Group A in Tier B is halfway through their double round robin elimination tournament. DiscoCheck is the clear leader with Zappa and Octochess holding down the 2nd and 3rd spots respectively while Pawny and Texel are battling against elimination in the 4th and 5th spot. The crosstable has been updated with the most recent results
The season page has been updated with the group tables as well as the PGNs for the last round. The group elimination phase has begun with a double round robin tournament taking place inside of each group. The top three engines in each group will move on to the next stage and the top of those three engines will get a bye in the first round of stage 3. The bottom two engines in each group will be eliminated. Starting today is Tier B Group A. Good luck to all!
Engine ratings are coming in the new year and will be calculated at both active (stage 1) and long (stage 2-5) controls. The final crosstable update has been uploaded for the qualifying round. Any engine that finished in the top 20 will qualify for stage 2 in Tier A while any engine that finished between 21 and 40 will start in stage 2 Tier B. Any other engine not covered by these two criteria will have the rest of the season off to prepare for season 2! :) The two exceptions to this are Red Queen which is being disqualified for suicidal play and iCE which is being disqualified for showing tablebase hits when no tablebases are allowed or installed. Red Queen failed to qualify for stage 2 anyways but iCE will be replaced with NirvanaChess as iCE finished just above the Tier 2 cutoff in 39th.
In other news, Season 2 is already looking a little more interested as two new engines have been purchased: Komodo TCECr and Deep Fritz 14. At this point, the only top commercial engine that has no representation in this league is Shredder and hopefully that can be rectified before too long. I hope everyone has had a safe and happy Christmas day and that all are looking forward to the group stage and longer time control matches. The stage 2 group elimination phase for season 1 will start sometime before the new year as time allows. Please continue to check back for regular updates. In chess we're used to talking about the king in ways that show his importance: the king's safety is paramount; the king must be protected at all costs. The tall lady Queen has all of the power to protect her king and attack the opposing king. She zooms around the board moving every which way while her king stays safely in the back waiting for her to win the battle. The armies of black and white pieces rush forward while the kings ostensibly direct the battle from the rear hoping to avoid any real danger. Should a sacrifice be required, the king is all too eager to tell his soldiers to give themselves up because he never has that option. If the king allows himself to be taken, the game is over and lost. With the ability to only move one square at a time, the king is one of the weakest pieces on the board. He can hardly defend himself or move out of the way of an impending attack. He is utterly defenseless.
In this world our existence is not unlike that of a king in chess. We think we rule the board as kings when in fact we are weak, powerless, and utterly hopeless to save ourselves. There is no queen to save us and no pawns to deflect incoming attacks. We sit in a corner waiting for the inevitable checkmate that we all know is coming and are powerless to predict it, delay it, or stop it. At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of the one true King. The Son of God entered into His creation as a helpless baby boy to offer salvation to all of humanity. Jesus Christ, the king of kings, was born to accomplish what no other king on a board or in the world could ever do. He was born to sacrifice His perfect life as payment for our transgressions against a Holy God to give us a pathway out of our hopeless sin and into eternal life. In chess, the King could never sacrifice himself; in chess the King hides in a corner waiting for all the other pieces to sacrifice themselves in his defense. Jesus Christ ran to the front lines, suffered the abuse, wrath, and scorn that we all deserve, and died so that we could live. He didn't break the rules of the game: he solved the game so that we never have to play it again should we so choose. Like all of us, His life started as a helpless baby in the arms of his mother. Today we celebrate this innocuous beginning not because we want to shower our loved ones in gifts or have the latest and greatest new toy like this were the best birthday ever, but because the King of Kings has come, the work is done, and salvation is at hand. Merry Christmas. Congratulations to Stockfish for capturing the first stage qualifying round top spot with 7.5 points out of a possible 9. A close second was Chiron who fought tooth and nail against any chance of a draw winning every game but two. Round 9 continues into Christmas day and it is expected that the group stage will start a few days after.
