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Subject: Re: Computer Chess Worldwide

Author: Martin Slowik

Date: 10:21:48 07/15/04

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Whoops,

lucky me mentioned the name Ed Schroeder only together with the adjective
'talented'... ;-) Didn't know that you're still around, still being interested
in computer chess.

Since I have you here now, if you allow I'd have a question that is nagging me
(and some other folks who are still playing dedicated chess computers).
Hopefully you remember the times of the Risc I and II modules for the Mephistos
roughly... Is there a big difference between the two, i.e. do you remember what
you changed or to what exent in the later program version? There are people
thinking that the first version is even stronger than the second, do you believe
this is possible?

>The USCF has about 50,000-60,000 paying members which is quite low if you
>compare that to pinhead Holland which has about 30,000.

Well, I intentionally didn't mention Fischer and the popularity of chess in the
US, since I think that this is alomst an exception to the 'Becker-effect'. Okay,
in the first years Bobby did attract many people but I think the effect would
have been bigger or have lasted longer in almost any other country. Perhaps this
is due to the cultural differences between Europe and America: if you can't earn
a lot of money with a sport/game it gets dropped very quickly by the people
(even though Fischer changed the salaries of the pros in a very significant way
- alas it's not comparable to the salaries of basketball players).  ;-)

>>in Holland the answer must be related to Euwe...
>
>Obviously. But chess was already quite popular here.

Yes, and I think even the extent nowadays is astonishing.

But what I don't get is the lack of russian chess engine programmers. They have
both, excellent chess players and very good programmers - but so far no top
engine if I'm not mistaken.

Best regards,
Martin



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