en computerschaak
To my no small surprise, almost nothing can be found online about this 2006 tournament. Fortunately, I filmed for half an hour at the time. On the convivial and casual evening just before the official tournament, I begin filming. We see the latest creation of Phoenix Chess Systems, the Revelation prototype. At a whopping 500 MHz, it was clearly a breakthrough in playing strength. Because of that strength, this chess computer also could not participate in the tournament. CEO Ruud Martin was of course proud to demonstrate this new computing monster in Kaufbeuren. Whether Hans van Mierlo (blue jersey) managed to win a game can no longer be found out. Then Franz Wagner (gray turtleneck) also wanted to play a test match. The outcome of this too is uncertain. Nice also to see that in those days it was still customary to smoke in the playing room! Ruud gives Günther Steinmüller some background information about the Revelation. Then I ask Ruud if he wants to show the bottom side, because the whole design is unique. Then Bernhard Lederwasch also comes to take a shot against the Revelation. He plays the unexpected move 1. ...h6, and the atmosphere is unbreakable!
A little later we see the SciSys Chess Champion MK 5.0 prototype! There is only one copy of that and was purchased by Steffen Scholz in 2005. Then after 15 minutes of filming we see the first images from the tournament. Always nice to see everyone happy with their beloved chess computers. Then suddenly we see a very rare chess computer. It turns out to be the Fidelity Prestige Challenger chess table which is equipped with an Elite Avant Garde version 7! We even see Kurt Kispert participating in the tournament. Something he almost never did because as co-organizer of the tournament he actually always preferred to stay in the background.
After 25 minutes, we see the famous or rather infamous basement ("Tiefgarage") of the Hotel Goldener Hirsch. Wonderful to see that garage again! Earlier I wrote that the car elevator had been taken out sometime in 2010, but so it has already disappeared in 2006, as we see a very short and steep ramp of about 35%! Parking in this garage was entirely at your own risk. The basement was also incredibly narrow and small to maneuver in. To make a turn you sometimes had to cross three times. Getting out was only possible with a helper standing on the street to keep an eye on other traffic, because when you left the garage you had no visibility of what was happening outside. I film a Volkswagen Transporter, with which we Dutchmen took the trip to Kaufbeuren. It belongs to a colleague of mine who is sleeping in his car. He didn't feel like booking a room, because I have a big car, don't I? He was not caught during his illegal overnight stays during the whole weekend, and actually I was also quite excited to see how he was cheating. But then again, who hasn't cheated once in their life?
The tournament is over and the Fidelity chess table is dismantled from its round legs. This is followed by the awards ceremony. And what do I see? Hans van Mierlo wins in the B-group with the Fidelity Elite Avant Garde 2100 and Gerhard Vetter wins in the A-group with his Mephisto Vancouver 68020.
External Links
Teilnehmer2006
Phoenix_Chess_Systems_Revelation
SciSys Mark V prototype
SciSys - Chess Champion MK 5.0 prototype
Fidelity - computer chess table (William F. Drueke & Sons, Inc.)
Applied Concepts - wooden chess table + Sargon Auto Response Board
Fidelity - Elite Avant Garde Version 7 (model 6117-7)
With kind regards from historiker,
Hein Veldhuis from the Netherlands, dated 23 November 2024