What year did the computer chess tournament take place? How the first international computer chess tournament took place. Tournament schedule and rules

Stockfish took clear first place in the 10-engine round-robin tournament and made it to the super final, where it took on runner-up Houdini in rapid, blitz and bullet, winning the championship held on game server Chess.com from November 13 to 16.

Chess.com Championship among computer programs with the participation of 10 of the world's strongest engines was announced in September. Three game days of a round-robin rapid chess tournament made it possible to determine the two strongest engines that faced each other in the fight for the title in an exciting super final.

All four days of play were commented live on Twitch.tv/chess and Chess.com/TV by experts, IM Daniel Rensch and GM Robert Hess, who for the first time in the history of chess at a professional level commented on the progress of the battle of computer engines live. Full video of all four game days is available in the Twitch archive.

The goal of the tournament is to show the power and beauty of computer chess in an attractive rapid and blitz format that allows the public to follow the game live.

The tournament was also a scientific experiment in the field of computer science, since all the engines used powerful Amazon Web Services computers. Specifications programs and hardware configurations are indicated in the announcement article.

What was also interesting was that the tournament was held without the use of opening books, so the engines had to think on their own from the very first moves. They turned out to be strong enough to create opening theory on the fly, so that in most games solid, well-known variations were played.

Norm Schmidt, Chess.com's technical adviser for the tournament, provides the following information about the openings encountered in the engine games and the distribution of results.

• French Defense = 44 games, 7 white wins, 28 draws, 9 black wins;
• Queen's Gambit/Queen's Pawn Opening = 30 games, 14 white wins, 11 draws, 5 black wins;
• New Indian Defense = 11 games, 3 white wins, 6 draws, 2 black wins;
• Spanish game = 6 games, 2 white wins, 4 draws, 0 black wins;
• Caro-Kann Defense = 5 games, 0 white wins, 4 draws, 1 black win;
• Sicilian Defense = 4 games, 0 white wins, 3 draws, 1 black win

Although 10 of the strongest programs participated in the tournament, the main attention was focused on the “big three” engines: Stockfish, Komodo and Houdini, which are considered the strongest programs of all time.

All three fought fiercely for victory in the round-robin tournament, with Houdini needing a brilliant victory in the last round to reach the super final.

Round robin results

Round robin table

The winners of the round-robin tournament, Stockfish and Houdini, advanced to the super final, where they had to compete in five different time controls: from rapid to blitz and bullet.

The fate of the super final was decided only at last stage, which consisted of four bullet games, which Stockfish entered with a one-point lead. Two of the four games ended successfully, Houdini and Stockfish exchanged beautiful victories, and Stockfish won the match.

Super final results

The tournament awarded $2,500 in prize money to support the development of computer chess.

1. Stockfish: $1,000

2. Houdini: $750

Norm Schmidt, the developer of Fire, also served as a technical advisor to Chess.com on the computer program championship. Schmidt declined $250 in prize money, which will be donated to charity.

A total of 110 games were played in the championship, 90 in the round-robin tournament and 20 in the super final.

> Day in the history of management and business development > August in the history of management > August 7: First computer chess tournament- development of logic and memory

August 7: First computer chess tournament - development of logic and memory

On August 7, 1970, the first computer chess tournament took place. Chess is a board logic game. The history of chess goes back about one and a half thousand years. This logic game originated in India.

Mathematics examines aspects of the game of chess by simulating them using computers. Chess is a sport with its own hierarchy of titles, a developed system of tournaments, chess leagues and congresses. Abstract chess competitions can be played without seeing your partner. This is how the first championships among chess programs were held. With the development of the Internet, online chess has gained popularity. They allow you to play not only with people, but also with computer programs.

Chess like strategy game, develops logic, affects the development of memory and intelligence. They were called the game of kings. Logic games are needed so that you can think and find correct solution. That's why logic games not only a fun pastime, but also a useful activity for our thinking.

