CHINOOK: The World Man-Machine Checkers Champion

In 1992, the seemingly unbeatable World Checker Champion, Dr. Marion Tinsley, defended his title against the computer program Chinook. After an intense, tightly-contested match, Tinsley fought back from behind to win the match by scoring four wins to Chinook’s two, with 33 draws. This was the first time in history that a human World Champion defended his title against a computer. This article reports on the progress of the checkers (8 ×8 draughts) program Chinook since 1992. Two years of research and development on the program culminated in a rematch with Tinsley in August 1994. In that match, after six games (all draws), Tinsley resigned the match and the World Championship title to Chinook citing health concerns. Chinook has since defended its title in two subsequent matches. This is the first time in history that a computer has won a human World Championship.