Dario De Toffoli
{{Short description|Italian board game designer, gamebook author, and elite games player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dario De Toffoli
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1953}}
| birth_place = Venice, Italy
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education =
| occupation = {{hlist|Board game designer|gamebook author|games player|tournament organiser}}
| known_for = Founder of Studiogiochi
}}
Dario De Toffoli (born 1953) is an Italian board game designer, gamebook author, and games player who founded the games company Studiogiochi and established many games events. Born in 1953 Venice,{{cite web|url=http://www.studiogiochi.com/en/autori/Dario-De-Toffoli.htmlStudiogichi|title=studiogiochi – Dario De Toffoli|website=www.studiogiochi.com|access-date=10 November 2017|archive-date=11 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111041815/http://www.studiogiochi.com/en/autori/Dario-De-Toffoli.htmlStudiogichi|url-status=dead}} after an early career as a chemist he entered the world of games. Winner of over 60 medals at the Mind Sports Olympiad,{{cite web|url=http://www.boardability.com/profile.php?id=dario_de_toffoli|title=Profile of Dario De Toffoli|website=www.boardability.com|access-date=19 February 2011|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708074819/http://www.boardability.com/profile.php?id=dario_de_toffoli|url-status=dead}} He won the 2002{{cite web|url=http://www.sperling.it/autore/0002995|title=Dario De Toffoli – Gli autori di Sperling & Kupfer|website=Sperling & Kupfer editori|access-date=20 February 2011|archive-date=26 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926145602/http://www.sperling.it/autore/0002995|url-status=dead}} and 2012 Pentamind Competition{{Cite web|url=https://mindsportsolympiad.com/pentamind-world-championship/|title=Pentamind World Championship}} for the best games all-rounder in the world. In 2006, he won a special award for his contribution to games which includes contribution to all aspects of games.{{cite web|url=http://www.plda.it/giuria.html|title=Giuria|website=plda.it}}
Contribution to games
The Personalità Ludica dell'Anno (PLDA) award the prize to the games personality of the year. In 2006, instead of the normal competition the PLDA made a lifetime achievement award to Dario De Toffoli for his "career" in games.{{cite web|url=http://www.plda.it/storia.html|title= Storia |website=plda.it}}
In the 1990s De Toffoli and his company staged the first five Italian Festivals of games,{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,0010/articleid,1307_02_1990_0257_0010_19025449/ |title=La Stampa – Consultazione Archivio |publisher=Archiviolastampa.it |accessdate=6 March 2011}} the largest in Italy. Other significant events established by De Toffoli include the Mind Sports player competition Giocatore dell'Anno and the Venice International Backgammon Tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.backgammonmagazin.de/turnier/Venice2001/Venice2001.htm|title=Venice 2001|website=www.backgammonmagazin.de|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718201119/http://www.backgammonmagazin.de/turnier/Venice2001/Venice2001.htm|url-status=dead}}
De Toffoli also established one of the few board game design competitions: the Premio Archimede (the Archimedes Prize), dedicated to Alex Randolph,{{cite web|url=http://www.spieleautorenzunft.de/newsreader-en/items/premio-archimede-the-winners-of-the-game-designer-competion.html|title=Game designers association page on Premio Archemde results retrieved 4 March 2011|publisher=|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131094950/http://www.spieleautorenzunft.de/newsreader-en/items/premio-archimede-the-winners-of-the-game-designer-competion.html|archive-date=31 January 2011|url-status=dead}} an international competition where along with the prize the winner has their game displayed in the Swiss museum of games.{{cite web|url=http://www.museedujeu.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=94|title=Premio Archemde exhibition announcement|publisher=}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
As a player
=Scrabble in Italian=
De Toffoli was one of the top players in Scrabble in Italian. The world championship in Italian Scrabble was not founded until 2008 before that there were Majors. De Toffoli had multiple top three finishes in these competitions and won the Masters in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.scrabbleitalia.com/albodoro.html|title=Scrabble Italia|first=Erwin |last=Aligam |website=www.scrabbleitalia.com}}
