The Computer Olympiad is a multi-games event in which computer programs compete against each other. For many games, the Computer Olympiads are an opportunity to claim the "world's best computer player" title. First contested in 1989, the majority of the games are board games but other games such as bridge take place as well. In 2010, several puzzles were included in the competition.
History + Venues and participationOlympiadYearCity, countryVenueSponsor(s)ParticipationCountriesPrograms11989 (August 9–15)London, EnglandPark Lane Hotel8421990 (August 15–21)London, England31991 (August 22–25)Maastricht, NetherlandsMaastricht University41992 (August 5–11)London, EnglandPark Lane HotelAST52000 (August 21–25)London, EnglandAlexandra Palace62001 (August 18–23)Maastricht, NetherlandsMaastricht UniversityCMG72002 (July 5–11)Maastricht, NetherlandsMaastricht University82003 (November 23–27)Graz, AustriaDom im Berg and Casineum92004 (July 3–12)Ramat Gan, IsraelBar-Ilan University102005Taipei, Taiwan112006Turin, Italy122007Amsterdam, Netherlands132008Beijing, China142009Pamplona, Spain152010Kanazawa, Japan162011Tilburg, Netherlands172013Yokohama, Japan182015Leiden, Netherlands Developed in the 1980s by David Levy, the first Computer Olympiad took place in 1989 at the Park Lane Hotel in London. The games ran on a yearly basis until after the 1992 games, when the Olympiad's ruling committee was unable to find a new organiser. This resulted in the games being suspended until 2000 when the Mind Sports Olympiad resurrected them. Recently, the International Computer Games Association (ICGA) has adopted the Computer Olympiad and tries to organise the event on an annual basis.
Games contested The games which have been contested at each Olympiad are:
Link toevent articleOlympiad and yearLink toparticipantsand results123456789101112131415161718198919901991199220002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120132015AbaloneAbaloneAmazonsAmazonsAwariAwariBackgammonBackgammonBridgeBridgeChessChessChinese ChessChinese chessChinese Dark ChessChinese dark chessClobberClobberConnect FourConnect FourConnect6Connect6DominoesDominoesGin rummyGin rummyGIPFGIPFOctiOctiPokerPokerPoolPool
1st–5th Olympiads (1989–1992) Game 1989 1990 1991 1992 (5–11 Aug)London, England Awari Marco (R. Nierat), Wali (E. van der Schilden), Conchus (S. Thomas) Lithidon (University of Limburg) Marco (R. Nierat) Lithidion (V. Allis and M. van der Meulen)MyProgram (E. van Riet Paap) Lithidion (M. van der Meulen, NL) Marvin (T. Lincke, CH) Juju (UK) Backgammon Neurogammon (Gerald Tesauro, CA) Video Gammon (R. Hoogerhyde), Saitek Backgammon (Treesoft) Video Gammon (R. Hoogerhyde) Prospero (R. Mills) Bax (K.