2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)

Discussion of computer chess matches and engine tournaments.

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goni-K26
Posts: 322
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:16 pm
Full name: Agron Kovaci

Chess Engine Champions League - League Phase - Matchday 8

Post by goni-K26 »

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)

League Phase - Matchday 8 - The final night

Eighteen games at the same time, every place still open - and White took over again: twelve home wins, six draws, no away win.
Spotlight: Viridithas (Man City) 1-0 Clover (Sporting CP)
Clover led the table after Matchdays 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 - and lost its first and only game on the last night. From first to sixth in one game. The engine that beat it: Viridithas, who had started the league phase with a defeat and now takes the last direct ticket to the round of 16. PlentyChess (Paris) beat Eleanor (Galatasaray) and wins the league phase.
Opening 8: Queen's Pawn, Modern Queen's Pawn Defense - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.Qc2 d6 5.e4 e5 6.d5 Be7

RESULTS - MATCHDAY 8

Code: Select all

+-----+----------------------------+-------+----------------------------+-------+
|  #  | Home (White)               | Score | Away (Black)               | Plies |
+-----+----------------------------+-------+----------------------------+-------+
|  01 | Velvet (Napoli)            | 1 - 0 | Marvin (Viking)            |    98 |
|  02 | Stormphrax (Barcelona)     | 1 - 0 | Oxide (Como)               |    94 |
|  03 | PlentyChess (Paris)        | 1 - 0 | Eleanor (Galatasaray)      |   102 |
|  04 | Heimdall (Feyenoord)       | 1 - 0 | Rebel (Leipzig)            |   178 |
|  05 | Hobbes (B. Dortmund)       | 1 - 0 | Pawn (AEK Athens)          |   118 |
|  06 | Minic (LASK)               | 0 - 0 | Renegade (Porto)           |   148 |
|  07 | Black Marlin (Shakhtar)    | 0 - 0 | Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)   |    78 |
|  08 | Alexandria (Atleti)        | 1 - 0 | RofChade (Fenerbahce)      |   152 |
|  09 | RubiChess (Club Brugge)    | 1 - 0 | Revenge (Bodo/Glimt)       |   176 |
|  10 | Obsidian (Arsenal)         | 1 - 0 | Nemorino (Sabah)           |   100 |
|  11 | Koivisto (Villarreal)      | 0 - 0 | Igel (Man Utd)             |   284 |
|  12 | Akimbo (Slavia Praha)      | 0 - 0 | Motor (Aston Villa)        |    90 |
|  13 | Reckless (Bayern)          | 1 - 0 | Starzix (Real Betis)       |   128 |
|  14 | Astra (Roma)               | 0 - 0 | Booot (Lille)              |   223 |
|  15 | Texel (S. Bratislava)      | 0 - 0 | Caissa (Inter)             |   192 |
|  16 | Tcheran (PSV)              | 1 - 0 | Equisetum (Stuttgart)      |   100 |
|  17 | Integral (Liverpool)       | 1 - 0 | Houdini (Lens)             |   124 |
|  18 | Viridithas (Man City)      | 1 - 0 | Clover (Sporting CP)       |   134 |
+-----+----------------------------+-------+----------------------------+-------+
Matchday 8: 12 home wins, 6 draws, 0 away wins - 12 goals - playing time 2:48:41 (avg 09:22 per game)

LEAGUE PHASE TABLE AFTER MATCHDAY 8
Places 1-8: round of 16 - places 9-24: knockout play-off - places 25-36: eliminated.

