[Stones and Stories] A Crack in the Era of the "Go Empress" Dominance

The dominance of Choi Jeong 9-dan, the "Go Empress," has been challenged. The rapid rise of the "Genius Girl" Kim Eunji has been the hottest news in the Go world this December. Kim Eunji 8-dan became the winner by defeating Choi Jeong in the third game of the finals of the 7th Haesung Women's Kiseong Tournament held on the 19th at the Korea Baduk Association's BadukTV studio.

Why did the Go community stir over the result of just one match? On that day, Kim Eunji made new history in Go. She reached the rank of 9-dan, known as "Ipshin (入神)" in Go, setting a new record by achieving promotion to 9-dan 6 months earlier than the previous shortest period (3 years and 11 months).

This means she was promoted from 8-dan to 9-dan faster than any other Go player. The title Ipshin, which means reaching a mystical level, is an object of reverence for professional Go players.

On October 3rd, at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games Go Women's Team event held at the Qiyuan Chess Hall in Hangzhou, China, South Korea's Kim Chaeyoung, Oh Yujin, Kim Eunji, and Choi Jeong, who won the silver medal, are posing for a commemorative photo.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

What makes Kim Eunji's Ipshin record even more remarkable is that she is the youngest 9-dan in history. Born in May 2007, Kim Eunji became a 9-dan at the age of 16 years and 6 months. This is 17 months earlier than Park Junghwan 9-dan's youngest record of reaching Ipshin at 17 years and 11 months.

While her peers are at an age to nurture dreams and hopes as high school girls, Kim Eunji has reached the highest position in the realm of Go. Starting Go at the age of six, Kim Eunji was recognized for her talent from an early age. She is delivering results that meet the expectations around her. How far will the genius girl's run continue? The Go community is paying attention to her name because she has emerged as a figure who could threaten the absolute stronghold of Choi Jeong.

Until now, the world of women's Go has been dominated by Choi Jeong. The world women's Go ranking, compiled by the Go rating site "Go Rating," has seen Choi Jeong hold the number one spot for seven consecutive years from 2017 to 2023. No female Go player from Korea, China, or Japan has been able to surpass Choi Jeong's wall.

This was why many expected Korea to win the gold medal in the women's team Go event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last October. Korea won the silver medal, which was disappointing considering Choi Jeong's reputation.

The weight of Choi Jeong was so great that there was even speculation that the women's team Go gold medal was more likely than the men's team event. However, Choi Jeong suffered a blow in the finals against China, which became the background for Korea's runner-up finish. Has the power of the Go Empress now waned? Having run a lonely race alone until now, it might be time for a breather.

Coincidentally, the rapid rise of junior player Kim Eunji can serve as a good stimulus for Choi Jeong. In long-distance marathons, having strong competitors often leads to better records. Although Kim Eunji set the record for the youngest Ipshin in history, she still has a long way to go to overcome the wall that is Choi Jeong.

It is not unrelated to their previous head-to-head record that Kim Eunji's victory over Choi Jeong is considered surprising. In fact, their head-to-head record has been 3 wins and 13 losses in favor of Choi Jeong. While Kim Eunji's momentum is formidable, "Choi Jeong's time" is not over yet. On the 22nd, Choi Jeong succeeded in defending her title for the second consecutive time at the 28th Harim Cup Pro Women's Guksu Tournament.

"I was troubled after losing at the Haesung Cup recently, but since this is a profession of competing, I thought it was inevitable."

Choi Jeong has shaken off her mental struggles and returned to the top position. Choi Jeong's resurgence is expected to be a new variable in the women's Go landscape in 2024.