Intelligence refers to a person's ability to know, understand, and solve problems. This concept combines all the abilities of the individual: perception, representation, imagination, sensations, memory and thinking. The level of intelligence needs to be developed throughout life; the reverse process will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of human intelligence. The use of intelligence can be perceived in different ways - it is resource planning, memory development, building a strategy for achieving a goal, the ability to organize and control actions.

memory development in the information space

IN modern world such a concept as artificial intelligence appeared. It is used in the information space. The principles of organizing the entry of information into the information space, its storage and reproduction correspond to the peculiarities of the work of intelligence. Or more precisely, the development of memory in the information space. Therefore, the information space can be called intellectual. It also has principles of planning, organizing use, and monitoring the achievement of goals.

As an ability, intelligence is usually realized with the help of other abilities: logic, systematization, analysis, finding connections and patterns, flexibility of mind, breadth of thinking. All these abilities help in the development of activities - thinking about moves in business, searching for development options, bypassing competitors, paying attention to the opponent’s moves. www.site helps in the development of attention, logic and memory, promotes personal growth and increased efficiency. Pay more attention to developing your abilities. And then checkmate is guaranteed for the opponent, competitor and adversary.

- (English World Microcomputer Chess Championship, WMCCC) competition of computer chess programs running on microprocessors. Organizer: International Computer Games Association (ICCA, later renamed ICGA). Contents 1... ...Wikipedia

A competition aimed at determining the world chess champion. The first official World Championship is believed to have taken place in 1886, when a match took place between two leading players in Europe and the United States, Wilhelm Steinitz and... Wikipedia

- (English: International Paderborn Computer Chess Championship, IPCCC) an annual competition of computer chess programs. Organizer: University of Paderborn (Germany). The first championship was organized in 1991, the fifth... ... Wikipedia

Shredder Type Chess program Developer Stefan Mayer Kalen operating system Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Mobile Phone/PDA Latest version 12 License Proprietary software ... Wikipedia

Type Chess program Developer Vasik Rajlich Operating system Windows Latest version 4 (May 26, 2010) License Proprietary ... Wikipedia

This page is proposed to be merged with Computer chess. Explanation of reasons and discussion on the Wikipedia page: Towards unification... Wikipedia

Fritz Type Chess program Developer Franz Morsch, Matthias Feist Operating system Windows, Mobile Phone/PDA Latest version 13 (October 13, 2011) License ... Wikipedia

Years 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 1974 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 Decades 1950s · 1960s 1970s 1980s · 1990s ... Wikipedia

Type Chess program Developer Mark Uniacke Operating system Windows, Mac OS X, Palm OS Latest version 13.2 License Proprietary software... Wikipedia

- "Kaissa" chess program, developed in the USSR in the 1960s. She received her name in honor of the chess goddess Caissa. In August 1974, Caissa became the first world computer chess champion. History of Duchess – Kaissa 2nd ... Wikipedia

Superfinal results

Superfinal table

#	Program	Rate.	Perf.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
1	Stockfish 051117	3400	3424	½	½	½	½	1	0	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	1	½
2	Houdini 6.02	3407	3383	½	½	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	0	½

Round robin tournament results

Table

#	Program	Rate.	Perf	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	Glasses	KB
1	Stockfish 051117	3400	3526		01	½½	½1	½1	11	11	11	11	½1	14.5/18
2	Houdini 6.02	3407	3444	10		½½	½½	1½	1½	11	1½	1½	11	13.0/18
3	Komodo 1959.00b	3398	3422	½½	½½		½1	½½	½1	½½	11	11	1½	12.5/18
4	Fire 6.2	3300	3389	½0	½½	½0		½½	1½	½1	1½	11	11	11.5/18
5	Andscacs 0.92	3240	3258	½0	0½	½½	½½		½½	½½	½½	½½	½½	8.0/18
6	Fizbo 1.9	3262	3237	00	0½	½0	0½	½½		½½	½½	11	½½	7.5/18	55.00
7	Deep Shredder 13	3291	3234	00	00	½½	½0	½½	½½		11	½½	½½	7.5/18	54.75
8	Chiron 4	3203	3159	00	0½	00	0½	½½	½½	00		½0	11	5.5/18	39.50
9	Boot 6.2	3224	3157	00	0½	00	00	½½	00	½½	½1		1½	5.5/18	37.00
10	Gull 3 syz	3191	3112	½0	00	0½	00	½½	½½	½½	00	0½		4.5/18

This November strongest in the world chess engines will fight in the first and unique rapid chess tournament, which is organized by the site.

