TalkChess.com

[Charles Roberson]

The rules for entering a second program state that it must be significantly different. If we look at the previous programs entered by the same
authors, we see plenty of evidence that they are different. My programs (Telepath and NoonianChess) don't even finish at the same end of the crosstables.
In fact, some have joked that they have a practical bye when paried with NoonianChess. The other programs are by HGM. It is clear that they are different.
They even have a different purpose. micro-Max isn't even meant to be competitive, its goal is to be small in lines of code.

We have little data on Spark. I'll review what we do have. Spark is in OpenWar. http://www.open-aurec.com/chesswar/OpenWar/OpenWar06/openwar.htm

When Allard first sent me email it was in 32nd position and Bright was in the top 4. Now, Bright is in 4th and Spark is tied for 14th in
round 40. Now, for the details.
1) Bright and Spark have been paired with a draw result.
2) Spark has played all of the top 4.
3) Spark has a score of 32/40 and Bright has 36/40
4) 10 of the programs above Spark have not played the top 4. This and how Spark has done thus far means it will move up the list and close
the gap on Bright.
5) The Spark version in OpenWar is single proc while Bright is running on two processors.
6) Spark has beaten the 64 bit versions of Frenzee (not shabby).
7) Spark has beaten the 64 bit version of LearningLemmnig (not shabby).
8) Both programs are currently ranked above Spark.
9) LL hasn't played the top 4, thus it could fall in the rankings relative to Spark.

This data suggests that single proc Spark is very close in strength to dual proc Bright. In fact, theie is virtually no data to suggest that
one is stronger than the other. Also, I am told that the new Spark version is SMP and Kenny has an 8 rpoc machine.

The data clearly shows that Spark and Bright are not sufficiently different in playing strength and therefore I can not allow both in the tournament.

So, one of two things will happen now:
1) Allard and team will decide which engine to drop.
2) I will decide which engine to drop.

I prefer that option 1 is followed. If we have to go with option 2 and I get too much feedback from the team,
then I will drop both. I prefer that this does not happen.

I have clearly shown that this decision is based on the data at hand and a rule that has been in the ACCA tournaments since their beginning.
This decision doesn't have any personal issues in it at all.

Please, Allard and team take option 1 so that I don't have to be involved with this issue anymore.