Tournament Summary - Chess on an Infinite Plane

(By the way, it’s always your turn, @vickalan .)

For about a year, I've been playing these games and usually just make one move per day (one for each game). Sometimes my opponent will take 2 or 3 days.

Now it seems a "new generation" of players are playing much faster, which is excellent! But I'm still in five games simultaneously, and didn't expect the fast reply times for several games. I really like it a lot. But unfortunately, my dog and cat and everything else will be ignored in my life if I only play these games. So I'll keep trying to play at least one move per day. If I finish some games, then maybe faster in the future.

Anyway - the games have all been awesome so far - I've seen a lot of new strategy, and it all looks like new theory in game strategy. This is the stuff that forms the basis for a game's understanding - and that's where the grandmasters and world champions come from!😍

Who do you think is the best at infinite chess so far?

We'll see about that.

Yes. Yes we will.

Besides the two players who made it to the championship game, I think @cobra91 is also very good - he defeated me in a game before the tournament (here). I made an inaccurate move, but then was stunned how well he used that to dominate during the entire remainder of the game.

I've even thought about giving him an "honorary pass" to challenge the future champion directly (without qualifying) but that would upset the system. Once we learn who's the champion, and if nobody can win against him, it might be interesting to invite cobra back to see how strong he really is among the new crop of players.

Not exactly. After the tournament, it becomes a lineal championship - similar to what's used in boxing (and similar to rules for bulldog).

After the tournament, here are the rules for who is allowed to challenge the world champion:

Players can challenge the champion with the following conditions:

a) They must have at least one "level 2" win. This means they have won at least one game against an opponent who also has a win. (they are at a level equal to the completed final game - they are trying to do what the last contender could not do).

b) If a player previously played the champion but lost, he can challenge the champion only if his score has improved since his game against the champion.

c) If there are multiple qualifying contenders, the player with the highest score can challenge the champion. If this player is idle (not in a game) and does not challenge the champion within two weeks, then the qualifying contender with the next highest score can challenge the champion.

d) A tie in score is broken first by judging the scores of player's opponent, and then by the number of games won as Black.

Miscellaneous:

A champion normally plays White, unless he requests Black.

A champion that does not accept a challenge and begins play within two-weeks forfeits the title.

People with multiple screennames can play as independent players (games are a role-playing form of entertainment). But risk of having account closed by chess.com is player's concern - not tournament's concern.

I'm the tournament director, but I'm happy to listen to suggestions. Also, I'm glad you asked because it's good to show the rules now - before we know who is the first "Infinite Chess World Champion"!😱

Q1:
Players scores are calculated the same way as in chess tournaments:
Score = ((wins) + ½(draws))/games
(example: 1 win from 2 games = 0.500 score).

Q2:
Yes, anyone who wins against me is qualified to challenge the future world champion. Other players to beat (have at least one win) include @SuperSam1 and @Friedmelon.

That would be awesome to start another game, but I'm almost at the point where I can't play or moderate any more games. As soon as one game is finished, and when we find another player, then I'll be happy to start a thread for another game. I'll put you "next in line", if you're interested when another game is finished.

If you and 314pimaster (or any 2 players) would like to start a game that would be great, but I can post a board update only about once per day. I recently finished one game (lost ), and I believe will start another (smaller) game soon.

PixelByPixel has defeated @vickalan, with a checkmate at move 34 in a stunning game (here). This win qualifies PixelbyPixel to challenge the future world champion.

SuperSam1 and vickalan are currently playing in the Championship game, to decide the first-ever world champion in infinite chess.

Other games in progress include:

hitthepin (White) is playing against vickalan.
hitthepin (White) is playing againt captaintugwash.
hitthepin (White) is playing against PixelByPixel.

Player scores are shown here:

If anyone sees any errors or omissions please leave a comment.

I just won.

I'll accept a challenge from anyone who has a win.

*edit - assuming of course there's a mod available.