Luigi Villa

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Luigi Villa is a backgammon player from Milan, Italy.[1] In 1979, he was the winner of the first World Championship held in Monte Carlo.[2]

The same year, he was defeated in a 7-point match by Hans Berliner's computer program BKG 9.8,[3] becoming the first world champion in any board game to be defeated by a software program.[2] Although Villa's play in the match was stronger, the computer received more favorable dice rolls, winning the match 7-1.[2][3] The match was played for US$5,000, and was watched by an audience of 200 people.[1]

In 2006, Villa placed second at the World Championship following a six-hour, 25-point final round against Philip Vischjager.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Allen, Henry. "Gammonoid the Conqueror," The Washington Post. 17 July 1979, pg. B1
  2. ^ a b c Bray, Chris. "Man vs. Machine", The Independent (London). 11 December 2004, pg. 75.
  3. ^ a b Berliner, Hans, et. al. "Backgammon program beats world champ", ACM SIGART Bulletin, Issue 69. January 1980. pp 6-9.
  4. ^ Bray, Chris. "Monte Carlo 2006", The Independent (London). 29 July 2006, pg. 61


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