Code: Select all

+-----+----------------------------+---+---+---+---+-------+----+-----+
| Pos | Engine (Club)              | P | W | D | L | GF-GA | GD | Pts |
+-----+----------------------------+---+---+---+---+-------+----+-----+
|   1 | PlentyChess (Paris)        | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |  5-1  | +4 |  17 |
|   2 | Integral (Liverpool)       | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |  4-0  | +4 |  16 |
|   3 | Reckless (Bayern)          | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |  4-0  | +4 |  16 |
|   4 | Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)   | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |  4-0  | +4 |  16 |
|   5 | Stormphrax (Barcelona)     | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 |  4-1  | +3 |  15 |
|   6 | Clover (Sporting CP)       | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 |  4-1  | +3 |  15 |
|   7 | RubiChess (Club Brugge)    | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 |  4-1  | +3 |  15 |
|   8 | Viridithas (Man City)      | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 |  4-1  | +3 |  15 |
+-----+----------------------------+---+---+---+---+-------+----+-----+
|   9 | Renegade (Porto)           | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 |  3-0  | +3 |  14 |
|  10 | Hobbes (B. Dortmund)       | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 |  3-1  | +2 |  13 |
|  11 | Caissa (Inter)             | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 |  3-1  | +2 |  13 |
|  12 | Obsidian (Arsenal)         | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 |  3-1  | +2 |  13 |
|  13 | Starzix (Real Betis)       | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 |  3-2  | +1 |  12 |
|  14 | Tcheran (PSV)              | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 |  2-1  | +1 |  11 |
|  15 | Alexandria (Atleti)        | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 |  2-1  | +1 |  11 |
|  16 | Igel (Man Utd)             | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 |  2-1  | +1 |  11 |
|  17 | Motor (Aston Villa)        | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 |  2-2  | +0 |  10 |
|  18 | Eleanor (Galatasaray)      | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 |  2-2  | +0 |  10 |
|  19 | Astra (Roma)               | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 |  1-1  | +0 |   9 |
|  20 | Velvet (Napoli)            | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 |  2-3  | -1 |   9 |
|  21 | Heimdall (Feyenoord)       | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 |  2-3  | -1 |   9 |
|  22 | Revenge (Bodo/Glimt)       | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 |  1-2  | -1 |   8 |
|  23 | Koivisto (Villarreal)      | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 |  1-2  | -1 |   8 |
|  24 | Black Marlin (Shakhtar)    | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 |  1-2  | -1 |   8 |
+-----+----------------------------+---+---+---+---+-------+----+-----+
|  25 | Akimbo (Slavia Praha)      | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 |  1-2  | -1 |   8 |
|  26 | Booot (Lille)              | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 |  0-1  | -1 |   7 |
|  27 | Pawn (AEK Athens)          | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 |  1-3  | -2 |   7 |
|  28 | Marvin (Viking)            | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 |  1-3  | -2 |   7 |
|  29 | Minic (LASK)               | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 |  1-4  | -3 |   6 |
|  30 | Oxide (Como)               | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 |  0-3  | -3 |   5 |
|  31 | Rebel (Leipzig)            | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 |  0-3  | -3 |   5 |
|  32 | Equisetum (Stuttgart)      | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 |  0-3  | -3 |   5 |
|  33 | RofChade (Fenerbahce)      | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 |  0-3  | -3 |   5 |
|  34 | Houdini (Lens)             | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 |  0-4  | -4 |   4 |
|  35 | Texel (S. Bratislava)      | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 |  0-4  | -4 |   4 |
|  36 | Nemorino (Sabah)           | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 |  0-7  | -7 |   1 |
+-----+----------------------------+---+---+---+---+-------+----+-----+
PlentyChess (Paris) wins the league phase with 17 points. Integral, Reckless and Pawnocchio finish unbeaten with 16. Akimbo (Slavia Praha) misses the play-off on the tie-break against Black Marlin (Shakhtar).

Tie-breakers (UEFA): points, goal difference, goals scored, away goals, wins, away wins, opponents' points, opponents' goal difference, opponents' goals, Elo.

