Why did Google's DeepMind pick Go player Lee Se-dol, by not choosing the global number one player
If Google has to select the current best Go player, it should have picked Chinese Go player Ke Jie, who is the current number one worldwide, or Park Jung-hwan, the number two Korean Go player.
The reasons behind why Google picked Lee is because there are more data on his game as he has been in the field for the past two decades. Also, Lee, who likes to use computers and enjoy challenges, must be the best partner to AlphaGo.
AlphaGo's first match was a game with Chinese Go player Fan Hui, which took place in October. AlphaGo won 5:0 at the time.
Three months later, AlphaGo has thrown the gauntlet down to Lee Se-dol.
Google's DeepMind said, "We picked Lee because he is regarded as the best player, by earning 18 international titles and 47 domestic titles."
Although it is true that Lee is one of the best players but not the best currently in terms of ranking. As of Mach, Ke Jie ranked first, Park Jung-hwan ranked second and Iyama Yuta ranked third. Lee Sedol ranked fourth. Like other sports, Go players boost their best performance in their 20s.
DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said, "Lee is the player who can best identify the weakness of AlphaGo," adding, "Since we were not able to evaluate AlphaGo's ability ourselves, we suggested a match with Lee."
