Lee Sedol

Lee Sedol, born on March 2, 1983, is a renowned South Korean former professional Go player, celebrated for his exceptional skill and strategic prowess in the ancient board game. Holding a prestigious 9 dan rank, he has made a significant mark in the world of Go, ranking second in international titles with eighteen championships, trailing only behind the legendary Lee Chang-ho, who boasts twenty-one titles.

Known by the nickname 'The Strong Stone' or 'Ssen-dol', Lee Sedol's career reached a pivotal moment in March 2016 when he faced off against the artificial intelligence program AlphaGo. This historic match series concluded with Lee losing four out of five games, a result that not only challenged his skills but also sparked a broader conversation about the impact of AI on traditional games.

In November 2019, Lee announced his retirement from professional Go, citing the overwhelming dominance of AI as a key factor in his decision. He expressed that he could never reclaim the title of the top player, referring to AI as 'an entity that cannot be defeated.' In a poignant interview in 2024, he reflected on his experience, stating that losing to AI felt like his entire world was collapsing, leading to a loss of enjoyment in the game he loved.