Go: The live broadcast queen launched a gorgeous rebellion against the dog

[Respectfully submitted by Rui Zhao, 9th Dan]

Greetings!

We have taken note of your previous challenge to our AI, including the "Eternal Monarch's Majesty" special challenge initiated with that goal in mind.

However, we firmly believe that at the current stage of artificial intelligence technology, it is meaningless for top human chess players to play against AI systems to verify their improvement in chess skills.

This is not a judgment of your skill level, but rather based on the objective reality of AI's Go ability: it has already surpassed the limits of human players.

Even if you seemed to demonstrate a level of skill unmatched by any human player in the so-called special challenge with a handicap, your skill level is still only average in the eyes of top-tier AI.

This is precisely why we concentrate our R&D resources on cutting-edge technology research, rather than repeatedly demonstrating technologies with known results. This focus on long-term technological development was the core reason why we couldn't respond to your invitation immediately at that time.

Unfortunately, you failed to understand Deepbrain's assessment of the value of this type of competition. Even during your "Eternal Glory" special challenge, rumors swirled that the challenger and organizers might have been involved in pre-match score manipulation!

The ongoing controversy has strayed from the essence of discussing Go skills, not only wasting significant public resources but also damaging the credibility of the Go community!

What could have been a simple invitation focused on individual development has evolved into a widespread crisis of trust, a situation we deeply regret.

To thoroughly clarify the facts, dispel doubts about Rui Zhao 9-dan's conduct, and avoid further unnecessary harm to you and the Go community from ongoing controversies, the Deepbrain team has decided to make an exception and adjust the priority of this matter, formally accepting your initial challenge request.

We will be using the same established rules and oversight mechanisms as our match against Choi Sung-seok 9-dan of South Korea twelve years ago, and invite you to a fair, transparent, and globally monitored five-game match.

This decision was not based on competitive technical needs, but rather on a public responsibility to maintain order in the chess world and protect the reputation of chess players.

We cannot ignore the real damage that controversy causes to the Go community, therefore we wish to build a pure and standardized platform to allow the facts to emerge through empirical evidence.

We sincerely hope and believe that Rui Zhao 9-dan will uphold her consistent courage and use this match as a direct opportunity to prove her character and clarify any doubts.

Only by giving your all in a fair, transparent, and credible five-game match, and delivering an indisputable performance in real games, can you completely quell the rumors and safeguard your core reputation as a Go player.

This is the most pragmatic and powerful way to defend your standing in the chess world. Deepbrain will provide you with a clean game, letting the truth speak for itself on the board.

Best wishes for your chess game!

Deepbrain Artificial Intelligence Labs hereby announces...

……

"Director Gou, Chairman Shang..."

"That's the situation... that's how it is."

At 3 p.m. local time, in a temporary meeting room at Samsang Training Institute in Gyeongdo, South Korea.

Lu Wenjie stood in front of the projection screen, which clearly displayed the full text of Deepbrain's newly released open letter.

Ai Jianan sat at the conference table with a serious expression.

On the large display screen in front of the conference table, three video windows were clearly displayed: Gou Shuci, deputy director of the Chess and Card Center; Shang Chaotian, chairman of the Huaxia Chess Association; and... Yong Shi Zhaojun, who was sitting in a suite at the Dongjiang Hotel.

After sensing that the attendees had likely skimmed through the entire public response, Lu Wenjie took a deep breath, then pointed to the contents of the open letter on the screen, succinctly summarizing the current dire situation:
“Deepbrain accepted Rui Zhao’s previous challenge, but judging from recent events and the wording of their public response, their intentions are clearly not good…”

"How can DeepBrain be so shameless?!"

Before Lu Wenjie could finish speaking, Gou Shuci, far away in Dajing, slammed his hand on the table:
"The implication is clear: if Rui Zhao can't beat the AI, she's cheating!!!"

"Indeed!"

Lu Wenjie sighed helplessly, a look of deep sympathy on his face:

"That's why, after Xiao Ai arrived, we didn't dare to hold a press conference as originally planned, but instead came to report to you two first."