-U. Koschnik, DE) Maestro 1.0 (J. Boyan, US) Video Gammon (R. Hoogerhyde, US) Bridge Acol Master Bridge (Paul Jones) Vtech (Tony Guilfoyle) Oxford Bridge 3 (Andrew Bracher) Bridge Baron (T. Throop and T. Guilfoyle) Oxford Bridge (A. Bracher) Bridge Baron (T. Throop and T. Guilfoyle) Pupil Bridge King (J. Leber and G. Scholz) Bridge King (J. Leber and G. Scholz, DE) Bridge Baron (T. Throop and T. Guilfoyle, (UK) Alpha Bridge (A. Lopatin, RU) Checkers Chinook (J. Schaeffer) Checkers! (G. Dodgen) Tournament Checkers (D. Butler) Colossus (M. Bryant) Chinook (Jonathan Schaeffer) Checkermate (D. Oldbury and A. Millett) Chess REBEL (Ed Schroeder) Mephisto (R. Lang) Fidelity (Kathe and Dan Spracklen) Mephisto (R. Lang) REBEL (E. Schroeder) Zugzwang (P. Mysliwietz and R. Feldman) The ChessMachine WK-version (E. Schroeder)The King (J. de Koning) Chessplayer 2175 (C. Whittington) HIARCS 6.72 (M. Uniacke, (UK) The King (J. de Koning, NL) Genesis (E. Riet Paap, NL) Chinese Chess Acer Chinese Chess (Y. Shi-Shun) Chinese Chess Expert Acme (K-M. Ts'ao) Elephant (S-C. Hsu) Elephant (S-C. Hsu) Chinese Chess Expert (K-M. Ts'ao) NKS (H.S. Long and S. Zi) Abyss (C. Ye) Surprise (R. Wu) Surprise (R. Wu, CH) Elephant (S.-H. Hsu, TW) Connect Four Victor (V. Allis) Heap (M. Taylor) Four Blitz (H. van der Zijden) Dominoes LUciano (D. Borrajo) Seneca (M. Alicia Perez) Rio de la Plata (E. Gramajo) Draughts Dios '89 (E. van Riet Paap) Truus (S. Keetman) McDammen (R.P.G. van Bemmelen) Truus (S. Keetman) Dam 1.3 (H. Jetten) McDammen (R. P. G. van Bemmelen) Tn 83 (A. R. D. van Bergen, NL) Dynamo (A. Millet, (UK) Gin rummy Rummymate (RU) Ginny (RU) Go 19x19 SWISS Explorer (A. Kierulf) Goliath (M. Boon),Star of Poland (J. Kraszek) Go Intellect (K. Chen) SWISS Explorer (A. Kierulf and M. Müller) Go 4 (M. Reiss) Goliath (M. Boon) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen) Explorer 90 (M. Müller) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) Go 4.3 (M. Reiss, (UK) Archmage (S.-C. Hsu and J.-C. Yan, TW) Neuron (RU) Go 9x9 Dragon (D-Y. Lin) Go Intellect (K. Chen) Goliath (M. Boon) Go Intellect (K. Chen) Go 4 (M. Reiss) Dragon (D-Y. Lin) Explorer 90 (M. Müller) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen) Goliath (M. Boon) Go 4.3 (M. Reiss, (UK) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) Dragon (D.-Y. Lin, TW) Gomoku Matena (A. Frolov) Homoku Sapiens (N. Alexandrov) Domino (M. Muron and J. Novotny) Stone System (N. Alexandrov, M. Trukhan, and A. Grigoriev) Matena (A. Frolov) Solid (A. Dolinsky) XOXOXO (Lev Ilkov) Vertex (A. Shaposhnikov and A. Nosovsky) Neuro-GM Stone System (N. Alexandrov, M. Trukhan and A. Grigoriev) Victoria (V. Allis and L. Schoenmaker, NL) Polygon (J. Uiterwijk, NL) Neuron (RU) Nine men's morris Bushy 4.0 (R. Gasser) IIF Moris (M. Leineweber) Othello Polygon (A. Selby) Comp'oth (F. Aguillon) Badia (M. van Tien) Dumbo (T. Duykers) Vers2 (B. de Wolf) Microb (M. Claverie) Prothello (L. Jansen) Mast 91 (R. Kroonenberg) Rev91 (J. Buijs) Othel du Nord (J.-C. Delbarre, FR) Aida (J. Gnodde, NL) JacP'Oth (P. Gailhac, FR) Qubic Qubic (A. Grigoriev) Cube (M. Burton) QBig (V. Allis and P. Schoo) 3D3T (A. Grigoriev) Renju Renju Sapiens (A. Grigoriev) Tandy Renju (R. Lang) Renju Fan (N. Alexandrov, M. Trukhan, and A. Grigoriev) XOXOXO (L. Ilkov) Vertex (A. Shaposhnikov and A. Nosovsky) Neuro-RN Stone System (N. Alexandrov, M. Trukhan and A. Grigoriev) Neuron (RU) Zero Club (Latvia, LV) Xokk (FI) Scrabble Crab (A. Appel, G. Jacobson, G. Thomas, and S. Thomas) Tyler (A. Frank) Quetzal (T. Guilfoyle and R. Hooker) TSP (J. Homan) Crab (G. Jacobson) Tyler (A. Frank) TSP (J. Homan) Tyler (A. Frank) Quetzal (T. Guilfoyle and R. Hooker, UK) Tyler (A. Frank, US) Trouble (NL)