=Backgammon=
De Toffoli wrote two books on backgammon in Italian: the rules of the game and the big book of backgammon{{cite web|url=http://www.backgammon.it/libri/index.dhtml?c_libro=32|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328104551/http://www.backgammon.it/libri/index.dhtml?c_libro=32|archivedate=2013-03-28|title= Libri: Backgammon: tutte le regole del gioco |website=backgammon.it}}
In the latter, he is credited with bringing to light that the origins of backgammon went back 500 years further than had previously been reported.{{cite web|url=http://www.stampalternativa.it/wordpress/?s=Dario+De+Toffoli|title=La parola ai "Numeri" di Dario De Toffoli|website=www.stampalternativa.it|access-date=20 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928070847/http://www.stampalternativa.it/wordpress/?s=Dario+De+Toffoli|url-status=dead}}
He is also a successful backgammon player having won numerous competitions and produced a book on the subject for La Stampa newspaper.Backgammon, La Stampa, December 1999 He is a top class player having world rating of over 1500 at the end of the 2009 season.{{Cite web |title=World Backgammon ratings matches for Dario De Toffoli |url=http://www.worldbackgammonratings.com/TMPlayerViewPage.aspx?Player=Dario_De_Toffoli |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328105034/http://www.worldbackgammonratings.com/TMPlayerViewPage.aspx?Player=Dario_De_Toffoli |archive-date=28 March 2010 |access-date=4 March 2011 |website=World Backgammon Ratings}}
However, De Toffoli's impact on the game is most significant through his involvement in establishing the European backgammon scene. The Venice International Backgammon Tournament established by De Toffoli was one of the first two major backgammon tournaments in Europe along with the Nordic Open Backgammon Tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.mastersofbackgammon.com/tournaments/nordic-open-backgammon-tournament/|title=History of Nordic backgammon|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204045749/http://www.mastersofbackgammon.com/tournaments/nordic-open-backgammon-tournament/|archive-date=4 February 2011|url-status=dead}} The tournament is one of the most important in the world {{cite web|url=http://www.play65.com/pr3.html|title=Nothing found for Pr3|website=www.play65.com|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-date=20 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320002905/http://www.play65.com/pr3.html|url-status=dead}} and forms part of the European Backgammon Tour {{cite web|url=http://www.mastersofbackgammon.com/tournaments/european-backgammon-tour/|title=Article on European Backgammon Tour|publisher=|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204045709/http://www.mastersofbackgammon.com/tournaments/european-backgammon-tour/|archive-date=4 February 2011|url-status=dead}}
=Poker=
De Toffoli wrote the first book on Texas Hold'em in Italian{{cite web|url=http://www.guadagnaresoldi.cc/poker/poker2.php |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210015007/http://www.guadagnaresoldi.cc/poker/poker2.php|archivedate=2015-02-10|title= Giocare e vincere a Poker |date= |accessdate=6 March 2011}} and has since then co-written two more of the only books in Italian on poker with Max Pescatori.{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/poker/2010/11/13/news/recensione-9076987/index.html?ref=search|title="A scuola di poker" per restare al passo – Repubblica.it|date=13 November 2010|publisher=}} Dario is primarily known for being a leading technician{{cite web|url=http://www.pokeritaliaweb.org/notizie-poker/poker-italia/dario-de-toffoli-multithinking-process.html|title=Dario De Toffoli ed il multithinking process|first=Roberto "Ronnie"|last=Sorrentino|website=www.pokeritaliaweb.org|access-date=20 February 2011|archive-date=13 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213013218/http://www.pokeritaliaweb.org/notizie-poker/poker-italia/dario-de-toffoli-multithinking-process.html|url-status=dead}} in the game being asked for views on poker{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_febbraio_19/magazine_poker_c9cbd55c-ded5-11dc-9d37-0003ba99c667.shtml|title=Clicca e fai poker Corriere della Sera|website=www.corriere.it}} and as a TV commentator as he has yet to win a major cash tournament.
