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a match between Classical World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik and one of the world's top rated chess programs at that time, Deep Fritz 7 by ChessBase [1] , held in Manama, Bahrain, October 4-19, 2002. It was organized by the General Organization of Youth and Sports in Bahrain [2] , held under the patronage of the King of Bahrain, His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa [3] . Dubbed as Brains in Bahrain, the eight game match ended in a 4-4 tie with two wins each and four draws. It was not sanctioned by ICGA or FIDE as Man vs. Machine World Championship - opposed to the upcoming Kasparov versus Deep Junior 2003 match.
The Fritz team was represented by primary author Frans Morsch, by co-author and operator Mathias Feist, and by book author Alex Kure. Kramnik was supported by his seconds Christopher Lutz and Tigran Nalbandjan [4] [5] .
Table of Contents
Course of the Match
The first half was dominated by Vladimir Kramnik, when he successfully applied an anti-computer strategy and won game 2 and 3 for a 3-1 lead [7] . However, Deep Fritz fought back and could equalize due to a blunder of Kramnik in game 5 [8] , and Kramnik's risky piece sacrifice [9] and with hindsight premature resignation in game 6 [10] .Prologue
The match, initially scheduled for October 2001, but postponed due to the September 11 attacks [11] , was promoted by Brain Games Network, who already organized the 2000 Braingames World Chess Championships between Kasparov and Kramnik. Raymond Keene was appointed Match Director, Enrique Irazoqui and Eric Schiller disignated arbiters [12] . In January 2002, the Einstein Group PLC took over the rights for the Man vs Machine event in Bahrain [13] , they hired Malcolm Pein to take on the role previously occupied by Keene, with Schiller's participation vetoed by ChessBase [14] .Computer Qualifier
When negotiations for a Kramnik versus computer match commenced in October 2000, the obvious computer opponent was Shredder, the reigning World Computer Chess Champion [15] . But Brain Games Network decided instead to hold a qualifying event to which many of the world's strongest programs were not invited, provoking outrage in computer chess forums on the internet [16] . The qualifying event, held in Cadaqués, Spain, was a 24-game match between Fritz and Junior. The qualifying match itself provoked surprise in the computer chess community, with doubts about how Junior's early 5-0 lead, which it sustained until after the 14th game completely eroded during the next 10 games, thereby causing a tied match and a play-off that was won by Fritz [17] [18] .Concession
After the Kasparov versus Deep Blue 1997 experience, where Kasparov had to play an almost unknown entity, a concession was made to Kramnik to his advantage. ChessBase was required to freeze the Fritz code several months before the start, while Kramnik received exactly this version allowing him and his seconds to prepare. For the match, Fritz was only allowed to change its opening book preferences, and in general to rely on the presumed stonger hardware of an eight-processor Compaq machine [19] .Games
[20]Round 1
Postings- Draw due to lack of blockade detection... by Omid David, CCC, October 04, 2002
LinksBrains in Bahrain Game 1 by Karsten Müller, ChessBase News, October 04, 2002
Round 2
Postings- Is it over for black? by Ed Schröder, CCC, October 06, 2002
- Kramnik wins by Andrew Williams, CCC, CCC, October 06, 2002
- Kramnik vs Deep Fritz (2) PGN and commented game by Kurt Utzinger, CCC, October 06, 2002
- Fritz-Blunder and Kramnik-fantastical! (diagrams) by Eduard Nemeth, CCC, October 06, 2002
LinksBrains in Bahrain Game 2 by Karsten Müller, ChessBase News, October 06, 2002
Round 3
Postings- What happened after 43. Kd4? by Guy Haworth, CCC, October 08, 2002
- Kramnik wins again by Jeremiah Penery, CCC, October 08, 2002
LinksBrains in Bahrain Game 3 by Karsten Müller, ChessBase News, October 08, 2002
Round 4
Postings- Kramnik,V vs Deep Fritz (PGN and Diag. after 22...Tb8) by Kurt Utzinger, CCC, October 10, 2002
- Kramnik-Fritz 1/2-1.2 pgn by Uri Blass, CCC, October 10, 2002
LinksBrains in Bahrain Game 4 by Karsten Müller, ChessBase News, October 10, 2002
Round 5
Game and short analyze on Lichess.org : https://fr.lichess.org/uPPTUbdyPostings
- Qc4? by Terje Vagle, CCC, October 13, 2002
- PGN of game #5 by Mike Scheidl, CCC, October 13, 2002
LinksRound 6
Game and short analyze on Lichess.org : https://fr.lichess.org/yzJHtgTLPostings
- Kramnik's sacrifice - game 6 by Ed Schröder, CCC, October 15, 2002
- Kramnik looks lost by Ron Murawski, CCC, October 15, 2002
- Final position in game 6 by K. Burcham, CCC, October 15, 2002
- Missed Draw by Kramnik by Ingo Althöfer, CCC, CCC, October 16, 2002
- Kramnik-Deep Fritz Game 6 final position (draw?!) by Mig Greengard, CCC, October 17, 2002
- The Bahrain Fortress by Mike Scheidl, December 10, 2002 » Fortress
LinksBrains in Bahrain Game 6 by Mig Greengard, ChessBase News, October 15, 2002
Round 7
Postings- Re: Game 7 drawn in 28 moves PGN by Vincent Lejeune, CCC, October 17, 2002
LinksRound 8
Postings- Kramnik,V vs Deep Fritz (8) Draw (PGN, Final diagram) by Kurt Utzinger, CCC, October 19, 2002
LinksSee also
Publications
Chapter 4: 2002: Deep Fritz Befuddles Kramnik, Drawing 4–4 in Bahrain
Forum Posts
External Links
ChessBase
Spiegel
by André Schulz, Der Spiegel, October 21, 2002, (German)TIME
by Paul Hoffman, TIMEInterviews
Kramnik vs Fritz – playing good chess under fair conditions by Matthias Wüllenweber, ChessBase News, April 11, 2002
References
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