Since computer engines have reigned supreme as the strongest chess players on planet Earth, there is a lot of interest in their game among chess fans.

In the first annual Computer Chess Championship website(CCCC; Chess Championship site among computer programs) will decide which engine is the best in the form of chess that is most popular online: rapid chess.

Computer Chess Championship,scheduled for 13-16 November, each day will be broadcast live on with commentary from the masters and computer statistics to serve the development of engine competitions as entertainment for a modern audience of chess fans.

Ten of the world's best engines (as of mid-August) are participating in the tournament; their creators can submit modified versions of their programs to participate in the tournament website.

According to available information, the authors of two of the three strongest engines are: Komodo(first in the world) and Houdini(third), as well as other programs included in the top ten, confirmed that they will use versions of the engines in the competition, modified to take into account accelerated time control. 10 engines will play in two rounds, facing each other once with white and black. Each game will be given 15 minutes with an addition of two seconds.

The two engines with the most points in the round-robin tournament will meet in a thrilling grand final, where time control will be whittled down as the match progresses, from rapid to blitz and finally bullet.

the site will cover the tournament live with expert commentary over four days, broadcasting 90 games of the round-robin tournament and 20 games of the super final.

The engines will compete for a prize fund of $2,500 , which will go to the authors, developers or other holders of rights to the programs. Prizes are distributed as follows:

1. $1,000
2. $750
3. $500
4. $250

Full list of participants, ranked by rating at the time of invitation to the tournament in mid-August:

1. Stockfish
2. Komodo
3. Houdini
4. Shredder
5. Fire
6. Fizbo
7.Andscacs
8. Chiron
9.Gull
10.Boot

If the site does not receive a modified version of the engine a week before the start of the match, the tournament will use its latest publicly available version on that date (November 6).

To ensure fair competition, all engines will run on identical computers with equal software resources.

The tournament will take place on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) server farm located in Northern Virginia.

Each engine will use a separate virtual computenodeAWS hyper-threaded Intel Xeon E5-2666 v3 2.90 GHz (two processors with 18 cores each) with 60.0 GB of RAM with the Windows Server 2016 Data Center Edition operating system.

UCI configuration:

• 32 streams.
• 4096 MB hash.
• 6-figure Nalimov tables (on HDD).
• Any other UCI parameters will be set to default.

The tournament will be held with the following settings:

• Ponder during enemy moves is disabled.
• Opening books are not used.
• Offering a tie based on a score is prohibited.
• No endings are awarded. (For the convenience of spectators, endings are played until checkmate or forced draw.)

Tournament schedule and rules:

• Time control: 15 minutes per game with an increment of 2 seconds.
• Each engine will play one game of white and black with each. In total, 90 games will be played in the round-robin tournament in nine rounds of 10 games each.
• The progress of the tournament will be covered live from November 13 to 15, three rounds per day.
• On the fourth day, November 16, there will be a super final match between the two best engines, which will also be broadcast live on website/TV.
• In each round, both games between engines begin simultaneously. That is, for example, Komodo and Stockfish will be both white and black.
• Mini-matches within one round will start with a five-minute interval between them.
• In the super final, four games will be played simultaneously, two each with white and two black. Each round of the Super Final will use a different time control.
• Five rounds of the super final will be held with controls of 15/2, 10/2, 5/2, 3/2 and 1/2.
• The program that achieves an advantage based on the results of 20 games played in the rounds is declared the champion.
• If after five rounds the programs score an equal number of points, additional rounds of four games will be held with 1/2 control until the winner is determined.
• If after four additional rounds with 1/2 control (a total of 16 additional games) the score remains equal, both engines will play one game at a time until the winner is determined (until the first scoring game). The engine that gets the white color first will be determined by tossing a virtual coin on Random.org.

