TalkChess.com

[Peter Skinner]

Last night I did some hard thinking about the state of Computer Chess and the direction if any, that I can help steer it towards.

Whether any of us like it, our sport has changed. With the release of the Ippolit code base, anyone can take bits or pieces and design a very strong chess program with a good deal of effort. I suppose it goes even further back than that with the release of the Fruit code. It was very clean and simple to read. People could take that code base and improve upon it, and create a very strong program as well, and we got to see just that.

I've never liked the thought of a life time ban from any sport, and I have said it many times that I believe Rybka 3+ to be Fruit free. Recently I have been catering to the few instead of the masses when trying to put together an event, and as a promoter/organizer, that is simply the wrong way to do things.

So I have made a decision for the upcoming IWCCC.

Rybka and Houdini will be allowed to participate if they choose to do so. This is a final decision that will also carry over to the CCT events. Being that I want to hold the strongest tournaments, with the highest amount of participants, this seems like the best decision I can make and draw a line in the sand.

There will be those that won't like it and will choose to boycott my events. Since I can't do anything to change their minds, I believe that 90% of this community would rather play than sit on the sidelines. If I'm wrong, then my tournaments will die, and I will go back to being a spectator of other events like today's ACCA (I'm operating Crafty for the ACCA this year).

This is a chance I am willing to take and believe it to be the correct course of action.

I will update the rules on the CCT website later today to reflect this decision and move forward with the event as planned.

Sincerely,

Peter
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I got kicked out of Chapters because I moved all the Bible's to the fiction section.