Here is Chiron's win over Komodo to cement clear second place in the qualifying round and top seed in Tier A's group B: [Event "[28] UCECL Season 1 - Round 1 - Qualification and Seeding - (12/15/13)"] [Site "Local computer"] [Date "2013.12.24"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Chiron 2 64bit"] [Black "Komodo 5 64-bit "] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B47"] [Opening "Sicilian"] [Variation "Taimanov (Bastrikov) variation"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Ndb5 Qb8 7. Be3 a6 8. Nd4 Nf6 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. a4 h6 11. h3 O-O 12. O-O Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be5 14. Be3 d5 15. exd5 exd5 16. f4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Bd7 18. Bd4 Qd6 19. Be5 Qc6 20. Kh2 Ne4 21. c4 Be6 22. f5 dxc4 23. Qg4 Ng5 24. h4 cxd3 25. hxg5 Bd5 26. Bxg7 Rfe8 27. gxh6 Kh7 28. cxd3 Qd6+ 29. g3 Re3 30. Rae1 Bf3 31. Qc4 Rxd3 32. Rf2 Bc6 33. Rg1 Qd7 34. Qg4 Rg8 35. Kh3 Bxa4 36. Rff1 b5 37. Qf4 a5 38. Ra1 Rc8 39. Qg5 Rf3 40. Rgf1 Rxf1 41. Rxf1 Bc2 42. Bf8 Qd4 43. Rf4 Qc3 44. Qg7+ Qxg7 45. hxg7 Kg8 46. f6 Bh7 47. Rd4 b4 48. Kg4 Bc2 49. Kf4 Rc6 50. Bd6 b3 51. Be7 Rc8 52. Ba3 Ra8 53. Bb2 Rb8 54. Rd5 Ra8 55. Ke3 Bg6 56. Kd4 a4 57. Kc3 Be4 58. Rh5 Bh7 59. Re5 Rb8 60. Ra5 Be4 61. Rxa4 Rc8+ 62. Kd2 Rd8+ 63. Ke3 Bg6 64. Rh4 Bh7 65. g4 Re8+ 66. Kf3 Rd8 67. g5 Rd3+ 68. Kg4 Rd7 69. Rh1 Rc7 70. g6 fxg6 71. Rd1 Kf7 72. Rd8 g5 73. Rf8+ Ke6 74. Rh8 Rc4+ 75. Kg3 Bg8 76. Rxg8 Kf5 77. f7 Rg4+ 78. Kf3 Rf4+ 79. Ke3 Re4+ 80. Kd3 Ra4 81. f8=Q+ Kg4 82. Ke3 Rf4 83. Rh8 Rf2 84. g8=Q Rxf8 85. Qxf8 Kg3 86. Qf3# 1-0 Round 9 has started and the crosstable has been updated. More updates to come as time allows.
With one game left to go, the top seed in the qualifying stage is still not a foregone conclusion. Stockfish decisively beat Bouquet to take sole possession of first place with 6.5 points but six other engines remain within a point of top spot. Houdini beat Gull and Chiron gave Naum its first loss of the tournament while Spike and Komodo beat up on Black Mamba and Strelka to stick with the lead pack. If the standings do not change in Round 9, we could be in for a very entertaining 'Group of Death' in stage 2 as Stockfish and Houdini are currently slated to be grouped together.
There are six games remaining in round 8 currently. The crosstable will be updated as soon as possible once round 9 starts and as often as possible after that. Because tomorrow is Christmas, Stage 2 will not start immediately upon completion of Stage 1. I will update the news page as soon as I know the timelines for Stage 2 For your viewing pleasure, here is Stockfish's win over Bouquet: [Event "[28] UCECL Season 1 - Round 1 - Qualification and Seeding - (12/15/13)"] [Site "Local computer"] [Date "2013.12.23"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"] [Black "Bouquet 1.8 x64"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B95"] [Opening "Sicilian"] [Variation "Najdorf, 6...e6"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Be2 h6 8. Be3 Qc7 9. O-O b5 10. a4 b4 11. Na2 Nbd7 12. c3 b3 13. Qxb3 Bb7 14. f3 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Bf2 Bd6 17. h3 O-O 18. Kh1 Nf4 19. Nc1 Rfd8 20. Nd3 Nxe2 21. Nxe2 Bd5 22. Qc2 Rab8 23. a5 Bb3 24. Qb1 e5 25. Ng3 Bf8 26. Rc1 Qc4 27. Ne4 Qb5 28. Nd2 Be6 29. c4 Qc6 30. Rc3 Bf5 31. Qe1 Bxd3 32. Rxd3 Rxb2 33. Ne4 Qxc4 34. Rad1 Bb4 35. Qg1 Bxa5 36. Bh4 Bb6 37. Qe1 g5 38. Bf2 Bxf2 39. Nxf2 Qh4 40. Kg1 Qa4 41. Ne4 Kf8 42. Kh1 Rc2 43. Rd6 a5 44. Rxh6 Rdc8 45. Qe3 R2c6 46. Rdd6 Rxd6 47. Nxd6 Rb8 48. Ne4 f6 49. Nxf6 Rb1+ 50. Kh2 Qf4+ 51. Qxf4 exf4 52. Nxd7+ Ke7 53. Nc5 Rb5 54. Ne4 Kd7 55. Rg6 Rb8 56. Rxg5 Ra8 57. Nc5+ Ke7 58. Na4 Kf6 59. h4 Kf7 60. Rf5+ Kg7 61. Rxf4 Rh8 62. Kh3 Kg6 63. g4 Re8 64. h5+ Kh7 65. Rf5 Re1 66. Rxa5 Rh1+ 67. Kg2 Rd1 68. Nc5 Rd5 69. Ra7+ Kh6 70. Ne4 Rb5 71. Kg3 Rb4 72. Nf6 Kg5 73. Ne8 Kh6 74. Rg7 Rxg4+ 75. Rxg4 Kxh5 76. f4 Kh6 77. f5 Kh5 78. Nf6+ Kh6 79. Rg6# 1-0 Round 8 of season 1 qualifying has begun. The crosstable has been updated. Because of the Christmas season, the next update to the crosstable can be expected tomorrow.