6th–10th Olympiads (2000–2004) After an eight-year hiatus, the Computer Olympiad was revived by bringing it into the Mind Sports Olympiad. The chess competition was a special event, since it was adopted by the International Correspondence Chess Association (ICCA) as the 17th World Microcomputer Chess Championship (WMCC 2000). The 5th Olympiad was in 2000 at London's Alexandra Palace; the 6th, in 2001 at Ad Fundunm at Maastricht University; the 7th, in 2002 in Maastricht; the 8th, in 2003 in Graz; and the 9th, in 2004 in Ramat Gan. The 7th Olympiad was adopted by the ICCA as the 10th World Computer Chess Championship (WCCC), and the 8th was held in conjugation with both 11th WCCC and the 10th Advances in Computer Games Conference. Because of this, no medals were awarded for the two chess events. The 9th was held in conjugation with WCCC and the Computers and Games 2004 Conference; no medals were awarded to the two chess events. Jonathan Schaeffer and J. W. H. M. Uiterwijk were the tournament directors.
Game 2000 (21–25 Aug)London, England 2001 (18–23 Aug)Maastricht, Netherlands 2002 (5–11 July)Maastricht, Netherlands 2003 (23–27 Nov)Graz, Austria 2004 (3–12 July)Ramat Gan, Israel Abalone AbaPro (T. Werner) (AT) Nacre (P. Sommerlund, DK) Amazons 8QP (J. de Koning, NL) Yamazon (H. Yamashita, JP) Anky (P. Hensgens, NL) 8QP (J. de Koning, NL) Aska (Iida lab, JP) Invader (Avetisyan, US) Amazong (J. Lieberum, DE) 8QP (J. de Koning, NL) Invader (Avetisyan, US) Amazong (J. Lieberum, DE)} Invader (Avetisyan, US) 8QP (J. de Koning, NL) 8QP (J. de Koning, NL) TAS (Y. Higashiuchi, JP) Awari Marvin (T. Lincke, CH) Softwari (R. van der Goot, CA) Backgammon BGBlitz (F. Berger, DE) Gnubg (A. Müller, DE) BGBlitz (F. Berger, DE) Gnubg (A. Müller, DE) Bridge Wbridge5 (Costel, FR) Jack (H. Kuijff, NL) Chess Shredder (S. Meyer-Kahlen, DE) Fritz (F. Morsch, NL) Rebel (E. Schroeder, NL) Chess Tiger (C. Theron, FR)Rybka disqualified; gold rewarded Junior (A. Ban, IL) Quest (F. Morsch, NL) Shredder (S. Meyer-Kahlen, DE) Junior (A. Ban, IL) Shredder (S. Meyer-Kahlen, DE) Brutus (C. Donninger, AT) Chinese chess ELP (J-C. Chen, TW) SG8.2 (Cheng, TW) Abyss'99 (T. Marsland, CA) ELP (J-C. Chen, TW) Shiga 8.1 (S-J. Yen, TW) Xie Xie (P. Tang, E. Castillo, FR) ZMBL (Z. Tu, CN) Xie Xie (P. Tang, E. Castillo, FR) ELP (J-C. Chen, TW) Contemplation (K-C Wu, TW) ELP (J-C. Chen, TW) Dots and Boxes Control Freak (W. Fraser, US) Seicho (H. Iida, JP) Control Freak (W. Fraser, US) Deep Beige (D. Bochenski, (UK) Damepo (H. Iida, JP) Draughts Dam 2.2 (H. Jetten) (Netherlands) DIOS (C. Jurriens, NL) Damage (B. Tuyt, NL) Sjende