Right, the specific code that he wrote he claims ran as fast as C++. What type of code is this? Benchmarking program language speed is a very, very tricky thing because it is so multidimensional.
- Were they both multi-threaded or Single-threaded?
- What libraries were each one using?
- Was it mostly IO, network, or user interaction?
- Is he measuring load times, processing times, run/wait ratios?
- What level of compiler optimization where they both using?
Yes, there are several reasons it's called the benchmarks game and although you can read it the way you have, it's more to do with having a lot of spectators and some regular players, and more to do with a weariness with fatal shootouts.
- Were they both multi-threaded or Single-threaded?
- What libraries were each one using?
- Was it mostly IO, network, or user interaction?
- Is he measuring load times, processing times, run/wait ratios?
- What level of compiler optimization where they both using?
- Was the program large or small?
There's a reason they call it the "Computer Language Benchmark Game": http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/