HOW WAS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL

COMPUTER CHESS TOURNAMENT.

Now the use of computers in various fields of human activity has become a fait accompli. Everyone - from schoolchildren to outstanding scientists - uses modern computer technologies. But there was a time when the use of electronic computers - computers (as computers were previously called) was limited only to mathematical and arithmetic calculations. And it seemed completely unthinkable to use a computer to solve problems of a creative nature, where a person, as a creative person, generates ideas, plans to conduct various experiments, finds the best options for action and implements them in practice. Moreover, unlike a “soulless” computer, a person bases his actions on personal knowledge, existing experience, intuition and, if you like, on his talent.

Nowadays we already take the use of computers, for example, for making medical diagnoses, as a matter of course. But not always and not everywhere even now, for example, a computer diagnoses a patient, but usually a cardiologist examines an electrocardiogram and uses it to diagnose the patient’s disease.

Recently I was in a sanatorium. For several years now, during this “perestroika” in our long-suffering Russia, I have not had to undergo proper treatment and rest even once in the last 10 years. And for our 70th anniversary, our sons Sergei, Igor and nephew Boris gave my wife Vera Mikhailovna and her sister Nadezhda Mikhailovna, and me, three vouchers to a sanatorium near Moscow of the former 4th Directorate of the Ministry of Health, which now belongs to RAO Gazprom.

We all had a good rest and healing; The place is beautiful: the Istra reservoir, wonderful forests, silence, the air is so clean and thick, you can even spread it on bread and eat it. In a word, good! Taking this opportunity, I decided to check my heart too, because I had had a heart attack before. I came to see a doctor, he gave me a referral for an ECG and I went into the office to take an electrocardiogram. I’m lying there, the device is buzzing, the nurse says: “take a deep breath,” “don’t breathe,” “breathe,” “get dressed.” He tears off the paper tape and hands it to me. Then I noticed that the ECG machine was connected to a computer. I looked at the tape with my ECG and saw that the diagnosis of my illness was already printed on it, which the computer recognized and compiled while my curves were being taken. That's what was printed there.

Sanatorium "Forest Lake", patient, 70 years old. Pulse rate 64/min, intervals RR 944 ms,., OTC 400 ms, Axes: P 48, QRS 36, T = 74,.., P(II) 0.15 mV,.., R(US) 1, 86 mV. Sinus rhythm, QRS (T) contour disturbance. Corresponds to a posterior infarction. The duration is not determined. ST and T wave abnormalities suggest anterolateral ischemia or left ventricular overload."

I came to my room, looked at this ECG and I remembered an old, perhaps in many ways curious, case about how the scientific development of this kind of ideas on the use of computers for everyday practical activities took place. Now, for example, anyone can play chess with a computer, and you can set the “enemy” to master or even grandmaster mode.

And the first steps in using computers to solve creative problems were taken by mathematicians using the example of playing chess. This happened somewhere in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century. Large companies that produced computers wanted, on the one hand, to master new possibilities for using computers, and on the other, to make more profit. And in the USA, England, France and some other countries they began to carry out scientific research on this problem. The task was not easy: to replace intelligent human activity, where possible, with the use of computers as artificial intelligence. And while abroad entire teams of scientists in large corporations and firms were engaged in such problems, in our country only a few enthusiastic scientists were engaged in this scientific research.

Here is one such example that I remembered as I heard it from eyewitnesses and partially saw it myself.

This happened in the late 70s. One such enthusiastic scientist, Azarov (his last name has been changed), worked as a junior researcher at an academic institute. In addition to his main activity, he also developed algorithms and programs for computer games of chess. He did not advertise these works, because even in the recent past, cybernetics was officially recognized as a “pseudoscience.” At this time, a new Institute of Management Problems (IPU) was created in Moscow, the director of which was a prominent scientist, Academician Trapeznikov. One of Azarov’s colleagues suggested that he try to get a job at this institute: the position of senior researcher was “shown” for him there, and the salary was higher. Azarov submitted an application and got an appointment with the director. After the conversation, Trapeznikov invited him to head the laboratory, which was developing an automated production control system (ACS) for one of the

factories. The principles of creating such an automated control system were clear to Azarov, and he agreed, having previously agreed that 3-4 more people from his previous work would come with him. When all these issues were resolved, he also asked Trapeznikov:

- “Can I develop programs for playing chess with a computer after work?”

