'Lee Sedol vs. AlphaGo' 10 years later, humans win again! Shin Jin-seo defeats 'AI KataGo'... Final Game 3 on the 21st

*This content was translated by AI.

Shin Jin-seo, a 26-year-old 9-dan player who suffered a regretful loss in the first game due to KataGo's unconventional moves with significantly improved artificial intelligence (AI), achieved a perfect revenge in the second game.

On the 19th, Shin Jin-seo defeated KataGo by Black winning by 4.5 points after 290 moves during the second game of the 'Sseon Math · The Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung) Go Match' held at The Korea Economic DailyTV studio in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Ten years after Lee Sedol, then a 9-dan player, competed against AlphaGo in the 2016 'Google DeepMind Challenge Match', securing one win (four losses) with brilliant moves, Shin Jin-seo once again claimed victory in this commemorative match to honor that milestone, preserving human dignity.

Of course, there is a significant difference from back then. Just as AI technology has made leaps and bounds over the past 10 years, this match was played under a two-stone handicap rather than an even game. Nevertheless, world champion Shin Jin-seo could confirm KataGo's formidable strength after losing by forfeit in the first game.

Starting with an 18-point lead under the two-stone handicap, Shin Jin-seo saw his win probability drop to as low as 89% at one point but maintained a win rate of over 98% for most of the game, sustaining the advantage. A fierce battle unfolded in the center from Black's 160th move to White's 191st move, and KataGo's 197th and 199th moves further complicated the central fight. However, Shin Jin-seo regained the momentum by boldly sacrificing three stones in the center, followed by a stable finish to secure victory.

Shin Jin-seo said, "I expected unconventional moves like in the first game, but I was relieved that a large-scale joseki appeared. I was able to win after neatly handling the central battle." He added, "My goal was three wins, but after suffering a complete defeat in the first game, I thought even one win might not be easy. That's why this victory is especially meaningful. I felt ashamed and regretful for losing so easily in the first game, but having a day of rest allowed me to mentally regroup, which was a great help."

The third game, scheduled to begin on the 21st, will be held at The Korea Economic DailyTV studio and broadcast exclusively live on Baduk TV.

Ahead of the third game, Shin Jin-seo stated, "I want to show a major battle, but I don't think I'll be able to show you a loss within 50 moves (laughs)." He added, "Most importantly, it is crucial to continue fighting until the end. Since I am confident in late-game battles, I will calculate the situation at every moment and engage in fierce competition."

The 'Sseon Math · The Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung) Go Match' is organized by The Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung) Media Group, hosted by the Korea Baduk Association, and planned and sponsored by Joheun Book ShinSago. Shin Jin-seo receives a match fee of 50 million won per game, totaling 150 million won for three games. Additionally, he is awarded an extra 50 million won in prize money for each win. If he achieves two or more wins, he will receive a high-end Genesis G90 sedan worth approximately 100 million won as a bonus.

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*This content was translated by AI.