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. Allen, Henry. "Gammonoid the Conqueror," The Washington Post. 17 July 1979, p. B1
  2. Bray, Chris. "Man vs. Machine", The Independent (London). 11 December 2004, p. 75.
  3. 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


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