Some Go programs already play at professional level on 9x9 boards, and amateur mid-dan level on 19x19. That's "playing well" on my book: many people play go for

Some Go programs already play at professional level on 9x9 boards, and amateur mid-dan level on 19x19. That's "playing well" on my book: many people play go for years without reaching that level. Yes, it's still far from the level computer chess was 15 years ago (beating top pros), but they're getting there. And I don't think it will take any major breakthrough in AI itself.