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WCCC 03: Junior leads, Fritz loses
07.07.2004 – The Israeli program Junior, apparently feeling quite at home in Gonda Brain Research Center in Ramat-Gan, Israel, played a nice attacking game in round three to defeat the Dutch program Diep and take the lead in the 12th World Computer Chess Championship. Fritz lost a winning position on time, Shredder drew against Jonny. More...

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This Computer World Championship is full of surprises. Instead of going into the lead with perfect scores against their amateur opponents the favourites Shredder, Junior and Fritz all started off with embarrassing draws. In the second round Junior and Shredder won their games, but in the third Shredder once again drew, while Fritz actually lost on time (in a winning position). It's been a while since we saw a computer do that.

Only Junior started to show its normal form, winning a delightful attacking game against the Dutch program Diep, which was in the sole lead after two rounds. Here's the game:

Diep – Deep Junior [D20]
114'/60+25' HP, 06.07.2004
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Be3 Nb4 8.Be4 f5 9.exf6 exf6 10.a3 f5 11.axb4 fxe4 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Nh3 Qd7 14.Nf4 Be7 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.d5 Qg6 17.0-0 0-0 18.Bc5.

Here Junior played one of those devil-may-care moves for which the program is famous: 18...Rae8. The program is willing to give up its queenside pawns, but for exactly what? Watch: 19.Rxa7 Nc4 20.Qe2 Bxc5 21.bxc5 Ne5 22.Rxb7.

Junior has given up two pawns to move its knight into position for the attack. This comes in decisive fashion: 22...Nf3+ 23.Kh1 Re5 24.Ra1. The knight still cannot be taken: 24.gxf3 exf3 threatens mate on g2 and forks the queen.

24...Rh5 25.h3. The knight is still untouchable, since 25.gxf3 Qh6 leads to a forced mate.

25...Qg4 26.Qf1 Ng5 27.Rxc7 Nxh3 0-1.

Results

Standings:
1 Junior 2.5
2-6 Shredder, Diep, Falcon, Crafty, Jonny
7-9 ParSOS, Deep Sjeng, Movei 1.5
10-13 Fritz, IsiChess, Crazy Bishop, Woodpusher 1.0
14 FIBChess 0.0

The games from the second and third rounds are still incomplete. We will add them as soon as they become available. Until then you can check at the official site and download the games that are available there.

• All the games from round one for replay and download
• The Bar-Ilan University WCCC and computer Olympiad web site
• Live coverage

Live coverage

The games are being transmitted live on the Playchess.com server, with audio and visual commentary by GM Boris Alterman.

Picture Gallery

The Gonda Brain Research Center, where the event is being held

Prof. Yeshurun, Rector of Bar-Ilan University, opening the second round by playing Falcon's 1.e4 vs Diep. From left to right: Rudolf Huber, Omid David Tabibi, Prof. Netanyahu, Prof. Yeshurun, and Prof. Jaap van den Herik (the tournament director)

Shay Bushinsky of the Junior team explaining the thought process of his brainchild to Prof. Yeshurun

Prof. Yeshurun with the full Junior team: Boris Alterman, Shay Bushinsky, Amir Ban

Neli David Tabibi (left), 12-year-old sister of organiser Omid, operating Falcon

Omid David Tabibi, head organiser of the computer world championship

Schedule

Links

• Official World Computer Chess Championship web site
• The Bar-Ilan University WCCC and computer Olympiad web site