|
ROUND 10
MATCH SCHEDULE
|
|
|
037
|
SciSys Rapier
|
1 - 0
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
|
038
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
1/2 - 1/2
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
|
039
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
0 - 1
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
|
040
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
0 - 1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
|
B Y E - Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
|
|
|
MATCH REPORTS
Game 37:
As in game 1, Rapier easily takes care of business against CC 1 in 23 moves. This win keeps Rapier in touch for a promotion place, half a point behind 4th place.
|
|
|
CC1 ABOUT TO LOSE IT’S ROOK
|
|
Poor CC 1 had it hard in this tournament. But still, what can we expect from a machine made in 1977. It is amazing that it can compete at all.
Game 38:
Marauder’s better opening book in this Queen’s Gambit Declined gave it the early advantage it needed in order to jump past Mk 12 into the 4th promotion spot with a win.
|
|
|
MARAUDER WITH A BIG LEAD AFTER 30. Bf3
|
|
Then surprisingly upon entering the end game with a rook and a two pawn advantage, Marauder started to run out of ideas, playing the same pointless and silly moves as seen in previous games from another Fidelity machine the Sensory Voice.
|
|
|
DRAW BY REPETITION?
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|
Mk 12 salvages a draw thanks to Marauders friendly acceptance of a draw by repetition.
Game 39:
Well, after beating Mk 12 in the previous round, Alchemist had it’s feet were firmly planted back on the ground by Saber IV. Saber IV went about it’s business of taking care of it’s opponent in an efficient way, accepting any mistakes that Alchemist might make as a means to speeding up the inevitable end which came after 41 moves. Saber IV stays in 1st place after this win.
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BIG LEAD FOR SABER IV AFTER 19. ... Qd1+
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|
Game 40:
E-chess needed to win this game to stay in touch with Saber IV at the top of the table. Mini CC however did it’s best to make thing difficult for E-chess. It took 42 moves for Mini CC to finally make the error that conceded the points to E-chess.
|
|
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POSITION AFTER 42. Bb6?
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|
Up to this point Mini CC had played a good game with every chance for a draw. E-chess is half a point behind Saber IV.
ROUND 10 TABLE
|
|
POS
|
CONTESTANT
|
GAMES
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
9
|
8.0
|
|
2
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
9
|
7.5
|
|
3
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
8
|
5.0
|
|
4
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
9
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
SciSys Rapier
|
9
|
4.5
|
|
6
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
9
|
4.0
|
|
7
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
9
|
3.0
|
|
8
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
9
|
2.0
|
|
9
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
9
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
E-chess staying close to Saber IV.
ROUND 11
MATCH SCHEDULE
|
|
|
041
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
1 - 0
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
|
042
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
0 - 1
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
|
043
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
1 - 0
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
|
044
|
SciSys Rapier
|
0 - 1
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
|
B Y E - Fidelity Mini C C
|
|
|
|
MATCH REPORTS
Game 41:
Many weaker chess computers have problems with the pawn advance to e5 in an Alekhine Defense game. Alchemist also has this problem and quickly loses it’s Knight after E-chess had chased it around the board.
|
|
|
ALCHEMIST LOSES KNIGHT AFTER 6. ... Ne4?
|
|
For compensation Alchemist did manage to force the white King to the queens side with a short series of checks, but this really did not amount to much and E-chess quickly consolidated the piece advantage and inevitably won the game quite easily.
Game 42:
Marauder played this Sicilian game very well taking a pawn advantage early in the game and not letting up at all throughout the whole game.
|
|
|
MARAUDER A PAWN UP AFTER 16. Nb3
|
|
It is hard to believe how well Marauder played in this game and then compare this to some of the poor endgames it had played in earlier matches. This defeat by Excalibur Saber IV allowed Excalibur E-chess to regain the top spot in this group.
Game 43:
The game lasted 49 moves before Mk 12 finally checkmated CC 1.
|
|
|
CC 1 PAWNS STRUCTURE A MESS ON 13. bxc3
|
|
The result in this game was never really in doubt from the start as Mk 12 ruined CC 1’s pawns structure almost instantly in this game.