Download PGN: CECL2026_MD8.pgn

Tournament Setup
_________________________________________

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goni-K26
Posts: 322
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Full name: Agron Kovaci

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (Knockout Phase Play-off)

Post by goni-K26 »

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)

Knockout Phase Play-off

Sixteen engines, eight ties, one ticket each to the round of 16. The draw (seeded within the UEFA pairs 9/10-23/24, 11/12-21/22, 13/14-19/20, 15/16-17/18) produced eight ties - and the Modern Defense turned the second leg into a home fortress: six of the eight ties were decided by the seeded engine winning with White.
Spotlight: Astra (Roma) 1-0 Starzix (Real Betis)
The only unseeded engine to go through in normal time. Astra won the first leg with White and held the return leg level after 300 plies. And in extra time Alexandria (Atleti) was merciless: 5-0 against Motor (Aston Villa), five wins in ten bullet games.
Format: Two legs, one game per leg, Modern Defense (opening 3) in both legs. Leg 1: unseeded engine White - leg 2: seeded engine White (the return leg at home). Level after two legs: extra time, 10 games at 9s + 0.1s (5 openings x 2 colours, the extra-time openings of the 2026-CENL); still level: penalties, 10 games at 2s + 0.1s, then sudden-death pairs.

RESULTS

Code: Select all

-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
  #  | Unseeded                   | Leg 1 | Leg 2 | Seeded                     | Aggregate    | Through
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
   1 | Koivisto (Villarreal)      | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Renegade (Porto)           | 0 - 1        | Renegade
   2 | Black Marlin (Shakhtar)    | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Hobbes (B. Dortmund)       | 0 - 1        | Hobbes
   3 | Revenge (Bodo/Glimt)       | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Caissa (Inter)             | 0 - 1        | Caissa
   4 | Heimdall (Feyenoord)       | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Obsidian (Arsenal)         | 0 - 1        | Obsidian
   5 | Astra (Roma)               | 1 - 0 | 0 - 0 | Starzix (Real Betis)       | 1 - 0        | Astra
   6 | Velvet (Napoli)            | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Tcheran (PSV)              | 0 - 1        | Tcheran
   7 | Motor (Aston Villa)        | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 | Alexandria (Atleti)        | 0 - 0 ET 0-5 | Alexandria
   8 | Eleanor (Galatasaray)      | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 | Igel (Man Utd)             | 0 - 0 ET 1-3 | Igel
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
Extra time: Motor (Aston Villa) vs Alexandria (Atleti) - Alexandria wins 5-0

Code: Select all

  ET | White                | Result  | Black                | Running score (Motor - Alexandria)
-----|----------------------|---------|----------------------|------------------------
   1 | Motor                | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 0 - 0
   2 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | Motor                | 0 - 1
   3 | Motor                | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 0 - 1
   4 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | Motor                | 0 - 2
   5 | Motor                | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 0 - 2
   6 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | Motor                | 0 - 3
   7 | Motor                | 0-1     | Alexandria           | 0 - 4
   8 | Alexandria           | 1/2-1/2 | Motor                | 0 - 4
   9 | Motor                | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 0 - 4
  10 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | Motor                | 0 - 5
Extra time: Eleanor (Galatasaray) vs Igel (Man Utd) - Igel wins 3-1

Code: Select all

  ET | White                | Result  | Black                | Running score (Eleanor - Igel)
-----|----------------------|---------|----------------------|------------------------
   1 | Eleanor              | 1/2-1/2 | Igel                 | 0 - 0
   2 | Igel                 | 1/2-1/2 | Eleanor              | 0 - 0
   3 | Eleanor              | 1-0     | Igel                 | 1 - 0
   4 | Igel                 | 1-0     | Eleanor              | 1 - 1
   5 | Eleanor              | 1/2-1/2 | Igel                 | 1 - 1
   6 | Igel                 | 1-0     | Eleanor              | 1 - 2
   7 | Eleanor              | 1/2-1/2 | Igel                 | 1 - 2
   8 | Igel                 | 1/2-1/2 | Eleanor              | 1 - 2
   9 | Eleanor              | 1/2-1/2 | Igel                 | 1 - 2
  10 | Igel                 | 1-0     | Eleanor              | 1 - 3
Download PGN: CECL2026_Playoff.pgn
Download PGN: CECL2026_Playoff(extra time).pgn

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goni-K26
Posts: 322
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:16 pm
Full name: Agron Kovaci

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (Round of 16)

Post by goni-K26 »

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)

