008.10.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jonny"]
[Black "Shredder"]
[ECO ""]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1.Nf3 {0s} c5 {Buch 0s} 2.c4 {10s (e4)} Nf6 {Buch 0s} 3.Nc3 {9s}
Nc6 {Buch 0s} 4.d4 {10s (g3)} cxd4 {Buch 0s} 5.Nxd4 {8s} e6 {Buch 0s}
6.Bf4 {12s (g3)} a6 {Buch 0s} 7.e4 {9:33m (Sc2)} Qb6 {+0.29/19 2:17m}
8.Nb3 {12s (Sxc6)} Bb4 {+0.57/19 2:50m} 9.Qd3 {11s (Ld3)} d5 {+0.03/19 2:29m}
10.exd5 {3:18m (cxd5)} exd5 {+0.04/15 9s} 11.cxd5 {2:55m} Ne7 {-0.02/19 7s}
12.d6 {4:26m} Ned5 {-0.05/21 0s} 13.Be5 {2:36m (Lg3)} O-O {-0.09/19 2:45m}
14.O-O-O {10s} Bxc3 {-0.06/20 3:00m} 15.bxc3 {6:40m} Qxf2 {+0.11/23 0s}
16.Qd2 {13s} Qxd2+ {+0.59/20 5:28m} 17.Rxd2 {6s} Re8 {+0.63/22 3:14m}
18.Bxf6 {8s} Nxf6 {+0.66/21 2:38m} 19.g3 {3:17m} Re3 {+0.50/22 30s}
20.Bg2 {1:36m} Rb8 {+0.48/22 4:05m} 21.Kb2 {8s} b6 {+0.55/21 3:30m}
22.c4 {2:18m (Tc1)} Be6 {+0.52/21 2:50m} 23.Rc1 {2:55m} Nd7 {+0.39/22 19s}
24.Rc3 {2:36m} Rxc3 {+0.37/21 1:48m} 25.Kxc3 {1:13m} Rc8 {+0.36/22 4s}
26.Rd4 {27s (Ld5)} a5 {+0.39/22 3:26m} 27.Bd5 {8s} Bxd5 {+0.10/23 2:23m}
28.Rxd5 {1:07m} f6 {+0.08/25 4:17m} 29.Nd4 {10s} Kf7 {0.00/23 21s}
30.Nb5 {4:08m} Re8 {0.00/27 0s} 31.Nc7 {15s} Re3+ {0.00/25 5:14m}
32.Rd3 {12s (Kc2)} Re1 {0.00/25 4:18m} 33.Rd2 {8s} Rc1+ {0.00/25 2:02m}
34.Kb3 {4:06m} g5 {0.00/26 0s} 35.Rd4 {8s (Ka4)} f5 {-0.11/22 4:00m}
36.Ka4 {18s (Td2)} Rb1 {0.00/23 3:48m} 37.Ka3 {9s} Kf6 {0.00/21 2:27m}
38.g4 {1:32m} Re1 {-0.01/21 58s} 39.gxf5 {2:52m} Kxf5 {0.00/22 0s}
40.Rd2 {3:18m (Td5+)} Ke4 {0.00/22 2:16m} 41.Kb2 {2:10m (c5)}
g4 {-0.17/22 2:52m} 42.Kc2 {2:40m} Ke5 {-0.12/22 1:22m} 43.Nb5 {1:28m (Kb3)}
Re4 {-0.20/22 2:05m} 44.Kc3 {10s (Kb3)} Kf6 {-0.30/22 2:27m}
45.Nc7 {2:48m (Kd3)} h5 {-0.23/22 2:01m} 46.Na8 {9s} Re1 {-0.16/23 4:33m}
47.Nc7 {1:22m} Re4 {-0.35/21 52s} 48.Na8 {2:55m (Sd5+)} h4 {-0.39/22 3:50m}
49.Rb2 {1:42m} Re3+ {-0.18/22 0s} 50.Kd4 {1:54m} Rh3 {-0.17/23 1:09m}
51.Nxb6 {1:05m (Ke4)} Nxb6 {0.00/22 41s} 52.c5 {9:52m} Na4 {0.00/26 0s}
53.Re2 {10s} Nc3 {0.00/24 3:20m} 54.Re8 {14s} Nb5+ {0.00/23 1:38m}
55.Ke4 {9:18m} Nc3+ {0.00/26 0s} 56.Kd4 {7s} Nb5+ {0.00/23 1:56m}
57.Ke4 {3:46m} Nc3+ {0.00/26 0s} 1/2-1/2

[Harvey Williamson]

Here are the results of the all play all 9 round Blitz tournament. Congratulations to Sjeng.

