Next Komodo match

[lkaufman]

The next scheduled Komodo vs. human match is set for Sept. 7 and 8 on chess.com. The opponent is chess.com vice-president IM Daniel Rensch, FIDE 2388, USCF 2494, born 1985. Although he is "only" an IM, not a GM, he has tremendous experience playing against computers live on chess.com, both with and without handicaps. This will be a self-commented match, like the ones by GMs Hess, Williams, Benjamin, and Perelshteyn, so the time limit is 45 min plus 30 sec increment. Four game match, four different handicaps.
Because the GMs haven't won a game since the very first match except for a single win by Simon Williams at pawn (f7) and three moves, we are going to be more generous with Danny. One game will be at that pawn and three move handicap which was only tried in that game. One game will be at the handicap of the two worst pawns to give, f2 and g2, which virtually rules out kingside castling. One game will be at knight (g1) for pawn (f7). The fourth will be at odds of the Exchange AND a pawn, White removes a1 rook and a2 pawn, Black removes b8 knight and moves Rook over to b8. None of these last three handicaps have ever been tried in a serious game to my knowledge.
Since players roughly in the 2100 to 2200 FIDE strength scored 75% at knight odds, the above handicaps seem reasonably generous for a nearly 2400 FIDE opponent with lots of experience playing engines. How will Komodo fare this time?

[lkaufman]

This match has been indefinitely postponed due to family illness of the player.

[TShackel]

This match has been indefinitely postponed due to family illness of the player.

Shoot. That's disappointing. Keep up the good work with potential matches. Waiting for the Garry Kasparov match.....grin. I'll contribute a million dollars.

Sincerely,

Tim Shackel.