In 2008, De Toffoli became the Amateur Poker World Champion{{cite web|url=http://www.boardability.com/game.php?id=poker|title=Poker|website=www.boardability.com|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-date=23 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623162214/http://www.boardability.com/game.php?id=poker|url-status=dead}} an event that is not played for money.David Spanier, Independent Pursuits: Poker, The Independent, 10 September 1998
=Games all-rounder=
As an all-round games player, De Toffoli has won championships in games ranging from Oware{{cite web|url=http://digilander.libero.it/giochisforzeschi/2001/risultati.html|title=Giochi Sforzeschi 2001- Risultati - Results |website=digilander.libero.it}} to world championships in two new games: Continuo{{cite web|url=http://www.boardability.com/game.php?id=continuo|title=Continuo|website=www.boardability.com|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706024919/http://www.boardability.com/game.php?id=continuo|archive-date=6 July 2010|url-status=dead}} in 2002 and David Parlett's Hare and Tortoise{{cite web|url=http://www.boardability.com/game.php?id=hare_and_tortoise|title=Hare and Tortoise|website=www.boardability.com|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003134/http://www.boardability.com/game.php?id=hare_and_tortoise|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}} in 2010.
He has won over 60 medals at the Mind Sports Olympiad. In 2002 he became the oldest winner of the Pentamind World championship, an event to find the best games all-rounder in the world.The Mind Sports Olympiad Supplement, The Pentamind, The Times, July 1997 This victory was achieved in the middle of Demis Hassabis{{cite news|title=Child prodigy stands by originality|work= The Guardian|date= 9 September 2004|first= Steve |last=Boxer|url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/sep/09/games.onlinesupplement?INTCMP=SRCH}} 5 victories to whom he had earlier managed to finish second against.{{Cite web |date=23 September 1999 |title=Interview article from 99 retrieved 1 March 2011 |url=http://www.msoworld.com/brain/mental/toffoli.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818162657/http://www.msoworld.com/brain/mental/toffoli.html |archive-date=18 August 2009 |access-date=20 February 2011 |website=Mind Sports Worldwide}}
Games journalist
De Toffoli has contributed hundreds of articles and puzzles for newspapers and magazines. His contributions include for Giochi Magazine,Giochi Magazine, May 1987 – March 1988 Il Gazzettino{{cite web|url=http://www.studiogiochi.com/editori/118/Gazzettino-7-12-88.pdf|title=Example article by De Toffoli, Il Gazettino, 7 December 1988, Retrieved 4 March 2011|publisher=|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-date=16 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716155642/http://www.studiogiochi.com/editori/118/Gazzettino-7-12-88.pdf|url-status=dead}} and for La Stampa newspaper.{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,0017/articleid,0007_01_1995_0352_0019_15731305/anews,true/|title=La Stampa – Consultazione Archivio|website=www.archiviolastampa.it}}
Game and puzzle book author
As well as strategic books De Toffoli is one of the leading authorities on games{{cite web |date= 28 February 2009|title=Recensione Libri: Dario De Toffoli - 'Il Grande Libro del Poker' |url=http://it.pokernews.com/news/2009/02/recensione-dario-de-toffoli-grande-libro-poker-1116.htm |accessdate=6 March 2011 |website=Poker News}} having written "the encyclopedia of games" and the "1001 games for everyone". His works also include several puzzle books and a book on draughts.
Games designer
As well as owning the company Studiogiochi, De Toffoli has personally designed and co-designed several board games, the most notable of which are Lex Arcana{{cite web|url=http://www.brigata.it/cantiere/recensioni/lex-arcana|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328120933/http://www.brigata.it/cantiere/recensioni/lex-arcana|archivedate=2014-03-28|title= Un Impero Senza Fine: Lex Arcana, recensione del GdR |website=brigata.it}} and Vampiri in salsa rossa role-playing based games. More recent games have had a more mainstream focus such as Sudoku and Kakuro board games and themed board games such as for the Totally Spies! cartoon series.
Games designed by De Toffoli include:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Kluges Kopfchen
- Totally Spies
- Poker Cinese
- Trova le mine
- Joker Poker
- Happy birthday!
