Dongseo Food '26th Maxim Coffee Cup Ibsinchoegangjeon', Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan Wins

Lee Jihyun 9-dan claims victory over previous champion Shin Jinseo 9-dan
Wins Maxim Coffee Cup for the first time in five years since 2020

Dongseo Foods announced on the 8th that Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan defeated Shin Jin-seo 9-dan to claim the final victory in the "26th Maxim Coffee Cup Ibsinchoegangjeon."

Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan, challenging for the Maxim Coffee Cup title for the first time in five years, faced off against Shin Jin-seo 9-dan, the previous champion of the Maxim Coffee Cup. In the first game of the finals held on the 31st of last month, Lee Ji-hyun secured a white win by resignation after 94 moves against the defending champion Shin Jin-seo. However, in the second game of the finals held on the 2nd at Midas Hotel & Resort in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Lee Ji-hyun was defeated, leveling the match. Then, in the third game of the finals held on the 7th at the Baduk TV studio of the Korea Baduk Association in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, after a tense battle, Lee Ji-hyun won by white resignation after 178 moves, defeating Shin Jin-seo and becoming the final champion.

The 26th Maxim Coffee Cup Ibsin Strongest Champion Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan is posing.
[Photo by Dongseo Food]

Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan achieved the remarkable feat of defeating the previous tournament champion and secured the Maxim Coffee Cup title for the first time in five years since winning in 2020. Lee Ji-hyun will receive a trophy and a prize of 70 million won, while runner-up Shin Jin-seo 9-dan will be awarded a trophy and a prize of 30 million won. The award ceremony will be held on the 23rd at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan expressed, "I am happy to have earned the honorable title of my second championship by defeating the previous tournament champion," and added, "I will continue to strive to show good performance."

Sponsored by Dongseo Foods and hosted and organized by the Korea Baduk Association, the "Maxim Coffee Cup Ibsinchoegangjeon" is a domestic competition open only to professional Go players of 9-dan rank. Dongseo Foods has sponsored the tournament for 26 years.