2008 World Computer Rapid Chess Championships

[CRoberson]

Only one week left to register.

We are now up to 27 entrants from 16 countries.
That gives us another 13 entries to break last years record of entrants.
However, we have broken last years record of represented countries
which was 14.

The new entrants are:
Thinker by Lance Perkins
Diep by Vincent Diepeveen
CTD by Richard Pijl
ROCE by Roman Hartman

So, far the top seeds look like Thinker, HIARCS, Freenze, Crafty and Diep.
For those that have been asking: no, I have not received an entry for Rybka.

[Tony Thomas]

I have few questions about some of the rules..

Programs must run in an automated fashion. You can start them but they must run by themselves and make all decisions themselves (including resign/draw).

I use Chesspartner interface, if Romichess thinks that the position is lost, a window pops up saying resign..If I dont manually type resign, Romi will lose on time..Romi is set to accept draws, so that wont be a problem..Or I can turn resign off and the other engine has to checkmate Romi.

Participants are allowed 2 disconnects due to accidents. On the third disconnect the match is forfeit. A 5 minute allowance is granted for each disconnect. The third disconnect must be reported to the TD and the TD will make the ruling.

In case of a disconnect, cant I just log back in to ICC and type resume? Who is going to adjust the clock??

Before anyone asks, no you havent yet received an entry for Romichess.

Also I have a slight disagreement with seeding, the standard rating of ICC shouldnt be used for it, as many of the top rated programs has !computer in their formula and plays only against humans. Prime example would be ChessthinkerX.

[CRoberson]

I have few questions about some of the rules..

Programs must run in an automated fashion. You can start them but they must run by themselves and make all decisions themselves (including resign/draw).

I use Chesspartner interface, if Romichess thinks that the position is lost, a window pops up saying resign..If I dont manually type resign, Romi will lose on time..Romi is set to accept draws, so that wont be a problem..Or I can turn resign off and the other engine has to checkmate Romi.

Participants are allowed 2 disconnects due to accidents. On the third disconnect the match is forfeit. A 5 minute allowance is granted for each disconnect. The third disconnect must be reported to the TD and the TD will make the ruling.

In case of a disconnect, cant I just log back in to ICC and type resume? Who is going to adjust the clock??

Before anyone asks, no you havent yet received an entry for Romichess.

Also I have a slight disagreement with seeding, the standard rating of ICC shouldnt be used for it, as many of the top rated programs has !computer in their formula and plays only against humans. Prime example would be ChessthinkerX.

Turn resign off. That is the lesser of the two issues.

I've never tried Chesspartner, but in all other interfaces that I've
tried the clock is set to where you left off at the moment of disconnection.
So, there isn't any need to reset the clock. Doesn't ChessPartner
do the same?

I'd not thought of your concern about the seedings before, but I don't
see it as an issue as this is a 14 round swiss tournament. In 14 rounds,
things will balance to the way they should despite any early seeding
advantages

[Tony Thomas]

I misuderstood the 5 minutes allowence part..I thought that 5 minutes were added to the clock.

[Harvey Williamson]

Hi Charles,

Playing Schedule Computer Section

There will be one qualifier on Friday, June 20, 1pm. The finals will take
place on Saturday, June 21, 3pm.

This is the qualifier for the Mainz 960 tournament, also taking place on ICC. The final is on the same day as your tournament. I have no intention of entering the 960 but there could be a clash here.

Best Wishes,
Harvey

Good News and bad. The date of the 960 qualifier is now changed

The bad news is it is now on the same day as richard Pijl's 1st Programmers tournament the dates of which were announced a long time ago http://www.evonet.be/~rpijl/html/programmers_tour.html

Last year they invited 4 engines to Mainz to play a so called, FRC, world Championship which did not include the CCRL Ratings list leader at the time. This year they can't even read a calendar. Why it can't be an open tournament like all the other majors I really do not know. To quote the Livingston sponsors of Mainz when I contacted them last year, "A world championship should be open to all so that the best may win."

[Tord Romstad]

Good News and bad. The date of the 960 qualifier is now changed

The bad news is it is now on the same day as richard Pijl's 1st Programmers tournament the dates of which were announced a long time ago http://www.evonet.be/~rpijl/html/programmers_tour.html

Not only that -- it is also on the same date as the IOPCCC (where Glaurung is playing). We have no less than three computer chess events taking place at the same time. It's frustrating that those who organize computer chess tournaments seem unable to communicate or check the calendar for upcoming computer chess events.

Tord

[CRoberson]

Hi Harvey,

It is not at the same time as Richard's tournament. In fact,
I had several email's with Richard about it. Richard's tournament
is 7 days later. The WCRCC is June 21/22 and Richard's tournament
is the following weekend with people arriving on June 27.

So, no conflict there.

Charles

[Tord Romstad]

Hi Harvey,

It is not at the same time as Richard's tournament. In fact,
I had several email's with Richard about it. Richard's tournament
is 7 days later. The WCRCC is June 21/22 and Richard's tournament
is the following weekend with people arriving on June 27.

So, no conflict there.

Hello Charles,

You misunderstand: The conflict is not between the WCRCC and the Chess960 qualification tournament, but between Richard's tournament, the IOPCCC and the Chess960 qualification tournament, all of which are being played one week after the WCRCC.

Tord

[CRoberson]

Hi Tord,

According to the IOPCCC web page, the IOPCCC event is for the
weekend of June 27 - June 29. Thus it is not in conflict with the
ACCA WCRCC event. I sent out over 100 email messages to
coordinate with last years entrants and some others back in March.
All those people then voted on the weekend to have the event.
The Amercians were open to any time between June and end of July.
OTOH, the Europeans were unamimously against anytime in July.
Seems everybody goes on Holiday only in July

So, IOPCCC is in conflict with Richard's tournament. I recall Richard
announcing the date of his tournament sometime in 2007. Possibly
a year ago.

Charles

[Tord Romstad]

Hi Tord,

According to the IOPCCC web page, the IOPCCC event is for the
weekend of June 27 - June 29. Thus it is not in conflict with the
ACCA WCRCC event.

That's exactly what I wrote -- read my message again. The conflict is between the three other tournaments, and does not involve the WCRCC.

Tord