Round of 16

The top 8 of the league phase enter the stage - and two of them leave at once. The draw followed the fixed UEFA bracket: places 1/2 against the winners of the 15/16-17/18 play-off ties, 3/4 against 13/14-19/20, 5/6 against 11/12-21/22, 7/8 against 9/10-23/24.
Spotlight: Alexandria (Atleti) 3-2 PlentyChess (Paris) after extra time
The winner of the league phase is out. Two goalless legs, then a bullet thriller: Alexandria led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, PlentyChess equalised twice, and Alexandria's third win came with White in ET9. Caissa (Inter) beat Clover (Sporting CP) 3-2 after extra time as well, Obsidian (Arsenal) knocked out Stormphrax (Barcelona) with a 37-move win, and Renegade (Porto) beat RubiChess (Club Brugge) - still unbeaten in the whole competition.
Format: Two legs, one game per leg, Modern Defense (opening 3) in both legs. Leg 1: unseeded engine White - leg 2: seeded engine White (the return leg at home). Level after two legs: extra time, 10 games at 9s + 0.1s (5 openings x 2 colours, the extra-time openings of the 2026-CENL); still level: penalties, 10 games at 2s + 0.1s, then sudden-death pairs.

RESULTS

Code: Select all

-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
  #  | Unseeded                   | Leg 1 | Leg 2 | Seeded                     | Aggregate    | Through
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
   1 | Alexandria (Atleti)        | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 | PlentyChess (Paris)        | 0 - 0 ET 3-2 | Alexandria
   2 | Igel (Man Utd)             | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Integral (Liverpool)       | 0 - 1        | Integral
   3 | Astra (Roma)               | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Reckless (Bayern)          | 0 - 1        | Reckless
   4 | Tcheran (PSV)              | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)   | 0 - 1        | Pawnocchio
   5 | Obsidian (Arsenal)         | 1 - 0 | 0 - 0 | Stormphrax (Barcelona)     | 1 - 0        | Obsidian
   6 | Caissa (Inter)             | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 | Clover (Sporting CP)       | 0 - 0 ET 3-2 | Caissa
   7 | Renegade (Porto)           | 1 - 0 | 0 - 0 | RubiChess (Club Brugge)    | 1 - 0        | Renegade
   8 | Hobbes (B. Dortmund)       | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Viridithas (Man City)      | 0 - 1        | Viridithas
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
Extra time: Alexandria (Atleti) vs PlentyChess (Paris) - Alexandria wins 3-2

Code: Select all

  ET | White                | Result  | Black                | Running score (Alexandria - PlentyChess)
-----|----------------------|---------|----------------------|------------------------
   1 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | PlentyChess          | 1 - 0
   2 | PlentyChess          | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 1 - 0
   3 | Alexandria           | 1/2-1/2 | PlentyChess          | 1 - 0
   4 | PlentyChess          | 1-0     | Alexandria           | 1 - 1
   5 | Alexandria           | 1/2-1/2 | PlentyChess          | 1 - 1
   6 | PlentyChess          | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 1 - 1
   7 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | PlentyChess          | 2 - 1
   8 | PlentyChess          | 1-0     | Alexandria           | 2 - 2
   9 | Alexandria           | 1-0     | PlentyChess          | 3 - 2
  10 | PlentyChess          | 1/2-1/2 | Alexandria           | 3 - 2
Extra time: Caissa (Inter) vs Clover (Sporting CP) - Caissa wins 3-2

Code: Select all

  ET | White                | Result  | Black                | Running score (Caissa - Clover)
-----|----------------------|---------|----------------------|------------------------
   1 | Caissa               | 1-0     | Clover               | 1 - 0
   2 | Clover               | 1/2-1/2 | Caissa               | 1 - 0
   3 | Caissa               | 1/2-1/2 | Clover               | 1 - 0
   4 | Clover               | 1/2-1/2 | Caissa               | 1 - 0
   5 | Caissa               | 1-0     | Clover               | 2 - 0
   6 | Clover               | 1-0     | Caissa               | 2 - 1
   7 | Caissa               | 1-0     | Clover               | 3 - 1
   8 | Clover               | 1/2-1/2 | Caissa               | 3 - 1
   9 | Caissa               | 1/2-1/2 | Clover               | 3 - 1
  10 | Clover               | 1-0     | Caissa               | 3 - 2
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL

