Shin Jinseo: The Match to Artificial Intelligence

Shin Jinseo (신진서) stands out as one of the key players in the global Go community. Since he turned professional in 2012, Shin has harnessed the potential of artificial intelligence to develop his controlled and steady playing style. It’s no surprise that despite his young age, now 24-years-old, Shin has held the top spot on Go Ratings since 2019. But it’s not only his skill that makes Shin Jinseo shine.

Early Life

From a young age, Shin Jinseo grew comfortable in the isolation of the game. He was born on March 17, 2000 in Busan, South Korea. His parents ran a Baduk Academy. Instead of preschool, Shin preferred passing time at his parents’ Baduk Academy, where he picked up the game. 

Like any Go player in the early 2000s, Shin looked up to Go grandmasters Cho Hun-hyun 9P, Lee Changho 9P and Lee Sedol 9P, often watching and reviewing their games. In his younger years, Shin aspired to match Lee Sedol’s combative style. 

By the time Shin was seven-years-old, he was already reaching the 7-Dan ranks. Starting from 5th grade, Shin began traveling to Seoul to compete in Go tournaments. His family were supportive of his competitive career. 

Professional Debut

In 2012, Shin Jinseo became a professional through the New Professional Prodigy Qualifiers for “young talented students under 15.” At the time, then 12-year-old Shin was the youngest professional Go player in South Korea and the world. 

In his later years, Shin told Hani.co.kr how Park Junghwan 9P was a source of inspiration for him as a young professional. Park’s discipline, which was reflected in his playing style, motivated Shin to balance his lifestyle. 

Rising Stars

In 2013, rising stars Shin Jinseo, Shin Minjoo and Byun Sangil were selected to compete in the Prodigies vs. Top Pros Exhibition Match. Shin Jinseo got the opportunity to play Lee Changho 9P, known as “The God of Endgame.” Shin’s calm demeanor and confident reading under time pressure led him to win the match by resignation, capturing the eye of the international Go community. 

On Feb. 12, 2020, Shin Jinseo defeated Park Junghwan to win the 24th LG Cup championship. At the time, Shin and Park were ranked first and second in the world respectively. Shin had yet to claim a championship. In the final matches, Shin demonstrated his active playing style and meticulous reading. This victory marked Shin’s first major international championship and his rise to global fame. 

Artificial Intelligence

Shin Jinseo has earned the nickname “shintelligence” for his precise reading and high accuracy percentage in his gameplay. He studies extensively with artificial intelligence. 

In a video interview with Arirang News, Jin-seok Mok, Head Coach of South Korean national baduk team, stressed the importance of embracing artificial intelligence. 

“It’s crucial for today’s players to accept AI and make it their own. Shin Jinseo seems more compatible with AI and absorbs its moves better than other pros,” Mok said. 

In a cherished article by Li Zhe 6P, Li said Shin has restored faith in Go in our artificial world. 

Li wrote (translated by Wenzhe Song): “…Many people still believe in the saying “as the person, so the game”, believing that the personal character of a top player must align with their Go skills — these two aspects are almost inseparable. This belief, in fact, faced serious doubts in recent years. Not only from societal questions (people asking: “Is being good at Go any different from being good at esports?”), but also doubts among players themselves. Fortunately, Shin Jinseo seems to have, at least temporarily, restored this belief”.

Giver

Initially, Shin and his family lived in their hometown Busan, but the struggle to travel to Go tournaments in Seoul became increasingly challenging. Shin and his family moved to Seoul to support Shin’s career. Shin recognized the sacrifices his family made for him.

According to The Chosun Daily, in August 2023, Shin proposed to his family that they deserved a home of their own. For the past 12 years, Shin and his family had moved around from rental home to rental home in Seoul. A few months later, Shin swept the LG Cup and Nongshim Cup. 

Returning to Li Zhe’s article, Li said that Shin’s strong sense of duty renders him worthy of the legendary Go Seigen’s chosen proverb: “Yàn Rán Ér Rì Zhāng” 闇然而日章 from the Confucian Doctrine of the Golden Mean. This proverb is translated by Wenzhe Song as “”The way of the gentleman is hidden and yet becomes more visible every day; the way of the petty person is flashy but gradually fades away.” The proverb is a reminder to stay rooted in our humanity regardless of circumstances. 

Li spoke of how his family worked in the front lines in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeling useless while quarantined in Wuhan, Li decided to direct donations from the Go community to the disaster area. Li said Shin Jinseo 9P — not yet 20 — was among the first Korean Go players to offer a hand, followed by Lee Changho 9P and Choi Jeong 9P. 

In spring 2023, Shin and his family signed their housing contract, symbolic of all the hard work paying off.

Shin’s father, Shin Sang-yong, told The Chosun Daily that his son has donated a total of about 90 million won between 2018 – 2023, saying, “It’s great to see that he’s so frugal, yet he gives so generously when he needs to.”

But Shin has yet to reach his peak. 

In the 25th Nongshim Cup in 2024, Shin achieved an impressive 16th consecutive wins, beating the record for most consecutive wins that Lee Changho 9P set in 2005. This achievement marked his forth, not first, consecutive time winning the Nongshim Cup. 

Despite his international fame and fortunes, Shin has never lost sight of what truly matters. He stays true to the values that make him Shin Jinseo 9P. He is always ready to offer a hand to his loved ones and opponents, whether it be donating to the COVID-19 pandemic or reviewing games with colleagues, as well as communities near and far. He sets the golden example of what it means to be a Go player.