Computer beats Zhou Junxun 9p!

   The game of Go is one of the last board game where the strongest humans are still able to easily win against Computer Go program. But researchers have discovered new performing algorithms and computers are catching up really fast. [...] If computers continue to improve at this rate, one more human stronghold may fall in front of machines in less than 10 years.

   [Source: http://ssci2011.nutn.edu.tw/short_description.htm]

   Even Zhou Junxun 9p (one of the strongest professionals in Taiwan), the winner of the 2007 LG World Cup, was not able to beat the computer having given it seven handicap stones. This might be a bit surprising, but the bot ('pachi2', 3d on KGS) - and its programmers - had merit.

   As you can see, starting with D15 (move 81), the bot was very sharp and launched a severe attack on White. It was very exciting, and in the end Black did manage to kill White's big dragon. Enjoy the game!

   Many think that very soon KGS (and other online Go Servers) will be filled with kids using bots to pretend that they are 6d! It is hard to say what will be the impact of computers on the game of Go from now on. Will it be positive or negative? What do you think?