1. Deep Sjeng 6.5

2. Hiarcs 6.0
Falcon
Shredder
Rybka

6. Junior 4.5
Cluster Toga

8. The Baron 3

9. Jonny 2.5

10. Mobile 0

[Harvey Williamson]

So close but so far - this game v jonny Hiarcs announced a mate in 8 but lost on time - the game was given a draw as jonny did not have mating material.

[Event "Blitz:3'"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2008.10.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jonny"]
[Black "HIARCS"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[TimeControl "180"]

{256MB, Blitz-China.ctg, HARVEYWILLID19E} 1. d4 {0} d5 {B/0 0} 2. c4 {7} e6 {
B/0 0} 3. Nc3 {7} c6 {B/0 0} 4. e3 {7} Nf6 {B/0 0} 5. Nf3 {6} Nbd7 {B/0 0} 6.
Qc2 {9} Bd6 {B/0 0} 7. Be2 {8} O-O {B/0 0} 8. O-O {5} dxc4 {B/0 0} 9. Bxc4 {7}
a6 {B/0 0} 10. Rd1 {7} b5 {B/0 0} 11. Be2 {7} Qc7 {B/0 0} 12. e4 {11} e5 {B/0 0
} 13. Bg5 {10} exd4 {0.00/13 8} 14. Rxd4 {6} Ne5 {0.00/15 1} 15. h3 {(Bxf6) 14}
Be6 {-0.01/13 9} 16. Rad1 {(Bxf6) 8} Rad8 {0.08/14 8} 17. Bxf6 {11} Nxf3+ {
0.19/15 1} 18. Bxf3 {18} gxf6 {0.16/16 1} 19. Qd3 {(Bg4) 5} Bh2+ {-0.17/14 5}
20. Kh1 {10} Rxd4 {-0.10/16 1} 21. Qxd4 {7} Be5 {-0.13/16 1} 22. Qd3 {(Qd2) 9}
b4 {-0.46/15 7} 23. Na4 {9} c5 {-0.63/15 1} 24. b3 {(Bg4) 21} c4 {-0.92/14 6}
25. bxc4 {6} Bxc4 {-0.85/17 1} 26. Qb1 {(Qc2) 6} Qa5 {-1.39/15 7} 27. Rc1 {8}
Be6 {-1.44/17 1} 28. Bd1 {14} Bd6 {-1.28/16 1} 29. g3 {(Kg1) 17} Bxh3 {
-1.49/13 7} 30. Qd3 {(Nb2) 6} Rd8 {-1.36/14 7} 31. Qd5 {7} Qxd5 {-1.26/16 1}
32. exd5 {7} Be5 {-1.33/15 1} 33. Bb3 {14} Rc8 {-1.11/16 1} 34. Rxc8+ {11} Bxc8
{-1.31/17 3} 35. Nc5 {8} Kf8 {-1.44/19 1} 36. Bc4 {(Kg2) 10} a5 {-1.59/16 4}
37. Kg2 {(f4) 10} Ke7 {-1.68/16 5} 38. f4 {(Nb3) 7} Bc7 {-1.74/18 5} 39. Kf3 {
11} h5 {-1.66/19 1} 40. Ke2 {12} Bg4+ {-1.66/16 5} 41. Kd2 {(Kd3) 13} h4 {
-1.70/16 6} 42. gxh4 {7} Bxf4+ {-1.75/18 1} 43. Kd3 {10} Bg3 {-1.69/17 1} 44.
Bb5 {11} Bc7 {-1.78/15 4} 45. Bc6 {(Nb7) 12} f5 {-2.21/16 5} 46. Nb3 {(Nb7) 9}
f4 {-2.02/14 4} 47. Nd2 {7} f5 {-2.03/15 1} 48. Nc4 {8} Bd8 {-2.02/14 4} 49.
Kd2 {(d6+) 16} Bh5 {-2.16/14 4} 50. Ke1 {8} Kf8 {-2.25/16 1} 51. Kf1 {8} Bxh4 {
-2.69/17 1} 52. d6 {(Nxa5) 8} f3 {-2.52/15 6} 53. Ne5 {7} Bf6 {-3.09/16 1} 54.
Nd7+ {0} Kg7 {-3.10/15 2} 55. Nc5 {8} Bh4 {-3.32/17 1} 56. d7 {(Ne6+) 9} Bf7 {
-3.32/15 4} 57. Bxf3 {9} Bxa2 {-3.40/16 1} 58. Bd1 {(Ke2) 7} Bc4+ {-3.63/13 3}
59. Kg2 {8} Bd8 {-4.28/16 1} 60. Nb7 {(Kf3) 11} Bd5+ {-4.64/13 3} 61. Bf3 {8}
Bxf3+ {-5.03/15 1} 62. Kxf3 {12} Bc7 {-5.03/14 2} 63. Ke2 {(Ke3) 32} Kf6 {
-6.36/14 3} 64. d8=Q+ {(Kd1) 12} Bxd8 {-15.32/14 3} 65. Nxd8 {(Kd1) 6} f4 {
-#21/1 2} 66. Nb7 {12} a4 {-#20/1 1} 67. Kd1 {25} a3 {-#19/1 1} 68. Kc2 {15} a2
{-#17/1 1} 69. Kb2 {7} f3 {-#16/20 2} 70. Kxa2 {11} f2 {-#12/1 1} 71. Na5 {20}
f1=Q {-#11/1 1} 72. Kb3 {10} Qe1 {-#10/1 1} 73. Ka4 {14} Qc3 {-#9/1 1} 74. Nb3
{10} Ke6 {-#8/1 1} 1/2-1/2

