New Scientist -- Man and machine deadlocked in chess duel

The eighth and final game between world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik and the computer program Deep Fritz will decide outcome of the entire match, after the penultimate game in the series was drawn on Thursday.

The score is now tied at three and a half points each, leaving the last game on Saturday as a winner-takes-all tie. In the latest game Kramnik appeared to have an attacking advantage early on. But, not for the first time in the match, Deep Fritz played perfect defence and the players agreed on a draw.

Kramnik also said his opponent would have an advantage in preparing for the final showdown. "To be honest, the result will, to a large extent, be based on luck," he said. "The computer doesn't feel any pressure at all, and therefore has a real psychological advantage."