diff --git a/openevolve/_version.py b/openevolve/_version.py
index 858741097..9e99d424b 100644
--- a/openevolve/_version.py
+++ b/openevolve/_version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """Version information for openevolve package."""
 
-__version__ = "0.2.22"
+__version__ = "0.2.23"
diff --git a/openevolve/controller.py b/openevolve/controller.py
index 9bec7a090..e4e250222 100644
--- a/openevolve/controller.py
+++ b/openevolve/controller.py
@@ -357,28 +357,6 @@ def force_exit_handler(signum, frame):
             best_program = self.database.get_best_program()
             logger.info("Using calculated best program (tracked program not found)")
 
-        # Check if there's a better program by combined_score that wasn't tracked
-        if best_program and "combined_score" in best_program.metrics:
-            best_by_combined = self.database.get_best_program(metric="combined_score")
-            if (
-                best_by_combined
-                and best_by_combined.id != best_program.id
-                and "combined_score" in best_by_combined.metrics
-            ):
-                # If the combined_score of this program is significantly better, use it instead
-                if (
-                    best_by_combined.metrics["combined_score"]
-                    > best_program.metrics["combined_score"] + 0.02
-                ):
-                    logger.warning(
-                        f"Found program with better combined_score: {best_by_combined.id}"
-                    )
-                    logger.warning(
-                        f"Score difference: {best_program.metrics['combined_score']:.4f} vs "
-                        f"{best_by_combined.metrics['combined_score']:.4f}"
-                    )
-                    best_program = best_by_combined
-
         if best_program:
             if (
                 hasattr(self, "parallel_controller")