Carnegie-Mellon University's Hitech chess computer scored 5-1 in the National Open Chess Championships held in Chicago March 18-20. The Championship Section in which Hitech competed, had 380 entries. The Championship Section in which Hitech competed, had 380 entries. There was a six-way tie for first with 5.5 points between: International Grandmaster Mikhail Tal (a former world champion), International Grandmaster Sergey Kudrin, FIDE Master Michael Brooks, International Master James Rizzitano, International Master Calvin Blocker, and International Grandmaster Leonid Shamkovich. Tied for seventh with 5 points were: National Master Hitech, International Grandmaster Maxim Dlugy, International Grandmaster Walter Browne, International Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier, and nine others.

In response to this need, Shelby Lyman, the host of past Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) series on world chess championship matches, organized the AGS Challenge Match at the New School for Social Research in New York City. Funding for this event was provided by AGS Computers, Inc., a New Jersey-based software firm. The match was held September 22-25, with one game played each day, and was widely covered by the international press. Participating were Hitech, at 2407 then the highest-rated computer in the world, and International Grandmaster Arnold S. Denker, a former U.S. champion. Denker's rating of 2410 was comparable to that of Hitech.

There was a six-way tie were losses to International Master's, for first with 5.5 points between: and there were two draws against International Grandmaster Mikhail players rated over 2500, (one an International Tal (a former world champion), International Master). Grandmaster Sergey Kudrin, From previous tournaments rated FIDE Master Michael Brooks, International by FIDE, the international chess federation, Master James Rizzitano, International Hitech has achieved a performance Master Calvin Blocker, and worthy of a FIDE rating. However, International Grandmaster Leonid at present FIDE is declining to Shamkovich. Hitech has met every points were: National Master Hitech, qualification but one for achieving a International Grandmaster Maxim rating--it is not a human. If Hitech Dlugy, International Grandmaster were eligible for a rating, its FIDE rating Walter Browne, International Grandmaster would be 2350, which would qualify Arthur Bisguier, and nine others.