Getting a little nostalgic here, but as a machine learning expert I was stunned to read this going over a game in the Zurich Interzonal Chess Tourny 1953 today (don't ask, I'm getting a little nostalgic lately - seriously)
 
"It is by means of this matching up of and balancing of the chances for both sides that the master generally arrives at more or less objective conclusions, which are called an 'evaluation of the position'
 
If coefficients could be found for that sort of evaluation, then machines could also play chess"
 
David Bronstein (1924-2006)- written in 1956....1956, gentlemen...stunning...that is exactly what our engines do with their evaluation functions. we've been spoiled by the the tChess download to the iPhone for sure. this is on the level of the intelligence of Crick and Watson with their famous "the capacity for this code to carry information was not lost on the authors"

The real pioneer to computer chess play was 3-time world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik.
 
Jus thought I'd throw that out there

You just ruined my day. :P