[Lukas]

Do you know what happened to Rybka? My logfiles say we only had 8 games, 6 of them should be a win and 2 draws. Did we loose on time?

Best regards,
Lukas

[Hans van der Zijden]

Tuesday 30:
The morning had only just begun and already there is big news. I was miming the making of an omelet to the chef and he understood. We started the round already at 8:00. There was only one round planned for the day, but some of the operators wanted a long afternoon to visit the city. I just wanted to go back to bed. But first to a supermarket. I was told there was one after a 20 minute walk. I did two steps out of the hotelcomplex and a car stopped. The chauffeur started to speak to me in chinese, but my knowledge of the language stops at 'ni hao'. I assumed he wanted to know where I was heading, so I mimed a shoppingcart and putting groceries in it. After 5 minutes he was on to me and he offered me a ride. This supermarket was a little bit further than 20 minutes. It was at least 10 kilometers. The supermarket was not what I had hoped. about 80% of the food I didn't recognize. So I went to KFC and showed
the girl 4 fingers, because menu number 4 looked nice. I suddenly realised there was a chance I would get 4 menus and indeed she was already pooring a second drink and there were four salads on my tray. Luckily I could cancel everything I didn't want. The juice was of course hot again. Took a taxi back to the hotel. I was happy I took the chinese instructions of how to get there. I was not allowed to buckle up. Probably inpolite to the chauffeur, but it doesn't always have to be his fault when there is an accident. Somewhere on the road we passed a sign which clearly said to buckle up. Had a well deserved nap. Passed again on the 'Ox penis' on the menu. After that we played some german
cardgame named 'Bang' (like a pistolshot). If you played such a card, you could shoot someone. Harvey sure liked to 'bang' Gian-Carlo's girlfriend Elke. I just wanted to 'Bang' myself and get it over with, but unfortunately the rules prevented me from doing that.

About the poor results of Rybka in the speedchess tournament: In the first round the Falcon operator, or Fal conartist as I like to call him after he showed me some illegal tricks in speedchess, was very happy to draw Rybka. But not so much anymore after I told him that by mistake he played Fritz 5.32. The cluster was not running and switching engines twice helps. But either I only switched once or the second switch gave a load error which I missed. For being so honest about it I was rewarded by a forfeit. Because of the time you lose with the transfer of moves to and from the cluster and of course the operator time, I gave Rybka only 2 minutes. In the next long game against The Baron the 2 minutes were gone, but still enough time on the clock and a mate score. But Rybka refused to move. It was not a disconnect. I gave it a different time control and the startup position was showed. So I had to go into the database to recover the game and after a few moves I lost on time. For round 3 I had a good think what to do. I decided to give Rybka 3 minutes for 100 moves and that worked better. I won 5 games and drew 2. The draw against Cluster Toga was Erdo's fault. He put in a drawish line of 72 ply. The draw against Hiarcs was unavoidable. Harvey is my friend, so I decided that I would ignore Rybka's clear winscore of +0.09 and offered a draw. Harvey thankfully accepted.

[Hans van der Zijden]

Do you know what happened to Rybka? My logfiles say we only had 8 games, 6 of them should be a win and 2 draws. Did we loose on time?

Best regards,
Lukas

You can read in my post what happened. Sorry Lukas. Can you copy paste the part about the speedchesstournament to the Rybkaforum. I am still not a member there (shame on me)?

[Kemuri]

Is it me, or is Shredder no longer the force to be reckoned with that it used to be??

[mclane]

Is it me, or is Shredder no longer the force to be reckoned with that it used to be??

yes i would say shredder has made no big progress.

[Sebastian Boehme]

This one is showing the bowling center, where Harvey, SMK (Shredder author), Gian Carlo (Sjeng author) and Gian Carlo's girlfriend Elke went.

Harvey told me he won the bowling round.

