GM Benjamin hangs on to beat Leela
The eight-game, 60+30 knight odds match between GM Joel Benjamin and the engine Leela (Lc0) has concluded, and Benjamin wins by a 4.5-3.5 score. He was never at realistic risk of losing the match, and the score is mostly a representation of Leela’s frustrating ability to survive, though it ended more tightly than would have been expected after he started up 2-0.
Leela’s sole win came in game five, when Benjamin was under awkward pressure early and eventually made an exchange sacrifice that turned out to just be entering a losing endgame. Game six was a classic case of the machine slipping out of a worse endgame. The final day saw back-to-back draws, including the eighth game being another Leela escape, defending rook and pawn against rook, knight, and pawn to a fitting finish of one extra knight for Black, yet a draw by no material.
Games can be viewed on the Lichess broadcast, and commentary from GM Matthew Sadler, plus post-game insights from Benjamin, on Youtube.
Final tally:
G1. Leela – Benjamin 0-1
G2. Leela – Benjamin 0-1
G3. Leela – Benjamin 1/2-1/2
G4. Leela – Benjamin 1/2-1/2
G5. Leela – Benjamin 1-0
G6. Leela – Benjamin 1/2-1/2
G7. Leela – Benjamin 1/2-1/2
G8. Leela – Benjamin 1/2-1/2
Graphic via Lichess
