The popular 9-dan husband-and-wife couple from China, Jiang Zhujiu and Rui Naiwei are now playing as guests in the Korean tournaments after their stay in North America. 

In July Rui won the 6th Women's Kuksu title at her first attempt in something of a mismatch against Yi Chi-hyeon 1-dan. Her compatriot Huang Yan unsuccessfully contested the final in 1998, having been a guest in Korea since 1994. 

The 9-dan/1-dan gap here is not, however, as big as it might seem. Korean grades are substantially tougher than elsewhere, and when Huang transferred from China her 5-dan grade was adjusted to 2-dan. Rui and her husband are both also making their mark in the major events.  

The Pro Women's Kuksu Tournament is sponsored by Han-kuk Kyeong-che Sin-mun (Korean Economic Newspaper). 

The total prize in 1998 was 28 million won, with first prize of 7 million won, and second 2 million won. This has been increased in 1999 to 35 million won (first prize 9 million won; second prize is 3.5 million won). 

The main tournament is currently a 16-woman knockout, without seeds, culminating in a best-of-three final. This format has varied slightly in earlier years because of the relatively small number of eligible players. 

Time limits are 4 hours each (3 hours in any qualifiers). Komi is 5.5 points. 

The word kuksu is the Korean equivalent of the Chinese guoshou (national hand). Originally it meant a person who was able to lead the nation through his example of supreme skill. It became the main word in China to denote a go champion, and is thus in effect the proper equivalent of the Japanese Meijin.

WOMEN'S KUKSU FINALISTS (The year is the year the tournament starts)

Note: All Korean names are in McCune-Reischauer transcription.