On this photo you can see SMK bowling, the others standing in the background:



I'm rather sorry its not possible to see the faces so well, but it's the best I could make out of the photo Harvey sent me.

More to come soon.
Regards,
Sebi

[Harvey Williamson]

Hans writes his diary for day 5:

Wednesday:
Skipped breakfast in the restaurant. Before you know it you will eat 3 hot meals a day. I bought some bread and ham and that is also nice. Easy 5th round against Falcon and then my opponent with 300 elo more, wants to practise for the speedchess tournament for operators later this evening. Despite his strength he tries to cheat me in any possible way (Fal conartist). Luckily in a way that I can't be fooled. He kept on challeging me and therefore it took me a long time to finish my fruitplatter with 10 tomatoes more than last time. But first the speedchesstournament. I already wrote about that in a previous article and I am tired, so I won't repeat that. Alarm will ring in 6 hours for the excursion day, so I like to go to bed now. Lucky for me the operator tournament was canceled. That saves me another few lines of typing.

[Tony Thomas]

Is it me, or is Shredder no longer the force to be reckoned with that it used to be??

yes i would say shredder has made no big progress.

You must be kidding Thorsten. The last release of Shredder was almost 100 points stronger than the previous one. I think Shredder's problem is SMP scalability, I remember reading some posts from Ray banks. He said that Shredder searches almost double the nodes with 4 cores compared to 2, but the solution times were almost the same. Poor me only got the single CPU version, under those conditions Shredder is still a top contender for the dreaded # 2 spot.

[Eelco de Groot]

I saw in the CSS sister-forum a link to Johannes Zwanzger's blog, for the readers that can understand German.
Nice picture from the view from the hotelroom, I would not have recognized it as China, it looks more like a scene from Florida's Disneyworld with one of Steve's magic Mattel chess-castles enlarged to live-size in the background, or one of the Riverworld stories with scenes from Arthurian times mixed with ancient Egypt on the shores of the river of time:



Eelco

[Steve B]

Nice picture from the view from the hotelroom, I would not have recognized it as China, it looks more like a scene from Florida's Disneyworld with one of Steve's magic Mattel chess-castles enlarged to live-size in the background,

Excellent Analogy Eelco


Regards From Disney World
Steve

[Harvey Williamson]

When i first saw that 'Castle' my 1st thought was also of Disney. That is the view we now have from our new playing location at the Hotel.

Today was a rest day. we went on a Bus trip to the Great wall which was fascinating to see. We also visited The Summer Palace. It was a shame that today is also a Public Holiday in China so both were very busy and a lot of traffic on the roads. There will be photos soon and I am sure Hans will give more details in his Diary.

2 rounds in the tournament tomorrow. Hiarcs plays The Baron at 10 local time followed by junior in the afternoon.

[Hans van der Zijden]

Thursday:
Up at 6:00 for the excursion. Not hungry yet. Still have some bread and ham left. De tourguide explains us a bit about the chinese characters, but you can also sleep pretty good in the bus. First stop at a jadefactory. Makes me think of my trip to Thailand. Buses there also brought you to places where you could spend your money. For the first time I see a lot of coins and my brother collects them. Unfortunately they are laying in front of a Buddha and if I steal from him, I may reïncarnate as a cockroach. I ask one of the personnel if it is alright to change 50 Yuan for a lot of coins. No. I try our guide and she is more helpful. Two persons higher in ranking have to ok it first, but then 2 of the floorpersonnel fill my bag with more coins than I expected. Then we go direction Great wall. Soon we are stuck in traffic for 20 minutes. Eventually it turns out the road is blocked, "we have to try another wee". Not sure if he meant 'week' or 'way'. It is the 2nd. It's very crowded with people everywhere. Who plans an excursion on a chinese holiday? Harvey and I see immediately we don't want to climb the wall all the way to the top. You will be sweaty the rest of the day and we still have to go to lunch, visit the summerpalace and dinner paid by the ICGA. So we waited for 90 minutes in a souvenir/cappuccinoshop at a table and sorted out the coins. Found about 25 coins my brother didn't have. In total it was 45,54 Yuan and some foreign money. So just safe. After the lunch, that came very late in the day, we quickly got into the summerpalace and Harvey and I were also out very quickly. Much too crowded. After half an hour everybody was out, except for one. The operator of Hiarcs' next opponent. Waited half an hour for him and then decided he probably took a taxi to the hotel. That was a right assumption, but he said he waited for us also half an hour and he saw no one. Beijing triangle? If Harvey wasn't at my sight at all time, I would have suspected him. Dinner came way too early for me, I was still not hungry. Hope I am not getting sick.

p.s. The picture with the castle is not from the new playing location, but from the area where we sleep. If I am not mistaken the area is just above the second glass pyramid. But who cares. It is a beautiful view from there as well.