Rybka won the 15th World Computer Chess Championship (WCCC) held in June at Amsterdam. The chess computer, developed by Vasik Rajlich, finished first (+9-0=2) in the 12-player round robin, one point ahead of runner-up Zappa. In the 14th WCCC, competing under the name Rajlich, the machine had finished tied for 2nd/3rd behind Junior. • Official site: Amsterdam 2007.

Defending champion Junior did not participate in the WCCC this year. The three time World Computer Champion was missing because of a schedule conflict between the 15th WCCC and the President's Computer Challenge, an exhibition event held during the FIDE Candidate Matches in Elista. Junior beat Fritz in the six game match (+2-0=4) with a $100,000 prize fund, although the winner was already decided after the fifth game.

Even before the two events had been played, Rybka's developer issued his own challenge; An Open Letter and $100,000 challenge to FIDE President Kirsan N. Ilyumzhinov. Excerpts: • 'You have snubbed my program, Rybka, which leads every single computer chess rating list by a considerable margin at all time controls from blitz games to long tournament games.' • 'In the spirit of open competition, I am formally offering a $100,000 computer chess challenge from Rybka to FIDE, who will be represented by the winner of the Ultimate Computer Chess Challenge 2007. My challenge consists of a 24 game match, at classical time controls, on unlimited hardware and with unlimited opening books, held at 2 games per day over twelve days, with Rybka giving a handicap of one point plus draw odds and thus requiring a score of 13 out of 24 or better to win the match. The prize fund of $100,000 should be a winner-takes-all, loser-pays-all proposition.' • Will FIDE accept the challenge? The World Chess Federation has been silent, as has ChessBase, the publisher of both Junior and Fritz.

[For other About Chess posts on chess and computers, see our ChessChrono Computer Chess.]

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Followup: A sharp eyed visitor to About Chess brought to our attention the news that FIDE President Ilyumzhinov 'suggested to consider the organization of another computer challenge match between Rybka and Deep Junior in Mexico City'. That would mean the upcoming World Championship tournament in September. Source: FIDE Presidential Board in Tallinn: Communique (25 June 2007; Fide.com).