Komodo and Houdini are the two finalists in this years edition of the premier event for computer chess – the Top Chess Engine Championship. The two engines finished top of the table at the Candidates stage with equal score 18,5/28, half a point ahead of Stockfish.
Standings and games of TCEC Candidates stage
The Superfinal Komodo – Houdini will be a 100 games match which starts this Monday 20th November at around 20:00 CET. Follow the Superfinal games with analysis at the official site
First time in history
This is the first direct 100 games match between Komodo and Houdini in TCEC history. Before that we have seen Rybka – Houdini (twice), Stockfish – Houdini (three times), and Komodo – Stockfish (four times). In total Houdini has five Superfinals and Komodo has four.
There is absolute equality in the titles won. Houdini and Komodo have three titles each. This makes the Komodo – Houdini match a direct encounter for the lead in TCEC titles total count.
The Komodo – Houdini games in Season 10 so far
Houdini and Komodo played one game in Stage 1 and four games in Stage 2. Although the score is equal 2,5-2,5 , we saw two decisive games, large disbalances on the board and multiple brilliancies.
Replay the games with analysis:
Houdini – Komodo (English: King’s, 2.g3 c6 3.d4) 1/2-1/2
Houdini – Komodo (Queen’s Indian: Petrosian, 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e3 g6) 1/2-1/2
Komodo – Houdini (Queen’s Indian: Petrosian, 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e3 g6) 1-0
Houdini – Komodo (Spanish: Closed, Averbakh, 7.c3 O-O 8.h3) 1-0
Komodo – Houdini (Spanish: Closed, Zaitsev, 12.Bc2) 1/2-1/2
Record breaking viewership
TCEC Season 10 is now the most viewed computer chess event in history. For the last 24 hours of the event a total of 15 000 unique IPs visited the official website, with which the number of viewers of the event since the start a month ago crossed the 400 000 mark.
During the last days of the qualifications the Twitch video broadcast accounted for ~1800 simultaneous viewers. At the same time a similar number were on mobile phones, making the peak users online at any given moment at ~4000 people. On average they posted ~15 000 messages per day in the ever lively chat and discussion on the official website.
It is a tradition that Superfinals register much higher numbers than qualification stages. Komodo and Houdini have the chance to play the most popular engine vs engine match ever.
Expectations for the Superfinal
During Stage 2 of TCEC, Komodo and Houdini exchanged blows and finished equal on top of the table with 18,5/28. For the Superfinal both engines will play with new versions, looking for every small detail that can give them advantage in a direct 100 games match. With the balance on the board so far, we can expect yet another closely contested race.
Official website / Twitch TV channel / Replay games / Season 11 press release