On September 25, SenseRobot, a home robotics brand under SenseTime, kicked off the Peak Duel Challenge series. The latest member of the Yuangua family, the AI chess robot (referred to as the "Yuangua Chess Robot"), faced off against Zhou Yicheng, the 15-year-old champion of the National Youth Chess Championship, and Hou Yifan, the youngest female world champion and four-time women’s world champion.
In this thrilling event, Chinese chess pioneer Xie Jun and SenseTime co-founder Ma Kun provided commentary, analysis, and a recap of the matches. Notable personalities showcased their skills, breathing new life into chess, a sport with nearly 2,000 years of history. The groundbreaking Peak Duel Challenge saw the Yuangua Chess Robot, with skills corresponding to a 2500 rating on chess.com, make its debut against tough opponents.
During the competition, Zhou Yicheng demonstrated impressive tactics and balanced offensive and defensive strategies, while the Yuangua robot showcased its quick reactions and adaptability. After a tense 30-minute battle, the Yuangua Chess Robot secured victory with a stunning performance. Post-match, Xie Jun praised both players, highlighting that Yuangua is an excellent chess companion that enhances the joy of playing for enthusiasts.
Hou Yifan, who became a chess grandmaster at age 13 and won her first world women’s championship at 16, took on the Yuangua robot at its highest skill level in the Peak Duel mode. The match began with her sophisticated opening strategy and keen insight, making for a dynamic back-and-forth on the board. As the competition progressed, the Yuangua Chess Robot progressively displayed its superior strategic capabilities, executing precise moves that expanded its lead and ultimately secured victory, showcasing a skill level beyond that of human world champions.
Reflecting on the match, Hou Yifan noted, "The Yuangua Chess Robot has a very solid opening style and intricate mid-game strategies. Its rapid move execution makes it a formidable opponent. Yet, it's also a valuable aid—AI analysis has become an integral part of training for top players, traditionally conducted on computers. The Yuangua AI chess robot recreates the authentic competition experience, helping players enhance their skills while providing real-world simulation."
Xie Jun commended the match, saying, "It was an intense contest. Yuangua played steadily and strategically, proving to be an excellent opponent. With an AI assistant like Yuangua, we can significantly benefit from its computational power and strategic insights. By integrating these elements into our own tactics, we can become even stronger, exemplifying how AI serves humanity and aids our progress."
The Yuangua Chess Robot, launched as the third AI chess robot after those designed for Xiangqi and Go, addresses several challenges in AI technology and mechanical engineering. It is the first home robot capable of picking up 3D chess pieces with a mechanical claw, facilitating human-machine and player-versus-player matches, alongside notation and analysis features. This innovative product not only enriches the chess-playing experience for users but also marks a significant milestone in Yuangua's international expansion.
Ma Kun stated, “Unlike Xiangqi and Go, chess features variously shaped 3D pieces that present recognition and gripping difficulties for robots. We overcame these challenges by refining the mechanical arm structure and algorithms and incorporating a three-fingered claw for precise 3D piece capture. As pioneers in home chess robots, we aspire for Yuangua to become a learning partner and training companion for chess enthusiasts and children, leveraging technological innovation to benefit more households and contribute to promoting chess.”
The Yuangua AI Chess Robot is equipped with a self-developed AI engine that categorizes skill levels into 25 grades, aligning with the world-leading norms of chess.com, which range from 200 to 3200 in ratings. It boasts capabilities that surpass human world champions and caters to players of various skill levels. Additionally, it offers a range of features including AI puzzle training, skill challenges, peak dueling, endgame challenges, planetary alliances, AI game analysis, and extensive dialogue through large language models.
Ranking