Code: Select all

ROUND OF 16                           QUARTER-FINALS               SEMI-FINALS     FINAL

PlentyChess (Paris)      0-0 ET 2-3 --+
                                      +-- Alexandria -------------+
Alexandria (Atleti) ------------------+                           |
                                                                  +-- QF1 winner -+
Viridithas (Man City)           1-0 --+                           |               |
                                      +-- Viridithas -------------+               |
Hobbes (B. Dortmund) -----------------+                                           |
                                                                                  +-- SF1 winner -+
Reckless (Bayern)               1-0 --+                                           |               |
                                      +-- Reckless ---------------+               |               |
Astra (Roma) -------------------------+                           |               |               |
                                                                  +-- QF2 winner -+               |
Clover (Sporting CP)     0-0 ET 2-3 --+                           |                               |
                                      +-- Caissa -----------------+                               |
Caissa (Inter) -----------------------+                                                           |
                                                                                                  +-- CHAMPION
Integral (Liverpool)            1-0 --+                                                           |
                                      +-- Integral ---------------+                               |
Igel (Man Utd) -----------------------+                           |                               |
                                                                  +-- QF3 winner -+               |
RubiChess (Club Brugge)         0-1 --+                           |               |               |
                                      +-- Renegade ---------------+               |               |
Renegade (Porto) ---------------------+                                           |               |
                                                                                  +-- SF2 winner -+
Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)        1-0 --+                                           |
                                      +-- Pawnocchio -------------+               |
Tcheran (PSV) ------------------------+                           |               |
                                                                  +-- QF4 winner -+
Stormphrax (Barcelona)          0-1 --+                           |
                                      +-- Obsidian ---------------+
Obsidian (Arsenal) -------------------+
Download PGN: CECL2026_Round of 16.pgn
Download PGN: CECL2026_Round of 16(Extra Time).pgn

_________________________________________

League Phase: Knockout Phase:
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goni-K26
Posts: 322
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:16 pm
Full name: Agron Kovaci

Chess Engine Champions League (Quarter-finals)

Post by goni-K26 »

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)

Quarter-finals

Four ties, no extra time - and three times the seeded engine went through by winning the return leg with White.
Spotlight: Obsidian (Arsenal) 1-0 Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)
The 2026-CENL champion is out. Obsidian won the first leg with White in 198 plies and survived 240 plies in the return leg - its second knockout of a big favourite after Stormphrax. Viridithas (Man City) beat Alexandria (Atleti), Reckless (Bayern) beat Caissa (Inter) and Integral (Liverpool) ended Renegade's (Porto) unbeaten run.
Format: Two legs, one game per leg, Modern Defense (opening 3) in both legs. Leg 1: unseeded engine White - leg 2: seeded engine White (the return leg at home). Level after two legs: extra time, 10 games at 9s + 0.1s (5 openings x 2 colours, the extra-time openings of the 2026-CENL); still level: penalties, 10 games at 2s + 0.1s, then sudden-death pairs.

RESULTS

Code: Select all

-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
  #  | Unseeded                   | Leg 1 | Leg 2 | Seeded                     | Aggregate    | Through
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
   1 | Alexandria (Atleti)        | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Viridithas (Man City)      | 0 - 1        | Viridithas
   2 | Caissa (Inter)             | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Reckless (Bayern)          | 0 - 1        | Reckless
   3 | Renegade (Porto)           | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Integral (Liverpool)       | 0 - 1        | Integral
   4 | Obsidian (Arsenal)         | 1 - 0 | 0 - 0 | Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)   | 1 - 0        | Obsidian
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL

