The Daily Update: Caruana Wins Biel and Adams Wins Again. Plus Pamplona and Computers

As was the case at the U.S. Junior, the player with the bye in the tiebreak stage failed to benefit. Against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Fabiano Caruana won the first game with White and lost the second with Black, and it was on to Armageddon. Caruana had Black, and his draw odds forced his opponent to overpress in the queen and rook ending: 0-1. Against Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son he was fortunate to draw his white game, but managed to win with Black. He is thus the winner of Biel - a fine accomplishment! He is now over 2700 - a fine achievement for anyone, and all the more so in his case, as he is currently the youngest 2700 (though not the youngest ever).

In the British Championship, Michael Adams put an end to Jack Rudd's Cinderella story, at least for now, bludgeoning him in just 23 moves. Ouch. Even so, Rudd is having a great tournament, and if he can maintain the form he showed in the first three rounds, he'll have terrific chances for a GM norm. Meanwhile, Adams is in clear first with a 4-0 score, half a point ahead of Alexei Slavin (of Russia?! - eh??) and Adam Hunt.

Pamplona: Wojtaszek and Fressinet won again, and they continue to lead with 4.5/6, a point ahead of pre-tournament favorite Morozevich, Zvjaginsev and Fedorchuk.

Houdini 1.03a vs. Stockfish 1.8: This battle of computer engines, based loosely on Magnus Carlsen's 2005-2010 opening repertoire, is down to its last game. Houdini leads 17-14 and has clinched overall victory in the match, but Stockfish seems to have the advantage in the final game. Note, by the way, that both engines are freely available on the internet.