In another scene, Shang Chaotian, chairman of the Chinese Chess Association, interlaced his fingers and frowned. After a moment of contemplation, he tentatively offered a solution: "Um..."

"Could we quickly issue a clarification to refute Deepbrain's binary theory?"
"To be unable to beat AI is cheating—this is an incredibly unreasonable statement!"

"Chairman Shang... I don't think it will work."

"The opponent's combination of punches was indeed quite tricky."

Upon hearing this, Ai Jian'an immediately shook her head:
"...Previously, because we were always aggressively demanding that the other side accept the challenge, while Deepbrain kept avoiding the fight, coupled with Xiao Zhao's outstanding performance, we gradually gained the upper hand in public opinion."

"The problem is that this leaves us with no way out—the vast majority of foreigners despise back-and-forth and cowardly behavior."

"If we, who previously challenged each other, start to 'talk about defeat before even discussing victory,' back down and avoid the fight, or say things like 'losing to AI doesn't mean Rui Zhao cheated,' it will greatly damage the public image we've built up, and will directly give the other side a reason to belittle Xiao Zhao and stop accepting the challenge."

"But if we just fight like this...aren't we just walking into their trap?!"

However, after hearing Ai Jian'an's explanation, Shang Chaotian's brows furrowed even more on the screen:
"Although Rui Zhao's current skill level may have reached the point where he can still go toe-to-toe with top players even while giving away a handicap of one point..."

"But now, top chess players need to be given a three-stone handicap to have a 50/50 chance against top AI!"

"Now that Li Jingzhe's research on the flying knife library has failed, Rui Zhao has virtually no chance of winning against the AI!"

"...Yes, you're right!"

Ai Jianan sighed softly, then offered her suggestion:
"So my idea is: don't bother with any clarifications, just use the excuse that someone is currently throwing mud at us and that we need to deal with that first, and temporarily refuse to fight back!"

"Otherwise, if we lose the game, the North American online trolls will definitely take the opportunity to stir up trouble and smear Xiao Zhao, and the impact may never be completely eliminated."

"While refusing to fight will certainly lead to being ridiculed and even maliciously slandered by the other party, at least it won't give them any ammunition. We can deal with the rest after the matter has been investigated and clarified."

Upon hearing Ai Jian'an's clear and logical analysis, which highlighted both advantages and disadvantages, Gou Shuci and Shang Chaotian on the screen pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Lu Wenjie also agreed, feeling that this was the relatively safe option at present.

Although their side had gained the upper hand in this long struggle thanks to Rui Zhao's amazing performance, they could not afford to let her take any risks in the face of North America's shameless encirclement.

A brief silence fell over the conference room, broken only by the low hum of the equipment. In the video feed, Gou Shuci and Shang Chaotian seemed to be exchanging glances, preparing to make the final decision.

But just then... Rui Zhao, who had been sitting quietly in the video window, suddenly made a move.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the microphone throughout the entire conference room:
"But if that's the case..."

"Can Go still be successfully included in the Olympics?"

On the other end of the video, Gou Shuci and Shang Chaotian were both visibly stunned, their faces instantly showing varying degrees of astonishment.

Ai Jian'an's body stiffened slightly, clearly not expecting Rui Zhao to ask such a soul-searching question at this critical moment.

But now that this issue has been raised, no one has any reason to brush off Rui Zhao, the absolute protagonist...

After a brief silence, Ai Jian'an quickly composed herself and forced a reassuring smile at the camera:
"Xiao Zhao, you don't need to think about that so much!"

"Let's deal with what's in front of us first, and then we'll see how things go next."

Although Ai Jian'an did not give a direct answer, her reply, which clearly carried a subtext, allowed the increasingly mature Yong Shi Zhaojun to quickly understand what she meant.

She lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, then raised her head again, her firm gaze as unwavering as a rock!

“If that’s the case… Sister An’an.”

She looked directly into the camera, as if she could see Ai Jian'an's eyes through it, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable power:
"I want to accept this best-of-five match!" (End of Chapter)