Code: Select all

ROUND OF 16                           QUARTER-FINALS               SEMI-FINALS     FINAL

PlentyChess (Paris)      0-0 ET 2-3 --+
                                      +-- Alexandria -------------+
Alexandria (Atleti) ------------------+                           |
                                                                  +-- Viridithas -+
Viridithas (Man City)           1-0 --+                           |               |
                                      +-- Viridithas -------------+               |
Hobbes (B. Dortmund) -----------------+                                           |
                                                                                  +-- SF1 winner -+
Reckless (Bayern)               1-0 --+                                           |               |
                                      +-- Reckless ---------------+               |               |
Astra (Roma) -------------------------+                           |               |               |
                                                                  +-- Reckless ---+               |
Clover (Sporting CP)     0-0 ET 2-3 --+                           |                               |
                                      +-- Caissa -----------------+                               |
Caissa (Inter) -----------------------+                                                           |
                                                                                                  +-- CHAMPION
Integral (Liverpool)            1-0 --+                                                           |
                                      +-- Integral ---------------+                               |
Igel (Man Utd) -----------------------+                           |                               |
                                                                  +-- Integral ---+               |
RubiChess (Club Brugge)         0-1 --+                           |               |               |
                                      +-- Renegade ---------------+               |               |
Renegade (Porto) ---------------------+                                           |               |
                                                                                  +-- SF2 winner -+
Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)        1-0 --+                                           |
                                      +-- Pawnocchio -------------+               |
Tcheran (PSV) ------------------------+                           |               |
                                                                  +-- Obsidian ---+
Stormphrax (Barcelona)          0-1 --+                           |
                                      +-- Obsidian ---------------+
Obsidian (Arsenal) -------------------+
Download PGN: CECL2026_Quarter-finals.pgn

_________________________________________

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goni-K26
Posts: 322
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:16 pm
Full name: Agron Kovaci

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (Quarter-finals)

Post by goni-K26 »

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)
Semi-finals

One semi-final decided in normal time, one in extra time.
Spotlight: Viridithas (Man City) 2-1 Reckless (Bayern) after extra time
Viridithas won the first leg with White, Reckless answered with White in the return leg. Four draws opened the extra time, then Viridithas scored in ET5, Reckless equalised in ET8 with a 33-move win, and Viridithas struck again in ET9. The number 1 on the rating list is out. In the other semi-final Obsidian (Arsenal) held Integral (Liverpool) for 142 moves with White, but Integral won the return leg - promoting on g8 and mating.
Format: Two legs, one game per leg, Modern Defense (opening 3) in both legs. Leg 1: unseeded engine White - leg 2: seeded engine White (the return leg at home). Level after two legs: extra time, 10 games at 9s + 0.1s (5 openings x 2 colours, the extra-time openings of the 2026-CENL); still level: penalties, 10 games at 2s + 0.1s, then sudden-death pairs.

RESULTS

Code: Select all

-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
  #  | Unseeded                   | Leg 1 | Leg 2 | Seeded                     | Aggregate    | Through
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
   1 | Viridithas (Man City)      | 1 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Reckless (Bayern)          | 1 - 1 ET 2-1 | Viridithas
   2 | Obsidian (Arsenal)         | 0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | Integral (Liverpool)       | 0 - 1        | Integral
-----|----------------------------|-------|-------|----------------------------|--------------|------------
Extra time: Viridithas (Man City) vs Reckless (Bayern) - Viridithas wins 2-1

Code: Select all

  ET | White                | Result  | Black                | Running score (Viridithas - Reckless)
-----|----------------------|---------|----------------------|------------------------
   1 | Viridithas           | 1/2-1/2 | Reckless             | 0 - 0
   2 | Reckless             | 1/2-1/2 | Viridithas           | 0 - 0
   3 | Viridithas           | 1/2-1/2 | Reckless             | 0 - 0
   4 | Reckless             | 1/2-1/2 | Viridithas           | 0 - 0
   5 | Viridithas           | 1-0     | Reckless             | 1 - 0
   6 | Reckless             | 1/2-1/2 | Viridithas           | 1 - 0
   7 | Viridithas           | 1/2-1/2 | Reckless             | 1 - 0
   8 | Reckless             | 1-0     | Viridithas           | 1 - 1
   9 | Viridithas           | 1-0     | Reckless             | 2 - 1
  10 | Reckless             | 1/2-1/2 | Viridithas           | 2 - 1
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL

