Update on Recent Server Bugs Impacting Chess Events

Chess.com Faces Server Bugs Impacting Bullet Chess Championship and Clash of Claims

Chess enthusiasts were left disappointed as two recent server bugs affected the highly anticipated Bullet Chess Championship and Clash of Claims events. The bugs caused disruptions in gameplay and led to controversial outcomes in some matches.

In the Clash of Claims, Grandmaster Kramnik encountered issues with his computer’s system clock, resulting in clock errors in two games. Additionally, certain moves were not correctly delivered to opponents, affecting gameplay in a significant manner. While efforts were made to address these issues promptly, the impact on the event was undeniable.

The root cause of the bugs was traced back to a flaw in the underlying game connection code, particularly affecting Android users. Chess.com’s use of the open-source CometD system was identified as a contributing factor to the server bugs. Updates were swiftly implemented to rectify the issues, with a notable improvement in server performance observed post-update.

Unfortunately, before the server updates could be applied, three games in the Bullet Chess Championship were also affected by the bugs. Players like Sam Sevian faced unfair outcomes due to the disruptions, leading to frustration among participants and spectators alike.

Chess.com expressed regret over the incidents and acknowledged the need for continuous improvement in server stability and performance. The platform’s commitment to providing a seamless gaming experience for all players, from professionals to casual enthusiasts, was reiterated, with a promise to invest in enhanced monitoring and telemetry to prevent similar issues in the future.

Despite the setbacks, the chess community remains hopeful for smoother and more reliable gameplay experiences in upcoming events, thanks to the proactive measures taken by Chess.com to address the server bugs.