Update on Recent Server Bugs Impacting Chess Events

Chess.com, a popular online chess platform, recently faced server bugs that impacted two major events – the Bullet Chess Championship and the Clash of Claims. The bugs caused disruptions in gameplay and led to controversial outcomes in some matches.

In the Clash of Claims event, two separate issues were identified. The first issue occurred when Grandmaster Kramnik’s computer had an inaccurate local system clock, resulting in clock errors in two games. As a result, those games were discarded from the event. Chess.com’s team has since added code to address situations where local system clocks are inaccurate.

The second issue in the Clash of Claims involved certain moves not being correctly delivered to opponents. This bug affected one game significantly, where Kramnik did not receive a crucial move, leading to a controversial outcome. The bug was traced back to a flaw in the underlying game connection code, specifically impacting Android users.

Similarly, in the Bullet Chess Championship, three games were affected by the server bugs, leading to disruptions in gameplay and controversial outcomes. The bugs, which had been present for several years but went unnoticed, were finally addressed after the recent events brought them to light.

Chess.com’s CEO, Erik, expressed regret over the impact of these bugs on the events and players. He emphasized the platform’s commitment to providing the best possible experience for all players and pledged to invest in improving telemetry, logging, and monitoring to prevent similar issues in the future.

Despite the challenges faced, Chess.com remains dedicated to ensuring a smooth and fair gaming experience for all its users, both professional and casual players. The recent server bugs serve as a reminder of the importance of continuous improvement and vigilance in maintaining online gaming platforms.