Code: Select all

ROUND OF 16                           QUARTER-FINALS               SEMI-FINALS     FINAL

PlentyChess (Paris)      0-0 ET 2-3 --+
                                      +-- Alexandria -------------+
Alexandria (Atleti) ------------------+                           |
                                                                  +-- Viridithas -+
Viridithas (Man City)           1-0 --+                           |               |
                                      +-- Viridithas -------------+               |
Hobbes (B. Dortmund) -----------------+                                           |
                                                                                  +-- Viridithas -+
Reckless (Bayern)               1-0 --+                                           |               |
                                      +-- Reckless ---------------+               |               |
Astra (Roma) -------------------------+                           |               |               |
                                                                  +-- Reckless ---+               |
Clover (Sporting CP)     0-0 ET 2-3 --+                           |                               |
                                      +-- Caissa -----------------+                               |
Caissa (Inter) -----------------------+                                                           |
                                                                                                  +-- CHAMPION
Integral (Liverpool)            1-0 --+                                                           |
                                      +-- Integral ---------------+                               |
Igel (Man Utd) -----------------------+                           |                               |
                                                                  +-- Integral ---+               |
RubiChess (Club Brugge)         0-1 --+                           |               |               |
                                      +-- Renegade ---------------+               |               |
Renegade (Porto) ---------------------+                                           |               |
                                                                                  +-- Integral ---+
Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)        1-0 --+                                           |
                                      +-- Pawnocchio -------------+               |
Tcheran (PSV) ------------------------+                           |               |
                                                                  +-- Obsidian ---+
Stormphrax (Barcelona)          0-1 --+                           |
                                      +-- Obsidian ---------------+
Obsidian (Arsenal) -------------------+
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goni-K26
Posts: 322
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:16 pm
Full name: Agron Kovaci

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (Final: Viridithas vs Integral)

Post by goni-K26 »

2026 - Chess Engine Champions League (UEFA Champions League Mirror)
The Final - Final Report

VIRIDITHAS 20.0.0 (MANCHESTER CITY) - 2026-CECL CHAMPION!

Eight games at 3m + 2s, four openings, each played with both colours,Viridithas with White in the first game of every pair. Viridithas (Man City) beat Integral (Liverpool) 4.5 - 3.5 - three goals to two - in an all-English final.

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  #  | White                | Result  | Black                | Opening                 | Goals V-I | Points V-I
-----|----------------------|---------|----------------------|-------------------------|-----------|-----------
   1 | Viridithas           | 1-0     | Integral             | 1 Owen                  |   1 - 0   | 1 - 0
   2 | Integral             | 1-0     | Viridithas           | 1 Owen                  |   1 - 1   | 1 - 1
   3 | Viridithas           | 1-0     | Integral             | 3 Modern                |   2 - 1   | 2 - 1
   4 | Integral             | 1/2-1/2 | Viridithas           | 3 Modern                |   2 - 1   | 2.5 - 1.5
   5 | Viridithas           | 1-0     | Integral             | 8 QP b6                 |   3 - 1   | 3.5 - 1.5
   6 | Integral             | 1/2-1/2 | Viridithas           | 8 QP b6                 |   3 - 1   | 4 - 2
   7 | Viridithas           | 1/2-1/2 | Integral             | 5 KID 3.f3              |   3 - 1   | 4.5 - 2.5
   8 | Integral             | 1-0     | Viridithas           | 5 KID 3.f3              |   3 - 2   | 4.5 - 3.5
How the final was won
Viridithas won all three of its first White games - Owen, Modern and the Queen's Pawn with ...b6 - and led 3-1 in goals after six games. A draw with White in game 7 was enough: the title was secure before the last game. Integral's win in game 8 only made it 4.5 - 3.5. Game 1 was Integral's first defeat of the whole competition, after 8 league games and 6 knockout games without a loss.
THE ROAD TO THE TITLE

