LAS VEGAS, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A panel discussion on Watson -- the IBM computer that won on the television game show Jeopardy! -- is scheduled as part of the Trivia Championships of North America (TCONA). Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter are slated to describe their strategy against the machine, and IBM researcher Dr. Gerald Tesauro will talk about how the Watson system was taught to play the game, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The strategy session will cover a variety of topics including the evolution of the abilities of the computer along with the planning that led up to the grand challenge. The panel will be moderated by Ed Toutant, a former IBM employee and Jeopardy! champion, who in 2001 became a top prize winner on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

A special opportunity is planned for TCONA participants who have not previously appeared on Jeopardy! Attendees can take the official qualification test for the show, and top scorers will be invited to follow-up auditions during the weekend.

About the panelists:

Ken Jennings is a Jeopardy! champion who won 74 games in a row in 2004 and is the author of Brainiac, The Trivia Almanac: 8888 Questions in 365 Days, and the upcoming Maphead.

Brad Rutter won three Jeopardy! invitational events: the 2001 Tournament of Champions, the 2002 Million Dollar Masters Tournament and the 2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions. Brad is now an actor and television host.

Dr. Gerald Tesauro is a renowned IBM researcher in the fields of machine learning and computer games. He devised the advanced mathematical models used in Watson's wagering, clue selection and buzz-in algorithms.

About TCONA

The Trivia Championships of North America -- the first event of its kind -- will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 8-10, 2011. The website found at http://www.tcona.com includes a preliminary schedule, FAQ, and link for application to participate. Registrations received by May 1 will help determine the precise location in Las Vegas. Questions and other inquiries may be sent to tcona@comcast.net, by fax to 303/957-5487, or via postal mail to TCONA, PO Box 3037, Boulder, CO 80307.

About Jeopardy!

Jeopardy!, the winner of 28 Emmy Awards, was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most awards won by a TV Game Show. The series is the #1-rated quiz show in syndication with nearly 9 million daily viewers. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp.

If you'd like more information about TCONA or to schedule an interview with participants, please call Paul Bailey at 303/520-0200 or e-mail Paul at tcona@comcast.net

Contact:

Paul Bailey
Tel/Mobile: 303/520-0200
Fax: 303/957-5487
Email: tcona@comcast.net

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SOURCE Trivia Championships of North America