- “If your main work on automated control systems goes according to plan, please.”

So at the IPU in Azarov’s laboratory, often after work in the evening the windows were lit: he and his colleagues created new algorithms and programs for computer games of chess. They closely followed scientific publications on this problem, wrote such articles themselves and sent them to various, including foreign, scientific journals. A year or two passes and suddenly a letter from London arrives addressed to Azarov with approximately the following content:

"Dear Doctor Azarov!

At the end of this year, the world's largest companies and firms producing computers, in order to popularize the possibilities modern computers, organize the first international computer chess tournament. Seven companies from different countries of the world take part in it.

Knowing you from your scientific publications, as a specialist in the compilation of algorithms and computer programs for chess games, we invite you to take part in this tournament as the eighth participant. The games will be held according to the Olympic system: each loser is excluded from further games and from playing in the finals. The organizing committee will be based in London; communication between computers is by telephone. Expert observers will be sent to each of the participants.

Please let us know your decision to participate in the tournament.

Sincerely, the Organizing Committee."

Having read this invitation, Azarov was very happy: after all, they are working on this problem, as they say, “from the heart,” with sheer enthusiasm, outside of their main work, and look, they have already been noticed in the world’s leading scientific circles and are invited take part on equal terms in the first international computer chess tournament.

In a joyful mood, with a letter from London, Azarov came to see the director. The academician listened to him, took the letter and said:

He didn’t say who he wanted to consult with, but most likely in the Academy and, possibly, in the Central Committee of the CPSU.

Several days pass, Azarov is invited to the director.

- “Well, that’s what, Comrade Azarov, we consulted and decided that if you guarantee the Soviet Union first place in this chess tournament, then you can accept this offer.”

“Excuse me, Pavel Mikhailovich,” Azarov objected, because they have first-class computers from IBM, and we have the Minsk-32 computer; the computer memory capacity of our machine is ten times less and the calculation speed is so much less - the same time, that is, they have a hundred times more possibilities for calculating options than we do. How can we guarantee you first place in such conditions?”

- “Then refuse to participate.”

Azarov came to his laboratory dejected. Well, of course, such world recognition, an invitation to the first prestigious tournament and now bad luck.

The laboratory staff were looking forward to his return; at first they were upset, and then they began to say:

- “Valentin Leonidovich! Go to the director again and tell him that we guarantee second place! You know foreign successes in this matter, our programs are more advanced. And as for the amount of computer memory, we can increase it ourselves , and we will also improve the programs."

We persuaded our boss, and again he made an appointment with the academician. At a meeting with him, Azarov promised to take second place in the tournament.

“Well, well,” Trapeznikov remarked, come back in a day or two, we’ll consult.”

Some more time passed, Azarov was summoned again to the director.

- “Well, that’s it, Valentin Leonidovich, we trust you: you are allowed to take part in this tournament. But remember your promise and don’t let us down.”

Azarov returned to the laboratory, his guys were happy about this news; sent a letter to London with gratitude for the invitation and their consent, and with enthusiasm and new energy they began to improve computers and machine programs.

After some time, one of the laboratory employees left for London, and two experts came to Moscow: one from the USA, the other from England. They inspected the room where the computer was located, closed and sealed the room. The tournament has begun. The game went like this: our computer played with black; from

London received a telex “The English computer has made a move: “e2 - e4.” Having received this message, the foreign experts opened the room, turned on our computer, entered the move received from London into it, and began to wait. After some time, our computer reported its response move He was transferred to London, the room was locked and sealed.

This went on for several days. And here is the first success: our victory! The disgruntled Englishman went back to London. In the semi-finals there is a game with a French car. And again victory!