Game 44:
Everything was evenly balanced for the first 20 moves. Then on move 21 Rapier played a bad move and was punished by Sensory Voice.
|
|
|
21. g4? IS A BAD MOVE
|
|
This win kept Sensory Voice in 3rd place and at the same time ruined the promotion hopes of SciSys’s only representative in Group A.
.
ROUND 11 TABLE
|
|
POS
|
CONTESTANT
|
GAMES
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
10
|
8.5
|
|
2
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
10
|
8.0
|
|
3
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
9
|
6.0
|
|
4
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
10
|
6.0
|
|
5
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
10
|
5.0
|
|
6
|
SciSys Rapier
|
10
|
4.5
|
|
7
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
9
|
3.0
|
|
8
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
10
|
2.0
|
|
9
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
10
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
E-chess regains top spot!
ROUND 12
MATCH SCHEDULE
|
|
|
045
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
0 - 1
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
|
046
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
1 - 0
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
|
047
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
0 - 1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
|
048
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
1 - 0
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
|
B Y E - SciSys Rapier
|
|
|
|
MATCH REPORTS
Game 45:
Mk 12 lost a piece in the middle game of this battle for 3rd place but then instead using this clear advantage to win the game Sensory Voice kindly returns the favor to Mk 12 on move 41.
|
|
|
MK 12 WINS BACK A PIECE AFTER 41. Nxf7?
|
|
Sensory Voice did keep a two pawn advantage at this stage but with some further bad play it did not take long for Mk 12 to equalize.
|
|
|
WHITE HAS LOST AFTER 50. Rb3+?
|
|
Now the game really fell apart for Sensory Voice with one mistake after another that allowed Mk 12 to checkmate it’s opponent on move 54.
Game 46:
No chance for CC 1. Saber IV notched up another win by quickly demolishing it’s opponent.
|
|
|
BLACK’S POSITION IS A MESS
|
|
With 9 points from 11 games Saber IV was hot on the heels of E-chess, a half-point behind with 5 games left to play in Group A.
Game 47:
Marauder could not repeat it’s Round 11 success against an Excalibur machine. For a brief moment in the middle game it did look like this might happen again.
|
|
|
27. Nf6+? LOSES
|
|
E-chess in a workman like fashion made each move difficult causing little mistakes to appear in Marauder’s game.
Game 48:
Mini CC had the game clearly won after 23 moves of this Queen’s Gambit game.
|
|
|
MINI’S NEXT MOVE 23. ... Rxb3? IS A BAD ONE
|
|
But then makes a horrible mistake which loses a rook and turns the game in favor of Alchemist.
|
|
|
MATE IN 6 AFTER 41. ... Nxg2??
|
|
To make matters worse, after equalizing again on move 41, Mini CC next walks it’s King nicely into a forced checkmate.
ROUND 12 TABLE
|
|
POS
|
CONTESTANT
|
GAMES
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
11
|
9.5
|
|
2
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
11
|
9.0
|
|
3
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
11
|
7.0
|
|
4
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
10
|
6.0
|
|
5
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
11
|
5.0
|
|
6
|
SciSys Rapier
|
10
|
4.5
|
|
7
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
11
|
3.0
|
|
8
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
10
|
3.0
|
|
9
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
11
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
Mk 12 moves back into 3rd place.
ROUND 13
MATCH SCHEDULE
|
|
|
049
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
1/2 - 1/2
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
|
050
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
1 - 0
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
|
051
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
1 - 0
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
|
052
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
1 - 0
|
SciSys Rapier
|
|
B Y E - Saitek Alchemist
|
|
|
|
MATCH REPORTS
Game 49:
A mistake on move 18 by Marauder gives Mini CC the advantage in this long match.
|
|
|
MINI CC AHEAD AFTER 18. ... Ne5?
|
|
Mini CC improved on the advantage until finally after 71 moves the game came to a position in which Mini CC had a King, Bishop and a Rook against Marauder’s King.
|
|
|
MINI CC CANNOT WIN THIS ENDGAME
|
|
It was not surprising that Mini CC did not have the knowledge on how to win this type of end game. The 50 move rule set in on move 120 and the game ended in a draw.