- Nebraska
- Babar et le mystère des lettres perdues
- Kakuro challenge
- Kakuro (board game)
- Challenge Sudoku
- Mango Tango
- Sudoku (board game)
- Challenge Sudoku – Kakuro Challenge
- Number one
- Ketch up
- Yummy
- Buon compleanno
- Adventure cards
- Dummy
- Theseus
- I giochi della frutta
- Abaco zuzzurellone
- Lex Arcana
- Jagd der Vampire
- Detective
{{div col end}}
Bibliography
Books written by De Toffoli include:
- Dario De Toffoli, Max Pescatori & Giorgio Sigon, A scuola di Poker, Sperling & Kupfer, 2010, {{ISBN|978-88-200-4890-7}}
- Giampaolo Dossena & Dario De Toffoli, Enciclopedia dei giochi, Mondadori, Milan, 2009, {{ISBN|978-88-200-4760-3}}
- Max Pescatori & Dario De Toffoli, Giocare e vincere a poker online, Sperling &Kupfer, Milan, 2009, {{ISBN|88-200-4760-8}}
- Dario De Toffoli & Leo Colovini, Il grande libro degli scacchi, {{ISBN|978-88-200-4794-8}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Il grande libro del Backgammon, Stampa Alternativa, 2008, {{ISBN|978-88-6222-035-4}}
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, 1001 Giochi per tutti, Mondolibri, Milan, 2008, {{ISBN|978-88-200-4712-2}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Dario Zaccariotto & Leo Colovini, Brainquiz, Sperling & Kupfer, Milan 2008, {{ISBN|978-88-200-4550-0}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Dario Zaccariotto & Margot De Rosa, Numeri, Stampa Alternativa, Viterbo, {{ISBN|978-88-6222-052-1}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Il grande gioco del Poker, Mondadori, Verona, 2008
- Dario De Toffoli, Il grande libro del Poker, Sperling and Kupfer, Milan, 2007ISBN 978-88-2004-389-6
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, Cibo per la mente – Vol III, Stampa Alternativa, Viterbo, 2007, {{ISBN|88-7226-960-1}}
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, KAFKA, Sperling and Kupfer, Milan, 2007
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, Sfida al quadrato, Sperling and Kupfer, Milan, 2006, {{ISBN|978-88-7339-120-3}}
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, Cibo per la mente II, Stampa Alternativa, Viterbo, 2005, {{ISBN|978-88-7226-893-3}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Il giocatore consapevole, Stampa Alternativa, Viterbo, 2004, {{ISBN|88-7226-824-9}}
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, Cibo per la mente I, Stampa Alternativa, 2004, {{ISBN|88-7226-816-8}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Guida al poker, Conde Nast, Milan, 2004
- Dario De Toffoli, Giochi, Unicopli, Viterbo, 2003, {{ISBN|88-400-0914-0}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Backgammon, Tutte le regole del gioco, Nuovi Equilibri, Stampa Alternativa, Viterbo, 2002, {{ISBN|88-7226-704-8}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Giocare e vincere a Poker, Stampa Alternativa, 2002, {{ISBN|978-88-7226-716-5}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Dario Zaccariotto, Michele Comerci & Claudio Borgnino, Giocare con le parole, La Scuola, Brescia, 2000
- Dario De Toffoli & Dario Zaccariotto, Dama, Unicopli, Viterbo, 2000 {{ISBN|978-88-87766-08-0}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Nel mondo dei cruciverba, Unicopli, Viterbo, 2000, {{ISBN|978-88-87766-05-9}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Scala quaranta, pinnacolo e dintorni, Unicopli, Viterbo, 2000, {{ISBN|88-7307-317-4}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Backgammon, La Stampa, 1999
- Dario De Toffoli, Giocare a Backgammon, Arsenale, Venice, 1991 {{ISBN|978-88-6222-035-4}}
- Dario De Toffoli, Giocare a Scarabeo, Sansoni Editore, Florence, 1985
References
{{reflist|3}}
External links
- [http://www.studiogiochi.com studiogiochi website]
- [http://www.stampalternativa.it/wordpress/2009/03/23/la-parola-ai-numeri-di-dario-de-toffoli Video interview for la stampa alternativa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722050746/http://www.stampalternativa.it/wordpress/2009/03/23/la-parola-ai-numeri-di-dario-de-toffoli |date=22 July 2011 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Toffoli, Dario}}
Category:Italian backgammon players
Category:Italian poker players