Shogi masters ordered not to play computers
The Japan Shogi Federation has ordered its masters not to play unauthorized games against computers in public. Mostly because they are afraid to lose.
Federation officials fear that a professional shogi master losing to a computer would be beneath their dignity and have ordered male and female masters to seek permission before they play against a computer in public.
I guess a software program came very close to defeating a pro, which caused a sense of crisis within the organization. But they are going to have to deal with it, as computers will be able to easily beat every human player very soon.
I am sure that a lot of this has to do with money, also.
