World Championship Match Has Begun- DETAILS!!

[geots]

Please note that the WCEC (World Chess Engine Championship) has begun. The 2 engines battling for No.1 in the world are Houdini 2.0c & Rainbow 1.0.
First, Rainbow 1.0 beta is a private engine, and probably further from being a clone than any engine in existence. This was confirmed by 3 programmers I trust explicitly- who know the programmer of Rainbow and his work very well. If 1 of the 3 had disagreed- this match would not be running now.

Rainbow 1.0 was not just handed this chance at Houdini by accident. In a best 2 of 3- it won 2 50-game matches in a row against Komodo 4, Critter 1.4, Critter 1.6, Strelka 5.1 and Strelka 5.5. Rainbow blitzed all 5 engines here 2.0- not losing one match. These were considered a playoff to see who would face Houdini in this "first of its kind" World Championship Match.


So to the match:

Intel i5 w/4TCs
Shredder 11 gui
1CPU/64bit
128MB hash
Bases=NONE
Ponder_Learning=OFF
HS Book 2.0 bkt.
10'+10"
Match=500 games!!


500 games is unheard of in a World Championship match. It was either longer controls- with many fewer games OR this number using a time control of 10'+10". I chose this approach because 500 games is very significant and it means neither engine can just "get lucky" and run off a string of victories to win the match. The champion-to-be will have to play well for many, many games.

The WCEC has begun, and very frequent updates will be given- sometimes once a day and sometimes twice a day. This is not an "official" world championship match sanctioned by a large organization, but to me in many ways it is much more official. As there will be no question about which engine is actually the champion after this match ends. This will not be a lucky victory for either. The winner will have earned it- believe me.

I hope you enjoy this match- tho I guess there will always be some who find fault with it. But I am playing it for myself and all the guys who have been following my matches with interest. I hope you all enjoy it.



Best, and see you soon-

george

[Vinvin]

Please, can you tell us more about Rainbow 1.0 ?

[Bram Visser]

Fascinating Game! Still, if all you say about this engine is true ... why do a big match against Houdini if the author claims he can easily make a better version that beats Houdini ?