so i set up the board with their game 8 at move 24 to avoid fabiano's (mis)play and take the alternate play suggested by ai, and then put it through its many many paces all the way to mate. and while the paths not taken (of worse probability) on either side were numerous, and certainly an infinitesimal amount of doubt remains as to what could have occurred down those roads, i was able to see for myself even with my limited grasp of complex strategy, that caruana, after his first 23 moves, had created a certain win for himself, if only he could recognize it.
it's probably the most intriguing thing for me about this championship match, that we're simultaneously seeing a demonstration of the peak of human skill at a particular endeavor while also being shown the limitations of humans in certain endeavors amenable to machines. obviously i'm aware of deep blue and such but i never took a deep dive (ha! (groan...)) to have it demonstrated to me rather than just told to me.