Blyn (J. Wiersma, NL) Dam 2.2 (H. Jetten, NL) TD King (T. Tillemans, CH) GIPF GF1 (K. van den Branden) (Belgium) Gipfted (D. Wentink, NL) Go 19x19 GoeMate (Z. Chen, CN) Go4++ (M. Reiss, (UK) Aya (H. Yamashita, JP) Go4++ (M. Reiss, (UK) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) GNU Go (I. Wallin) (Sweden) GNU Go (I. Wallin) (Sweden) GoAhead (P. Woitke, DE) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) The Many Faces of Go (D. Fotland, US) Indigo (B. Bouzy, FR) Go 9x9 Go4++ (M. Reiss, (UK) GNU Go (I. Wallin, SE) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) Aya (H. Yamashita, JP) NeuroGo (M. Enzenberger, CA) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) Go Intellect (K-H. Chen, US) GnuGo (Free Software Foundation) (international) Magog (E. van der Werf, NL) Hex Hexy (V. Anshelevich, US) Queenbee (J. v. Ryswyck, CA)Killerbee (E. Brasa, IT Six (G. Melis) (Hungary) Mongoose (R. Hayward, CA) Six (G. Melis, HU) Mongoose (R. Hayward, CA) Lines of Action YL (Y. Björnsson, CA) Mona (D. Billings, CA) MIA (M. Winands, NL) YL (Y. Björnsson, CA) MIA II (M. Winands, NL) Apprentice (D. Beal, UK) YL (Y. Björnsson, CA) MIA III (M. Winands, NL)) (T-T) (H. Iida, JP) MIA IV (M. Winands, NL) BING (B. Helmstetter, FR) (T-T) (J. Nagashima, JP) MIA 4++ (M. Winands, NL) BING (B. Helmstetter, FR) YL (Y. Björnsson, IS) Octi 6x7 Testme2 (J. Bacher, CA) Casbah (C. Sutton, US) Poker Vexbot (University of Alberta GAMES group, CA) Sparbot (University of Alberta GAMES group, CA) Shogi YSS (H. Yamashita, JP) Shotest 4.1 (J. Rollason, (UK) Tacos (H. Tsuyoshi, JP) Shotest 5.6 (J. Rollason, (UK) Spear (R. Grimbergen, NL/JP) Tacos (H. Iida, JP) ISshogi (Y. Tanase, CA) Kanazawa under Reiki (S. Todoroki, JP) Shotest 5.6 (J. Rollason, (UK) YSS (H. Yamashita, JP) ISshogi (Y. Tanase, JP) Tacos (H. Iida, JP)
10th–14th Olympiads (2005–2009) The 10th Olympiad was in 2005 in Taipei; the 11th, in 2006 in Turin; the 12th, in 2007 at the Amsterdam Science Park; the 13th, in 2008 at the Beijing Golden Century Golf Club; and the 14th, in 2009 in Pamplona. The 10th Olympiad wasa held at the same time and location as the 11th Advances in Computer Games and its organizing committee was made up of J. W. Hellemons (chair), H. H. L. M. Donkers, M. Greenspan, T-s Hsu, H. J. van den Herik, and M. Tiessen. Hand Talk, which won the gold medal in Computer Go, was originally written in assembly language by a retired chemistry professor of Sun Yat-sen University, China. The 11th Olympiad was held in conjugation with the 14th World Computer Chess Championship and the 5th Computer and Games Conference. Human FIDE 37th Chess Olympiad co-hosted this event; the 12th, with the 15th World Computer Chess Championship and the Computer Games Workshop; the 13th, with the International Computer Games Championship, the World Computer Chess Championship, and a scientific conference on computer games; and the 14th with the World Computer Chess Championship and a scientific conference on computer games.