World's top Go player Shin Jinseo loses to AI KataGo

South Korean Go prodigy Shin Jinseo, the world's top-ranked player, suffered a surprising defeat against the AI program KataGo in the first game of the 'SsensuHak·Hankyung Gishinjeon' match. The game, held in Seoul, saw Shin Jinseo lose by resignation after 245 moves.

Despite starting with a handicap of two stones, which initially gave him an 18-집 advantage, Shin Jinseo was thrown off by KataGo's unexpected and unconventional opening moves. KataGo's second move, a high approach to the upper right corner, was described by national team coach Hong Minpyo as a move he had "never seen in his life."

Shin Jinseo admitted to being flustered by the AI's unusual tactics. While he managed to maintain a strong position through the mid-game, KataGo's superior computational power began to dominate as the board filled. A critical moment occurred when Shin Jinseo's moves 70 and 76, intended to reduce the center, caused his win rate to drop below 99%. His 90th move further plummeted the win rate to the 80% range.

In a desperate attempt to recover, Shin Jinseo launched an aggressive attack to capture a large group of KataGo's stones with move 102. However, this proved to be an overreach, and he was unable to turn the tide. Despite playing over 100 more moves, he could not overcome the AI's precise calculations.

"The second move by White was something I had never seen before, and it disrupted my planned strategy," Shin Jinseo stated after the match. "I should have spent more time before trying to reduce the center, but I allowed a counterattack, and the game became difficult." He added, "I am very embarrassed by today's performance. I will aim to fight to the end, even if I lose, in the remaining two games."