On March 15, 2016, supercomputer AlphaGo beat South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se Dol, in a fifth and final matchup.

The Google-developed artificial intelligence (AI) programme won four out of five games and the prize money of US$1 million (S$1.38 million) will be donated to charity. Mr Lee earned US$150,000 and was awarded another US$20,000 for winning the fourth game.

The game of Go, or weiqi, is an ancient one and was generally regarded as too complex and intuitive a game for AI to excel at.

Here are five things to know about the game.

1. An ancient Asian game

It is widely accepted that Go first came into being 4,000 years ago. Developed in ancient China, the game is also known as weiqi, which translates as "surrounding game".

A popular legend claims that Go was invented by the sage-king Emperor Yao to educate his son. Another theory suggests that Go was the brainchild of astrologers, although archaeologists have yet to discover evidence to support this.

By the Tang dynasty, Go was already a popular pastime among the Japanese aristocracy.

Today, the name Go is adapted from the Japanese word Igo, which also means "surrounding boardgame".

2. The basics of Go

3. Go rankings

The Singapore Weiqi Association estimates that there are around 100 professional ninth dan Go players in the world.

Most beginners will take two to three years to achieve a one dan ranking. Mr Lee became a professional player when he was 12 years old and reached the ninth dan rank when he was 21.

4. Go in literature

Go is also featured in more recent novels, like popular Hong Kong wuxia novelist Louis Cha's Demi-Gods And Semi Devils. In this novel, one of the main characters accidentally wins a game of weiqi and becomes the new leader of the Carefree Sect, a fictional martial arts sect.

5. Where to Go?

Sources: The Straits Times, Singapore Weiqi Association, Go Nation: Chinese Masculinities And The Game Of Weiqi In China by Marc. L. Moskowitz, Go Game Guru, World Public Library, The GO Academy