UAE's chess computer programme Hydra shared the title of the "Man vs Machine" Chess World Championship held at Bilbao, Spain, with Junior, another programme, after each collected 3 points from four matches against world champions.
Hydra, Junior and Fritz 9, the three computer programmes were in competition with Grand Master Ruslan Ponomariov, the 2003 world champion from Ukraine, GM Rsutam Kasimdzhanov from Uzbekistan and the world champion in 2004 and GM Alexander Khalifman of Russia and the world champion in 1999. Hydra, won the first place in the IPCCC for 2005 with 3 points while Junior, the world champion in 2004, also collected 3 points as Fritz tally was 2 points.
Kasimdzhanov and Ponomariov collected 1.5 points each while Khaliman collected one single point.
The performance of Hydra was lauded by the UAE's chess officials. Hussain Abdulla Khory, the Vice-Chairman of the UAE Chess Federation, said it was an achievement for the UAE's game.
"It was a great publicity for our game and our reputation." Khory told Gulf News. "Hydra has proved to be one of the most advanced chess computer programmes in the world."
Results
Ponomariov 0Junior 1
Hydra 1 Kasimdzhanov0
Fritz 1Khalifman0
Pomoariov 1 Fritz 0
Kasimdzhanov 0.5Junior 0.5
Khalifman0.5Hydra 0.5
Hydra 1Ponomariov 0
Fritz 0.5 Kasimdzhanov 0.5
Junior 1Khalifman0
Junior 0.5Ponomariov 0.5
Kasimdzhanov 0.5Hydra 0.5
Khalifman 0.5 Fritz 0.5
Gulf News
