_Player_ _Wins_ _Losses_
Angler 6 3
Votbinnik 6 3
Jal 5-1/2 3-1/2
Machine 5-1/2 3-1/2
Lysmov 5 4
Serek 4-1/2 4-1/2
Sherevsky 4-1/2 4-1/2
Jandorf 3-1/2 5-1/2
Krakatower 2-1/2 6-1/2
Grabo 2 7
"It was a good tournament," Doc said. "And the Machine has proven
itself a grandmaster. It must make you feel good, Simon, after being
out of tournament chess for twenty years."
The psychologist nodded.
"Will you go back to psychology now?" Sandra asked him.
Simon Great smiled. "I can answer that question honestly, Miss
Grayling, because the news is due for release. No. WBM is pressing for
entry of the Machine in the Interzonal Candidates' Tournament. They
want a crack at the World's Championship."
Doc raised his eyebrows. "That's news indeed. But look, Simon, with the
knowledge you've gained in this tournament won't you be able to make
the Machine almost a sure winner in every game?"
"I don't know. Players like Angler and Lysmov may find some more flaws
in its functioning and dream up some new stratagems. Besides, there's
another solution to the problems raised by having a single computer
entered in a grandmaster tournament."
Doc sat up straight. "You mean having more programmer-computer teams
than just one?"
"Exactly. The Russians are bound to give their best players computers,
considering the prestige the game has in Russia. And I wasn't asking
Willie that question about IBM just on a hunch. Chess tournaments
are a wonderful way to test rival computers and show them off to the
public, just like cross-country races were for the early automobiles.
The future grandmaster will inevitably be a programmer-computer team, a
man-machine symbiotic partnership, probably with more freedom each way
than I was allowed in this tournament--I mean the man taking over the
play in some positions, the machine in others."
"You're making my head swim," Sandra said.
* * * * *
"Mine is in the same storm-tossed ocean," Doc assured her. "Simon,
that will be very fine for the master who can get themselves
computers--either from their governments or from hiring out to big
firms. Or in other ways. Jandorf, I'm sure, will be able to interest
some Argentinian millionaire in a computer for him. While I... oh, I'm
too old... still, when I start to think about it.... But what about
the Bela Grabos? Incidentally, did you know that Grabo is contesting
Jandorf's win? Claims Jandorf discussed the position with Serek. I
think they exchanged about two words."
Simon shrugged, "The Bela Grabos will have to continue to fight their
own battles, if necessary satisfying themselves with the lesser
tournaments. Believe me, Savilly, from now on grandmaster chess without
one or more computers entered will lack sauce."
Dr. Krakatower shook his head and said, "Thinking gets more expensive
every year."
From the floor came the harsh voice of Igor Jandorf and the shrill one
of Bela Grabo raised in anger. Three words came through clearly: "... I
challenge you...."
Sandra said, "Well, there's something you can't build into a
machine--ego."
"Oh, I don't know about that," said Simon Great.
[Transcriber's Note: No Section II or III headings in original.]