[Stones and Stories] The 'Happy Ending' of Lee Changho and Shin Jinseo

Who is the greater football legend, Brazil's Pel? or Argentina's Messi? If that question is hard to answer, how about this one: who is the better basketball player between NBA legends Michael Jordan and LeBron James?

It's not an easy question to settle. Their primes were in different eras, and the evolution of skills over time is an undeniable factor. If someone claims to have an answer, it is likely based on the memories and impressions etched in their mind. Asking who was the greatest in a particular field might be a foolish question, but it is itself an endorphin of life that evokes nostalgic memories.

On June 11th, Lee Chang-ho 9-dan is speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th World Baduk Championship held at Eldorado Resort in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, a similar sharing of nostalgia spread in the world of Go. It was the face-off between Shin Jinseo 9-dan, currently regarded as the strongest player in the world, and the legendary Lee Changho 9-dan, who was once revered in China. The two players met in the quarterfinals of the 47th SG Cup Hankook Ilbo Master title on the 11th of last month.

Lee Changho is 49 years old, and Shin Jinseo is 24. The 25-year age gap between them spans more than two generations. Two Go players who lived in different eras and dominated their times. Who is Lee Changho? He was a figure who demonstrated such overwhelming strength that even the term "strongest in human history" would not be an exaggeration. And what about Shin Jinseo? He is the player who single-handedly faced the fierce waves of Chinese Go and brought the Korean ship to the world's top position.

How did the legendary match between Lee Changho and Shin Jinseo end? The result was a draw more dramatic than any drama. Because Go includes komi (points given to the white player), most matches have a decisive winner. Even the slightest difference of 0.5 points determines victory or defeat. However, in the Lee Changho vs. Shin Jinseo match, a rare situation called "3-pass big" occurred, making it impossible to decide a winner. When three or more passes (pae) occur, players alternate taking them, so the match cannot end.

The absolute powerhouse of Korean Baduk, 9-dan Shin Jinseo, is playing the second semifinal match of the 10th Jeollanam-do Guksu Sanmaek International Baduk Tournament World Pro Championship on the afternoon of August 4th at the Jeollanam-do Yeongam-gun Yeongam-gun Ha Jung-woong Art Museum.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Though Lee Changho's prime has passed, he gave Go fans yet another unforgettable memory. On the 27th of last month, Lee Changho achieved a monumental record of 1,900 professional wins (1 draw, 794 losses). It took 38 years since he turned pro in 1986. He followed in the footsteps of Cho Hunhyun 9-dan, a symbol of Korean Go who previously reached 1,900 wins. Now, Shin Jinseo is following the path paved by Cho Hunhyun and Lee Changho.

Go players may be living a path that never breaks, a path that continues forever. Even when the day comes to end their lives, the game records (kibo) left by Go players are passed down to future generations... Within these records lie their lives, sweat and tears, joy and inspiration, all vividly preserved.