By Charles Audouin

Video = Baduk TV

Shin Jin-seo, the world's top-ranked player of baduk (Go) with the game's highest rank of ninth dan (degree), has won his battle against the artificial intelligence (AI) program KataGo.

The Korea Baduk Association on July 21 said Shin won by 11.5 points in 221 moves in the third and deciding match of the tournament sponsored by the educational workbook brand Ssen Mathematics and the Korea Economic Daily at the latter's TV studio in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

He lost the first game but took the second. In the third, he made no mistake to claim victory.

"AI has played a large role in the advancement of human Go, and I also progressed a lot because of KataGo," he said. "AI has been a big factor in helping me reach the top of the world."

Since the debut of AlphaGo 10 years ago, the use of AI in the traditional game has seen tremendous strides. KataGo is considered one of the world's most powerful Go AI programs.

caudouin@korea.kr