Of chess and men: Why human contests still beat those with computers
November 11, 2013 Leave a comment
November 8, 2013 6:43 pm
Of chess and men
Why human contests still beat those with computers
The world chess championship begins this weekend in the Indian city of Chennai, pitting veteran title-holder Viswanathan Anand against Norwegian wunderkindMagnus Carlsen. Their duel is the most anticipated chess match for a decade, yet it hides an oddity. Neither man is the world’s best player. That title belongs to a computer programme.In the game’s cold war-era pomp, contests for the world title genuinely did feature the planet’s top performers, as when American Bobby Fischer defeated Russia’s Boris Spassky in 1972. More recently, however, technology has revealed man’s shortcomings. Since 1997, when Garry Kasparov, arguably the greatest non-mechanical player, was walloped by a contraption named Deep Blue, bytes not brains have ruled the 64 squares.
Today, even a half-decent programme would trounce either Mr Anand or Mr Carlsen. Yet rather than being a cause for Homo-sapien angst, this silicon supremacy should be welcomed – for returning the sport’s focus to vastly more engrossing human combat.
Competitions between elite chess machines do exist, but they are tedious affairs and attract little attention. The same would be true in other sports. Robots may one day excel at tennis, for instance, but their bouts would have none of the drama of a Wimbledon final. Where would be the fun in watching a driverless Formula 1 race?
Chess computers have their merits, albeit mostly as sparring partners to help humans sharpen their play. Yet it is the sight of two rival grandmasters struggling for supremacy over the board, as in Chennai this month, that makes the sport compelling.
Boris Spassky is once said to have been asked whether he preferred chess to sex, replying coyly: “It depends on the position.” But it depends on the opponent too. The battle between man and machine may have been lost. For pure excitement and spectacle, however, it remains checkmate for flesh and blood.
About bambooinnovator
Bamboo Innovator 