Leela and the Golden Star

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 92; tcec-chess.com, April 20, 2020

Two Knights Defence C57

With an imperious crescendo, Leela Chess Zero put an end to Stockfish’s claim. After 95 games, it (she) leads by 49½ – 45½, virtually winning the match with still 5 games to go. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5!? A desperate Stockfish goes for the crazy Traxler Variation, maybe because AI imitates humans. 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bc4. 6. Bb3 and 6. Bd5 are the usual continuations here, but probably Stockfish’s “theoretical licence” is not new either. 6. ... Qe8 7. Nc3 Nd4 8. d3 d6 9. Nd5+ Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Qg6 11. c3 h6 12. cxd4 Bxd4

13. f4! exf4 14. Nf3 Qxg2 15. Rf1 Bh3 16. Qe2 Qxe2+ 17. Kxe2 Bxf1+ 18. Kxf1 Bf6 19. d4! Rhd8. 19. ... g5 20. e5 does not look more inviting. 20. Bxf4 c6 21. Bb3 Rf8 22. Ke2 Bxd4 23. Bxd6+ Kxd6 24. Nxd4 Rf4 25. Bc2 Re8

26. Rg1. Now, after 26. ... g5 27. Ke3 White would enjoy a clear, safe and healthy advantage. Then Stockfish — as humanely as possible — tried its luck in an endgame a Knight down for two Pawns: 26. ... Rexe4+ 27. Bxe4 Rxe4+ 28. Kd3. Machines, however, do not believe in miracles, and Leela Chess Zero mercilessly capitalised on its material advantage by winning in other 102 moves (!). 28. ... Ke5 29. Nf3+ Kf4 30. Ne1 Re7 31. Ng2+ Kg5 32. Ne3+ Kh5 33. Rg3 Rd7+ 34. Ke2 Re7 35. Rh3+ Kg6 36. Rf3 c5 37. Rf4 b5 38. Kf3 Rd7 39. Ke2 Re7 40. b3 Re6 41. Rg4+ Kf6 42. Rf4+ Kg6 43. Rf2 h5 44. Kd3 Rd6+ 45. Ke4 Re6+ 46. Kf3 Rf6+ 47. Kg2 Re6 48. Nd5 Kh6 49. Nc7 Rg6+ 50. Kf3 a6 51. Rc2 Rc6 52. Nd5 Kg5 53. Kg3. Now, White is threatening to win a Pawn by Nd5-b4. Black can only delay the inevitable. 53. ... c4 54. bxc4 bxc4 55. Ne3 c3 56. Nd1. The run is over, and, with it, the game. 56. ... Rd6 57. Nf2 Rd4 58. Rxc3 Ra4 59. a3 Kf6 60. Rf3+ Ke6 61. Nd3 Rg4+ 62. Kf2 Rc4 63. Nf4+ Kd6 64. Kg3 Rc5 65. Re3 Rg5+ 66. Kf3 Kc6 67. Ne6 Rg6 68. Nf4 Rg5 69. h3 Ra5 70. Ke4 Kd7 71. Rc3 Ke7 72. Nd3 Kf6 73. Nc5 Rb5 74. Nxa6 Re5+ 75. Kf3 Re1 76. Nb4 Rf1+ 77. Kg2 Re1 78. Kf2 Re4 79. Kf3 Rh4 80. Kg3 Rd4 81. Rd3 Rc4 82. Kf2 Kg5 83. Nd5 Re4 84. Nc3 Re8 85. a4 Ra8 86. Rd4 Kg6 87. Kg3 Ra6 88. Rc4 Kh6 89. Kf4 Rf6+ 90. Kg3 Rg6+ 91. Kh2 Ra6 92. h4 Kg6 93. Kg3 Ra5 94. Kf4 Rf5+ 95. Ke4 Ra5 96. Rd4 Rc5 97. Kd3 Rf5 98. Ke3 Re5+ 99. Re4 Rc5 100. Kd4 Rf5 101. Nd5 Rf1 102. Ke5 Kh7 103. Ne3 Rf8 104. Rc4 Ra8 105. Kf4 Kg6 106. Nd5 Ra5 107. Nb6 Kh6 108. Rd4 Ra7 109. Rb4 Rf7+ 110. Kg3 Rf5 111. Rb5 Rf1 112. a5 Rg1+ 113. Kh2 Ra1 114. Kg2 Ra2+ 115. Kg3 Kg6 116. Nc4 Ra1 117. Rc5 Kf6 118. Rxh5 Kg6 119. Rc5 Rg1+ 120. Kf2 Ra1 121. Rc7 Kh6 122. h5 Ra4 123. Rc5 Ra2+ 124. Kf3 Ra1 125. Ke2 Kh7 126. h6 Kxh6 127. Kf2 Kg6 128. Rc7 Kh7 129. Rc5 Ra2+ 130. Kf3 1 : 0.