And here is the finale. We are playing with an American computer from IBM. And the expert here is an American from this very company. The game was long and hard. And finally, victory again! The joy of our guys knew no bounds. The American expert was amazed and dejected and for a long time could not believe the result of this game, but he could not do anything: he himself was here both the controller and the expert, and only he had the keys and the seal to the room.

The director of the institute was immediately informed about the victory, he congratulated the team and conveyed this news somewhere else.

A day later, the American turned to Azarov and his colleagues:

- “You know, colleagues, I was informed from the States that our computer had a program crash during the game. Let’s play a couple more games unofficially, and I’ll give you a box of whiskey.”

O trusting Russian souls! Our scientists immediately agreed, without even thinking that if they lose, then this defeat will be broadcast to the whole world in the media as the largest victory and achievement of American science and technology.

And so, secretly from their superiors, including Academician Trapeznikov, two more games are played. As a result, our computer won one game and drew one.

The American, as promised, brought a box of whiskey; A nice friendly dinner took place. And so, after getting drunk, the American said:

- “Guys! You can’t even imagine what kind of heads you have. You overtook a racing car on a bicycle! Let’s drink to your talents!”

And later he even invited everyone to work in his company. However, none of our employees left the USSR at that time.

How did our scientists manage to achieve such an impressive victory using such rather weak technology at that time? This is what it turned out to be. When playing chess, there are a great many options for all kinds of moves, in fact: 64 cells on a chessboard, 32 pieces - billions of combinations.

So, the American program, taking into account its great computing capabilities, calculated after each enemy move, seven and a half moves ahead, all possible options for retaliatory moves. Our machine, in accordance with its program, calculated only two and a half moves ahead of possible counter moves. It seems that the opponent's advantages were obvious. But no! Our scientists introduced one significant limitation into their program: the criterion of the appropriateness of a specific retaliatory move depending on its contribution to a possible future victory. This sharply reduced the need for lengthy searches of possible different response options. It must be said that when developing his program, Azarov constantly consulted with the former world chess champion Mikhail Botvinnik, who, by the way, was a Doctor of Technical Sciences and perfectly understood the ideas of Azarov and his colleagues and helped them create an appropriate algorithm for a computer chess game.

It must be assumed that this was, apparently, one of the first examples of the expedient combination of human creative capabilities, his experience, knowledge and intuition, with the enormous computing capabilities of electronic machines.

And further. Some time after this computer tournament, an article appeared in one of the famous American newspapers under the sensational headline: “The Russians’ victory in the computer chess game can be compared in its significance only to the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite!” It stated that computer games chess is not just a game or fun, but it is a search for the optimal strategy of action that leads to victory over the enemy with limited knowledge of possible options for his response; it’s like recognizing possible optimal paths to achieving a goal. In other words, this kind of program can be used in the future in business: to combat possible and potential competitors, and so on.

When this article reached our then Soviet leadership, it was decided to support scientific research. And to the delight of all the employees of Azarov’s laboratory, their work was included in the plan, and they continued their work quite legally.

Several years have passed. The world's leading companies organized the second international computer chess tournament. And again the team was invited to participate in it researchers Azarova. Now they had a more advanced computer machine, the Unified Series EC-1030. The Americans also took their mistakes into account and implemented programs on a supercomputer. Them

managed to take first place out of 12 participants; Azarov then took second place.

These first computers chess games did a great job: within the framework of the theory of artificial intelligence, a new scientific direction began to develop - human-machine computer methods for solving various problems of applied importance. Later, new information computer technologies and methods for computer recognition and diagnosis of various situations were developed. For example, in geology - forecasting areas and territories favorable for the discovery of various minerals; in medicine - diagnosis of all kinds of diseases and much more.

This small episode from the history of the development of a scientific idea was reminded to me by an electrocardiogram and a computer diagnosis that I received during my stay at the Lesnoye Ozero sanatorium near Moscow.

We are treated and relax in the “Forest Lake” sanatorium. The sisters are 70 years old, 2000.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/371/images/image006_2.jpg" width="221" height="270 src=">

We are 70 years old, we accept congratulations from Sergei and Igor, 2000.

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In the garden Vera Mikhailovna and Tamara Vasilievna