Go players rise to the challenge

Role of the internet

According to Nie, the internet has played a key role in Go's revival, as it not only allows players to pit their wits against one another, but is a vital platform for them to learn and discuss the game.

Nie said: "Ke Jie is a representative of the new generation who have benefited from online participation. Even today, he plays nearly 100 games online every year."

BestGo, a training institute in Shanghai targeting preschool and school-age students, is among those that have sought to capitalize on the benefits the internet offers for Go education. Founded in 2011, it has more than 4,000 students enrolled in over 20 branches across cities in the Yangtze Delta region.

Shen Yao, the founder of BestGo, said each student has an account on a server that allows them to perform a question-based exercise or take part in a game with another player. The server automatically pits players with similar levels of skill against each other.

"In the past, players would have been very lucky to find such opponents. But the internet has allowed such matches to take place at almost any time," said Shen, adding that there has been a significant rise in interest among parents in enrolling their children for Go training.

He also said the internet has transformed Go from being a relatively reclusive hobby to a public sport.

"Go has traditionally been considered a part of self-cultivation, and one's skill at the game is not usually flaunted in public. The internet has highlighted how competitive the game is and how it can engage the public," he said.

One example of how the game has become a public spectacle is the Google DeepMind Challenge Match in 2016 between Republic of Korea player Lee Sedol and the computer program AlphaGo. The match was viewed by more than 200 million people. Alpha Go won the five-game contest 4-1.