Top current chess players and AI
The top two chess players, as of 2024, in the world are Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen, a Norwegian grandmaster, has held the World Chess Champion title since 2013, known for his deep positional understanding and exceptional endgame skills. Caruana, an American grandmaster, has been a prominent contender, famously coming close to defeating Carlsen in the 2018 World Chess Championship.
Carlsen’s style is characterized by his ability to outmaneuver opponents in seemingly equal positions, often finding subtle advantages where others see none. For instance, his victory in the 2019 Sinquefield Cup against Caruana was a testament to his remarkable tactical and strategic prowess. Caruana, on the other hand, is noted for his aggressive play and thorough opening preparation. His 2014 victory over the world’s top players at the Sinquefield Cup showcased his sharp calculation skills and preparedness.
When comparing these elite human players to AI capabilities, the difference is striking. AI, such as AlphaZero and Stockfish, employs computational power to analyze millions of positions per second, revealing lines and tactics that human players might overlook. For example, AlphaZero’s unconventional yet highly effective strategies in its 2018 games against Stockfish demonstrated a level of creativity and calculation far beyond human reach.
Citation:
- Silver, D., Hubert, T., Schrittwieser, J., et al. (2018). "A general reinforcement learning algorithm that masters chess, shogi, and Go through self-play." Science, 362(6419), 1140-1144. Link to article