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 League phase   | 8th, 15 points - the last direct ticket (lost MD1 to Renegade, beat Clover on MD8)
 Round of 16    | Hobbes (Dortmund)        0-0, 1-0
 Quarter-final  | Alexandria (Atleti)      0-0, 1-0
 Semi-final     | Reckless (Bayern)        1-0, 0-1, extra time 2-1
 Final          | Integral (Liverpool)     4.5 - 3.5
FINAL BRACKET

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ROUND OF 16                           QUARTER-FINALS               SEMI-FINALS     FINAL

PlentyChess (Paris)      0-0 ET 2-3 --+
                                      +-- Alexandria -------------+
Alexandria (Atleti) ------------------+                           |
                                                                  +-- Viridithas -+
Viridithas (Man City)           1-0 --+                           |               |
                                      +-- Viridithas -------------+               |
Hobbes (B. Dortmund) -----------------+                                           |
                                                                                  +-- Viridithas -+
Reckless (Bayern)               1-0 --+                                           |               |
                                      +-- Reckless ---------------+               |               |
Astra (Roma) -------------------------+                           |               |               |
                                                                  +-- Reckless ---+               |
Clover (Sporting CP)     0-0 ET 2-3 --+                           |                               |
                                      +-- Caissa -----------------+                               |
Caissa (Inter) -----------------------+                                                           |
                                                                                                  +-- VIRIDITHAS (Man City)
Integral (Liverpool)            1-0 --+                                                           |
                                      +-- Integral ---------------+                               |
Igel (Man Utd) -----------------------+                           |                               |
                                                                  +-- Integral ---+               |
RubiChess (Club Brugge)         0-1 --+                           |               |               |
                                      +-- Renegade ---------------+               |               |
Renegade (Porto) ---------------------+                                           |               |
                                                                                  +-- Integral ---+
Pawnocchio (Real Madrid)        1-0 --+                                           |
                                      +-- Pawnocchio -------------+               |
Tcheran (PSV) ------------------------+                           |               |
                                                                  +-- Obsidian ---+
Stormphrax (Barcelona)          0-1 --+                           |
                                      +-- Obsidian ---------------+
Obsidian (Arsenal) -------------------+
FINAL RANKING

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  1   | Viridithas 20.0.0    | Manchester City   | CHAMPION
  2   | Integral 8.0         | Liverpool         | runner-up
 3-4  | Reckless 0.9.0       | Bayern Munich     | semi-final (ET)
 3-4  | Obsidian 16.0        | Arsenal           | semi-final
 5-8  | Alexandria 9.1.0     | Atletico Madrid   | quarter-final
 5-8  | Caissa 2.0.0         | Inter             | quarter-final
 5-8  | Renegade 1.3.1       | Porto             | quarter-final
 5-8  | Pawnocchio 2.0.1     | Real Madrid       | quarter-final
TOURNAMENT IN NUMBERS

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 Total games            | 246  (196 at 3m + 2s, 50 extra-time games at 9s + 0.1s)
 Results                | 107 White wins, 130 draws, 9 Black wins
 Playing time           | 33:51:06
 League phase           | 144 games: 62 home wins, 74 draws, 8 away wins
 Quickest win (3m + 2s) | Obsidian - Stormphrax, 74 plies
 League winner          | PlentyChess (Paris), 17 points - out in the round of 16
 Unbeaten league phase  | Integral, Reckless, Pawnocchio, Renegade
 Extra-time ties        | 5 (Motor-Alexandria, Eleanor-Igel, Alexandria-PlentyChess,
                        |    Caissa-Clover, Viridithas-Reckless) - no penalties needed
Download PGN: CECL2026_Semi-finals.pgn
Download PGN: CECL2026_Semi-finals(Extra-Time).pgn
_________________________________________
Download PGN: CECL2026-Final.pgn

_________________________________________

League Phase: Knockout Phase: Thanks for following the 2026-CECL!
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