[Stones and Stories] Korea's Move That Welcomed Rui Naiwei, the Strongest Female Go Player in History

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] ‘Lee Chang-ho, Lee Chang-ho, Cho Hun-hyun, ○○○, Cho Hun-hyun, Lee Chang-ho, Lee Chang-ho.’

This is the list of winners of the ‘Guksu Jeon’ from 1996 to 2003. The Guksu Jeon is South Korea’s first Go tournament, which began in 1956. The word Guksu (國手) means the best Go player in the country. Among the past Guksu Jeon winners, there is a special reason why the 2000 winner, ○○○, draws attention. The Guksu Jeon continued until the 59th tournament in 2016, and the winners were ‘almost’ all male.

The same applies when looking back at the world’s major Go tournaments. The top four players were all men, with only one exception... That exception is none other than Rui Naiwei 9-dan, the 2000 Guksu Jeon champion. She is known as the so-called ‘Iron Lady (鐵女).’ She is regarded as the greatest female Go player in history.

Looking at Rui’s achievements, one cannot help but feel awe. From the early 1980s to the early 2010s, she held the position of the world’s strongest female player for an astonishing 30 years. Korean 9-dans Cho Hye-yeon and Park Ji-eun challenged her, but Rui’s wall was high and solid. At her peak, Rui made even the world’s strongest male players nervous.

Rui Naiwei 9-dan (left in the photo) playing a match against Cho Hunhyun 9-dan. [Photo by Korea Baduk Association]

She was also the first woman to reach the semifinals of a major world Go tournament. She accomplished what no other female player had done. At the 2nd Ing Cup World Go Championship held from 1992 to 1993, Rui caused an upset by defeating Lee Chang-ho 9-dan in the preliminaries and advanced to the semifinals.

The living legend of the Go world, Rui originally belonged to the Shanghai Go Association in China. However, her activities in China were not smooth. Her husband, Zhang Zhuju 9-dan, was involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, which became a complicating factor. The Rui couple had no choice but to leave China. After wandering through the United States and Japan, Rui settled in Korea in 1999 when she was appointed as a guest professional at the Korea Baduk Association.

Rui could have joined the Nihon Ki-in (Japan Go Association). However, the Nihon Ki-in rejected her joining, and the plan fell through. It is known that Japanese female players felt burdened by the arrival of the world’s strongest player. On the other hand, the Korea Baduk Association showed an open attitude. Female players also agreed to accept Rui. This was a decisive move that enhanced the capabilities of Korean female Go players.

Until 2011, Rui swept domestic women’s tournaments. Korean female players experienced numerous defeats. Those bitter times were valuable experiences. Rui was like a compass. Her very existence was both a role model and a goal to surpass.

To face the strongest player Rui, they had no choice but to study and work harder. They had to compensate for their weaknesses and develop stronger skills. This changed the atmosphere of Korean female Go. Rui returned to China at the end of 2011. Although Rui left, the young Go talents who grew up hearing and seeing her fame grew rapidly.

The title of the world’s strongest female player, once Rui’s exclusive domain, has now become the possession of a Korean player (Choi Jeong 9-dan). Korean female Go has become stronger. Last month, among the four semifinalists of the 5th Oh Changwon Cup World Women’s Baduk Championship, three were Korean female players.

If they had been content with the status quo and chosen the comfortable path, would such results have been possible? Rather than pursuing immediate gains, the strategic foresight looking toward the future is perhaps the background behind today’s Korean female Go reaching the world’s top position.