Koryo Group Chairman Go Yeong-man Defeats 9-dan Cho Ki-han in a Stunning Upset… The Go World in Shock

An unprecedented upset has rocked the Go world. Go Yeong-man, the 76-year-old Chairman of the Koryo Group and an honorary 6-dan amateur player, defeated 31-year-old professional 9-dan Cho Ki-han in a handicapped match, achieving a stunning victory after 137 moves.@@novelbin@@

This match was more than just a friendly game. If Chairman Go Yeong-man won, he would be officially recognized as a professional Go player by the Korean Go Association, while 9-dan Cho Ki-han stood to earn a substantial victory bonus of 2 billion won. This was a high-stakes game with no room for either side to hold back.

Given that 9-dan Cho Ki-han was undoubtedly playing with his utmost skill, the shock of this result has been even greater. Known as a legend in the Go world with seven international championships to his name, no one expected him to lose.

After the match, 9-dan Cho remarked, “I suppose I may have let my guard down a bit, thinking I was up against an amateur,” but he also admitted, “It’s clear that the Chairman’s skill level is on par with a professional player.”

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Experts in the Go world expressed disbelief over the outcome, with one commenting, “It was like watching Master Han Gyeong-young at his prime through Chairman Go Yeong-man’s moves.” Another added, “It’s undeniable skill.” The President of the Korean Go Association shared his thoughts, saying, “This is an impressive example of new life being breathed into the Go community.”

Meanwhile, conspiracy theories have started circulating on Go community boards, suggesting, “Chairman Go Yeong-man must have used illegal Go AI,” or “He must be possessed by the spirit of the Go King.” People have claimed that it’s impossible for an amateur to defeat a professional, sparking suspicions that he may have used some form of cheating. The police have initiated an investigation into these claims. Go Yeong-man’s representatives dismissed these rumors as groundless and issued a warning, stating they would take appropriate measures against anyone spreading false information.

Reporter Kim Hyeong-min, Pyongyang Daily

November 3rd, Tuesday.

The world was buzzing.

The reason was none other than our Chairman, Go Yeong-man.

It was only natural, given the shocking incident where an amateur defeated a 9-dan professional player.

“Our Chairman is truly impressive, stirring up the entire country over Go.”

Even people who don’t know much about Go have a vague idea of the massive skill gap between professionals and amateurs. The shock of this story was spreading even more because of this understanding. It was even featured on the main news, which says a lot.

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