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Computer Chess Programs Vie "Live" For World Championship

Posted by Soulskill on from the too-bad-deep-blue-moved-to-iceland dept.

Alex Laburu writes "The 17th World Computer Chess Championship is taking place in Pamplona through the 18th of May. As of this writing, Rybka (winner of the last two editions) is ahead of the pack and playing Shredder to consolidate its lead over Junior. You can watch the games live or otherwise follow the tournament asynchronously on the standings page, where you'll also find information about the hardware used by various teams."

10 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. The World's Greatest Spectator Sport by GreenTech11 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Better than lawnbowls AND curling, chess played by computers is the most popular spectator sport...

    --
    Laughter is the best medicine, except if you have a broken rib.
    1. Re:The World's Greatest Spectator Sport by RsG · · Score: 2, Funny

      chess played by computers is the most popular spectator sport...

      Until they become self aware that is.

      The old movies got it wrong. Skynet is going to go live after being entrusted to win chess games for its human masters. It will unleash pawnageddon upon us all.

      Fortunately, the robots created to round up humanity will be easily bested. They'll line up, and move in grids, and they'll patiently wait for us to take our turn.

      --
      Erotic is when you use a feather. Exotic is when you use the whole chicken.
    2. Re:The World's Greatest Spectator Sport by Jeden · · Score: 2, Funny

      If the Sarah Connor Chronicles has taught me nothing else, it is that chess programs are bad news.

    3. Re:The World's Greatest Spectator Sport by kandela · · Score: 2, Funny

      It'd be better if it was Battlechess 3D.

      --
      Conservation of angular momentum makes the world go round.
    4. Re:The World's Greatest Spectator Sport by eennaarbrak · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, there is a complete lack of tension. Watching sport (to me at least) is a lot about how players use psychological maneuvers to get their opponent to make a mistake (or do something they would not usually do).

      Just imagine the commentary on a comp vs comp chess game:

      Jim: Comp1 just made the most optimal move under the constraints of its x-heuristics algorithm ...
      Joe: I agree Jim. He must be trying to optimize the variables of his problem.
      Jim: I see comp2 is taking his time choosing between two different but equally scoring outcomes. I wonder if the random number generator used is pseudo or quasi-random?

    5. Re:The World's Greatest Spectator Sport by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I don't speak mexican.

  2. Haha by KWarp · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is the nerdiest sport ever. :D

  3. A history of gaming and entertainment by jonaskoelker · · Score: 4, Funny

    First, we played games.

    Then, we watched other people play games, and we played computer games.

    Next, we watched other people play computer games.

    And now, eliminating all human-to-human interaction, we watch computers play games.

    Who called us antisocial? ;-) Oh well, king's gambit ftw, rock out with your pawn out, good luck... "ladies and gentlemen"? Or is it "Nuts and Bolts"? "Plugs and Jacks"?

    1. Re:A history of gaming and entertainment by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

      And now, eliminating all human-to-human interaction, we watch computers play games.

      Well, we can still watch people program computers to play games, can't we?

      " . . . and the programmer seems to be reaching for a pointer . . . what an exciting programming round!"

      If we add blood and free bread, it might be a hit with the masses.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    2. Re:A history of gaming and entertainment by JamesP · · Score: 2, Funny

      Are you saying what we need now is a computer programmed to watch a computer chess match?!?!

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      how long until /. fixes commenting on Chrome?