Game 1

Player :       Alex Barnell

Result:         Hydra 1-0, Checkmate 

Start time:    10:32am

End time:     10:53am

Moves:         29  
 

Comments:  "When I lost the toss I knew it would be hard.  I though I would play my normal opening move - a move I normally play quite well with - but unfortunately Hydra was aware of my move and exposed my weaknesses and played quite aggressively.  I prefer to play white.    I think Adams will do better in the second half but he's too far behind already.  I would say he has a chance of winning one match but I don't think that is very likely.  I predict the result to be 4.5 to Hydra, 1.5 to Adams."

Game 2

Player 2:        David Page

Result:          Hydra 1-0, Checkmate

Start time:     10:32am

End time:      10:53am

Moves:          19
 

Comments:    "I decided to play normal game, not anti-chess, playing to win rather than to draw. I understand that the computer is aware of so many tactics so I was playing as if I was playing a human.  It's capability to calculate moves so quickly means that it is over so quickly. I think Adams might win one or two games but I think he doesn't have a chance of winning overall.  I hope he wins two games in white.  He lasted well in the two games he played in black but Hydra will win.

Game 3

Player :       David Steiret

Result:          Hydra 1-0, Checkmate

Start time:     11:10am

End time:      11:45am

Moves:          40
 

Comments: 

"It was tough to play each move even though I've practised intensly before the match.  I tried to get Hydra into traps through technical moves but always found myself challenged.  It was a very tough match - I thought I had prepared but of course because of the power of the machine it was difficult to win by opening Hydra up to vulnerabilities.   I've tried playing against other chess programmes from across the world but Hydra is certaintly the most challenging machine I've faced.  I tried to be experimental with my moves and try a few different things.  I think Michael will lose the match.  I know he is aiming for four draws

Player :     Freddie Harris

Result:         Hydra 1-0, Checkmate 

Start time:    11:55am

End time:     12:24am

Moves:         26  
 

Comments:  "I found the match extremely interesting.  It was great to see how Hydra played in terms of attack and defense - extremely educational.  I tried to prepare before hand by speaking with players that I knew had taken on machines before and we discussed different types of opening moves but it wasn't enough to prepare for taking on Hydra.  I stuck to an opening move I usually use but Hydra worked this out very quickly.  In terms of its style of playing, I can't fault Hydra in any way. Its perfect.  I think Adams may win one more match but I don't think that is likely.  Overall I think Hydra is set to win."

Game 5

Player :       Hannah Dale

Result:        Hydra 1-0, Checkmate 

Start time:    - 12:46am  

End time:     01:06pm

Moves:        32      
 

Comments:  "Preparation - did alot of practise on opening moves.  I had studied all the lines for black but I was white.  I tried not to open my position up to much in the hope I would last much longer.  I am usually a quiet player anyway.  Hydra is an amazing machine - no other machine can compare to it.  Its as if everything is already worked out before you play the move. If I played the machine again I would try and be more defensive from my first move.   I was very nervous beforehand as I'd seen the commentary on the web and I didn't know what to expect.  I think Michael Adams may get a few more draws but I doubt he will beat it.  I think Hydra will win even if Adams gets one more draw. 

Game 6

Player :        Mark Talbort 

Result:         Hydra 1-0, Checkmate 

Start time:    01:11

End time:     01:35 

Moves:         20
 

Comments:  "I thought it was a good match, I enjoyed the game.  Beforehand I studied various moves but I was black so not that prepared.  I tried a few opening moves that I knew of but playing against the machine it plays differently to humans. If I played again I would try and play more defensive moves but you have to attack the computer in order to stop its attacks but it doesn’t give you a chance.  Hydra is a very good – it had some great moves.  It’s not afraid to attack, it doesn’t sacrifice any pieces.  It’s very dynamic. I want Michael Adams to do well but the computer is so strong.  When he’s white he can possibly get a draw but not if he’s black.

Game 7

 

Player 7:      Kevin Williamson

Result:         Hydra 1-0, Checkmate 

Start time:    01:40

End time:     02:07

Moves:         33
 

Comments:  "I didn’t really have a plan, I thought I would play a more conservative game – and keep a closed position. Because we were playing on a real board, it wasn’t off putting playing against a machine. Although I knew that it was backed up by this huge calculating brain. I thought it played a very non-computer type opening. It played a pawn, and I was able to keep hold of it for a while. This was a very human like move.  It sacrificed a pawn and created weaknesses in my position, it was willing to sacrifice a pawn for a long term advantage. Long term calculating of how the game will go Hydra seemed to be able to forecast the play further play. It gave away a pawn and probably couldn’t see when it could win it back.  In view of the score at the moment, I think Adams will lose the match.

Game 8

Player :         Matthew Tillett

Result:           Hydra 1-0, Checkmate

Start time       3:01pm

End time         3.34 pm 

Moves:           34
 

Comment: I did prepare my openings, the main thing aganist me was the time. Playing with a human you at least tend to spend the same length of time on your moves. This was not the case with Hydra, it's so quick.I tried to make my moves as quick as possible but it's just not possible. I would like to say that Adams will win at least one game in the tournament but I think its unlikely, it would be good to see someone win aganist Hydra. The games when Adams played black it really did look like Hydra had the better of him. 

24 June, 2005