Luigi Villa

Luigi Villa is a backgammon player from Milan, Italy.[1] In 1979, he was the winner of the 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 drew an audience of 200 people.[1]

In 2006, Villa placed second at the World Championship following a six-hour, 25-point final[4] round against Philip Vischjager.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Allen, Henry. "Gammonoid the Conqueror," The Washington Post. 17 July 1979, p. B1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bray, Chris. "Man vs. Machine", The Independent (London). 11 December 2004, p. 75.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Berliner, Hans, et al. "Backgammon program beats world champ", ACM SIGART Bulletin, Issue 69. January 1980. pp. 6–9.
  4. ↑ Interactive replay of Villa's final against Philip Vischjager
  5. ↑ Bray, Chris. "Monte Carlo 2006", The Independent (London). 29 July 2006, p. 61