Game 50:
It took only 25 moves for E-chess to assure itself a place in Stage 2 of the tournament with this win against CC 1.
|
|
|
CC 1 SOON TO BE CHECKMATED
|
|
With promotion assured, E-chess could now concentrate on winning Group A.
Game 51:
Sensory Voice incredibly allowed a Bishop and 3 pawn advantage to slip out of it’s grasp and lose this game against Saber IV.
|
|
|
HOW CAN BLACK LOSE THIS GAME?
|
|
Saber IV after this lucky win also qualified for Stage 2 and remained very close on the heels of E-chess.
Game 52:
Mk 12 Trainer successfully converted a pawn advantage into a win and remained in 3rd place after Rapier missed a draw opportunity by not playing 36. ... c5!
|
|
|
RAPIER PLAYS 36. ... e3? and loses
|
|
Mk 12 required only 1.1/2 points from it’s last 4 games to qualify for Stage 2.
.
ROUND 13 TABLE
|
|
POS
|
CONTESTANT
|
GAMES
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
12
|
10.5
|
|
2
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
12
|
10.0
|
|
3
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
12
|
8.0
|
|
4
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
11
|
6.0
|
|
5
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
12
|
5.5
|
|
6
|
SciSys Rapier
|
11
|
4.5
|
|
7
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
11
|
3.5
|
|
8
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
11
|
3.0
|
|
9
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
12
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
The top two have qualified for Stage 2.
ROUND 14
MATCH SCHEDULE
|
|
|
053
|
SciSys Rapier
|
0 - 1
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
|
054
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
0 - 1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
|
055
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
1/2 - 1/2
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
|
056
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
1 - 0
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
|
B Y E - Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
|
|
|
MATCH REPORTS
Game 53:
Rapier ended up losing after leading by a Bishop and 2 pawns.
|
|
|
RAPIER LOSES FROM THIS WON POSITION
|
|
This was a very fortunate win for Saber IV after some really bad play from Rapier in a won position.
Game 54:
Losing this match seriously jeopardized Sensory Voice’s promotion chances. Sensory Voice never recovered after getting behind early in this Bird’s Opening game.
|
|
|
SENSORY VOICE BEHIND AFTER 12. Nf3
|
|
Marauder replaced Sensory Voice in 4th place. This would be a major upset if Sensory Voice a pre-tournament favorite failed to make it to the next stage. E-chess remained top narrowly ahead of Saber IV.
Game 55:
History might have been in the making with CC 1 almost beating Mini CC in this match. With the game virtually won, CC 1’s technical failure to convert a pawn’s promotion to a Queen on move 53, stopped this historic event from happening.
|
|
|
CC 1 SO NEAR TO WINNING A GAME!
|
|
A draw had to be adjudicated due to technical failure.
Game 56:
A comfortable win in this Hungarian Defense against Alchemist gave Marauder the 4th promotion spot in Group A with 3 games left to play.
|
|
|
ALREADY A BIG LEAD FOR WHITE AFTER 9. ... Bxf2+?
|
|
Marauder, now 1/2 point ahead of Sensory Voice increased expectations for an exciting finale in the fight for the final promotion place in Group A.
.
ROUND 14 TABLE
|
|
POS
|
CONTESTANT
|
GAMES
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Excalibur E-chess
|
13
|
11.5
|
|
2
|
Excalibur Saber IV
|
13
|
11.0
|
|
3
|
Saitek Mk 12 Trainer
|
12
|
8.0
|
|
4
|
Fidelity Marauder
|
13
|
6.5
|
|
5
|
Fidelity C C Sensory Voice
|
12
|
6.0
|
|
6
|
SciSys Rapier
|
12
|
4.5
|
|
7
|
Fidelity Mini C C
|
12
|
4.0
|
|
8
|
Saitek Alchemist
|
12
|
3.0
|
|
9
|
Fidelity Chess Challenger 1
|
13
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
Marauder in a promotion spot for the first time.!
|