With two full rounds left to complete in the qualifying stage, 12 engines remain within a single point of first place. Houdini continues its slow advance from the rear and while it hasn't shown the dominating form most have expected of it, few would be surprised if Houdini was at the top of the list when the qualifying round finishes. Further down the table Gaviota sits on the precipice of either being the top seed in Tier B or a low seed in Tier A for the stage 2 group phase. Surely Gaviota would be one of the favourites should it qualify in Tier B but for that to happen it will need to perform less than admirably against lower-ranked opponents.
Here is today's game showing Critter giving Bouquet its first loss of the qualifying round: [Event "[28] UCECL Season 1 - Round 1 - Qualification and Seeding - (12/15/13)"] [Site "Local computer"] [Date "2013.12.22"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Critter 1.6a 64-bit"] [Black "Bouquet 1.8 x64"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D43"] [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bd6 10. O-O Qe7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Rad1 b5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. Ne4 Bc7 15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Rad8 17. a3 e5 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Be4 a5 20. b4 a4 21. g3 Qe6 22. Bf5 Qb3 23. Qc1 g6 24. Bd7 f5 25. Rd2 Qf7 26. Rfd1 e4 27. Qc3+ Qf6 28. Qxf6+ Rxf6 29. Nh4 Be5 30. f3 Kg7 31. Kf2 Bc3 32. Rd6 Be5 33. R6d2 Bc3 34. Rd6 Be5 35. Rxf6 Kxf6 36. f4 Bc7 37. Ke2 Ba8 38. Rd4 Kf7 39. Rd2 Bb7 40. Rd1 h5 41. Nxf5 gxf5 42. Bxf5 Rxd1 43. Kxd1 Bd8 44. Bxe4 Kg7 45. Kc2 Bf6 46. h3 Kf7 47. Bf5 Bg7 48. Kc1 Ba8 49. Be4 Ke6 50. Bf3 h4 51. Bg4+ Kf7 52. gxh4 Kf6 53. h5 Bb7 54. Kd2 Kf7 55. Kc2 Ke7 56. Bf5 Kf6 57. Be4 Kf7 58. Bf3 Bh6 59. Bg4 Kf8 60. Be6 Bg7 61. h4 Ke7 62. Bh3 Kf7 63. Bf5 Kg8 64. Be6+ Kf8 65. Bg4 Ba8 66. Bf5 Ke7 67. Be4 Bb7 68. Bh1 Bh6 69. Bf3 Kf7 70. Bg4 Bf8 71. Bf5 Bg7 72. Bd7 Ba8 73. Bc8 Ke7 74. Kd3 Bb2 75. h6 Bxa3 76. e4 Bb2 77. e5 Kf7 78. h5 a3 79. Kc2 Kg8 80. Bf5 Bd4 81. Kb3 Bb2 82. h7+ Kg7 83. h6+ Kh8 84. e6 Bf6 85. Bg6 Be7 86. Kxa3 Bb7 87. Be4 Bc8 88. f5 Ba6 89. Bxc6 Kxh7 90. Ba8 Bc8 91. c6 Bd8 92. Bb7 Bd7 93. exd7 Kxh6 94. Ba6 Kg7 95. Bxb5 Kf6 96. Bd3 Ke7 97. b5 Ba5 98. Kb3 Kd6 99. f6 Bb6 100. Kb4 Ke6 101. d8=Q Bxd8 102. Kc5 Kxf6 103. b6 Ke5 104. c7 Bh4 105. b7 Bf2+ 106. Kb5 Ba7 107. b8=Q Bxb8 108. cxb8=Q+ Kd4 109. Qd6+ Ke3 110. Qg3+ Kd2 111. Kc4 Kc1 112. Kc3 Kd1 113. Qg1# 1-0 Round 7 started with a draw as Rybka and Stockfish went 63 moves before adjourning. Presently Critter holds a +1.40 advantage as white in an endgame where Bouquet traded three pawns for white's dark squared bishop. Both engines are in time trouble so it could still go either way. HIARCS and Komodo finally completed their journey back into the top 20 while Houdini battles Deep Junior to try and keep pace with the leaders. The crosstable has been updated and a game from round 7 will be posted tonight once the lead group has played their games
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February 2014
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