Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Tournament Format for World Computer Chess Championship 2004

Author: Vincent Diepeveen

Date: 20:04:31 02/29/04

Go up one level in this thread


On February 29, 2004 at 22:25:05, Charles Roberson wrote:

>
>  Hi Omid,
>
>   I thank you for having an open mind on this. As for my thoughts.
>  I don't like A. IMHO, B is better.
>
>  It may take more than 7 rounds to decide in 2004. If Rebel, Crafty, TheKing,
>  Lambchop and Tiger (to name just a few) and/or a few others compete. It will
>  take more than 7 rounds to decide. The number of rounds to decide depends
>  on the competition.
>
>  My dislike for A is the following: The 5th placed competitor in the 2nd
>  group may be stronger than one or more of the top 4 in the first group.
>  Thus format A introduces a considerable amount of luck. IMHO that would not
>  be good.
>
>   Again, thanks to all for an open mind.

I completely agree with you. Add to that, that if i would be kicked out after 5
rounds, that i'm not going to play another 6 rounds whatever happens. You play
for a title. When you're out, you're out and leave. I do not know a knockout
tournament where when you get kicked out, you continue to play on.

So 11 rounds swiss is much better, simply because you get all strong
participants as an opponent.

If the winner is clear after 9 rounds, that is not an argument to explain that a
knockout tournament is better.

If they end equal, there is still a knockout between the first 2 programs.
If they do not end equal there is a clear winner. End of discussion in both
cases.

The world champs is there to allow everyone to have a shot at the commercials
and to feel their power and to let them show how strong they are. If they all
are so dead nervous again like they were against me in 2003, then i sure feel
that that world champs 2003 wasn't clear until the last playoff game and that
what was posted here by some is a complete nonsense.

In a knockout you get 3 opponents to decide whether you are world champion, and
half of the games you still must play 2 blitz games to decide which program
moves on till the next round. In a 11 round swiss you get 11 opponents to decide
whether you are worth your world title.

So you see. Someone who played black 4 times against 4 commercial programs in
world champs 2003, even such a guy prefers a 11 round swiss over a 3 round
knockout where the unlucky guys (usual 'amateurs') are kicked out simply and
feel for another 6 rounds they came there for nothing.

In case the final decision is that a 3 round knockout tournament gets held
instead of a 11 round swiss and i happen to show up there (unlikely in case of a
3 round world champs), i'll only show up there only in the sure knowledge that
i'll leave if i am kicked out for that race. Tieing for 9th spot, no thanks.



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.