Yang Kaiwen defeated South Korea's Park Ting-hwan, just one step away from his first world championship in Go.

On June 20, the first game of the finals of the 15th Chunlan Cup World Go Championship took place in Shenzhen, where Chinese player Yang Kaiwen, a 9-dan won decisively against South Korean player Park Ting-hwan, also a 9-dan, with Black in 157 moves and took the lead. According to the schedule, the second game will be held on the 22nd. If Yang Kaiwen wins again, he will secure the championship.

Yang Kaiwen, 9-dan (right), won decisively with Black in 157 moves against South Korean player Park Ting-hwan, 9-dan, leading with a score of 1-0 overall

After the match, South Korean media reported that Park Ting-hwan (32 years old), 9-dan, suffered a complete defeat in the first game of the Chunlan Cup World Go Championship finals. After the middle game, the situation became unfavorable for Park, who attempted to turn the tables in the final stages but could not break through Yang Kaiwen's calm defense. In past Chunlan Cups, the South Korean team has won 8 championships, the Chinese team has won 5, and the Japanese team has won 1. The champion prize for the Chunlan Cup is $150,000 (approximately 204 million Korean won), while the runner-up prize is $50,000 (approximately 68 million Korean won).

In last year's 15th Chunlan Cup World Go Championship, Park Ting-hwan defeated Chinese player Li Weiqing, 9-dan, in the round of 16, overcame Gu Zihau, 9-dan, in the quarterfinals, and beat Japanese player Shibano Toramaru, 9-dan, in the semifinals to reach the finals. Since entering the ranks in 2006, Park has won a total of 36 championships and 5 world championships. However, since winning the Samsung Cup in November 2021, he has not even reached the finals of any world tournaments.

Park Ting-hwan is challenging for the world championship again after a four-year hiatus

Having a rare opportunity to reclaim the world championship, Park Ting-hwan stated before the match to South Korean media: "I feel good. This is a long-awaited world tournament final, and I will give it my all." Notably, Park Ting-hwan, 9-dan, was the champion of the 12th Chunlan Cup in 2019, which means he is aiming for his second title in this tournament. In that final, Park defeated fellow South Korean player Park Yong-hun, 9-dan, with a score of 2-0 to win his first Chunlan Cup.

This is Yang Kaiwen's first appearance in a world tournament final since he entered the ranks in 2010. He surprisingly defeated the world's strongest player, South Korea's Shin Jin-seo, 9-dan, in the round of 16 of the 15th Chunlan Cup World Go Championship, overcame Li Xuanhao, 9-dan, in the quarterfinals, and defeated Bian Xiangyi, 9-dan, in the semifinals, creating a sensation.

If Yang Kaiwen wins again in the second game on the 22nd, he will claim his first world championship in his professional career.

Previously, Park Ting-hwan and Yang Kaiwen faced off once, with Park emerging victorious. South Korean media noted that although Park Ting-hwan has the advantage in their head-to-head record, making him more likely to win, Yang Kaiwen's momentum should not be underestimated. If Yang Kaiwen wins again in the second game on the 22nd, he will claim his first world championship in his professional career.