Park Jeonghwan's Thrilling Half-Point Win Over China's Ke Jie... One Win Away from Korea's Victory

24th Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup Game 11 Korean Victory
If Gu Zihao Wins on the 22nd, Korea Faces 3 Consecutive Defeats

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] Park Jeong-hwan 9-dan, a representative Go player of Korea, is stepping closer to winning the Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup for the third consecutive time by defeating China's top player Ke Jie 9-dan.

On the 21st, in the 11th game of the 3rd round of the 24th Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup World Baduk Championship held online between the Korea Baduk Association and the China Qiyuan, Park Jeong-hwan won a thrilling half-point victory after a fierce battle lasting 298 moves against China's Ke Jie 9-dan. As the half-point win indicates, it was a very close match.

After defeating Japan's top player Iyama Yuta 9-dan and eliminating Japan, Park Jeong-hwan now seems poised to overcome the Chinese barrier as well. China now has only one player left, Gu Zihao 9-dan. If Park Jeong-hwan defeats Gu Zihao, the world's strongest Shin Jin-seo 9-dan and another strong player Byun Sang-il 9-dan will welcome Korea's victory without having to play a match.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Even if Park Jeong-hwan loses to Gu Zihao, Byun Sang-il and Shin Jin-seo are waiting in line. If Korea wins this time, it will achieve a three-peat in the Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup.

The Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup is a national team competition where five representative players from the world's strongest Go countries?Korea, China, and Japan?compete. For example, if Korea defeats a Japanese player, they then face a Chinese player, and if they win again, they face another Japanese player in this format.

Korea has three players left: Park Jeong-hwan, Byun Sang-il, and Shin Jin-seo, while China has only Gu Zihao remaining. Japan has been completely eliminated.

The Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup is famous for the dramatic comeback victory of Lee Chang-ho 9-dan. Lee Chang-ho's achievements were used as material for the drama 'Reply 1988.' The Go player Choi Taek, portrayed by actor Park Bo-gum, is related to Lee Chang-ho's episodes.