As the amateur psychologists pondered over what has gone wrong with Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan - just because he lost a tiny handful of games - he put them in their place by winning Game 4 of the 35th P'aewang final on 9 March 2001. Since this made the match score 3-1 in his favour, in the process he deprived Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan of his title. And if you look at the iron grip Cho has had since he first won it in 1977, his pupil's achievement seems all the more merit worthy.
Ironically, since Yi's recent losses have been characterised by losing a big group, he won this game by killing one of Cho's as early as move 146.
Yi's victory has depressed the Chinese, with the Nong Shim Cup coming up in a few days time, but it has moved him yet closer to his century of title - see Yi's Milestones.
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Older News from 2 March 2001: YI'S CHALLENGE FALTERS
In what must be the worst week of his already long career, Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan lost a third title match when defeated by Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan in Game 3 of the 35th P'aewang on 2nd March 2001. His other two losses were in the LG Cup.
Word has gone round that Yi is not a god after all, but a human. Sounds like wishful thinking. But it is a fact that almost all his recent losses follow a pattern - he loses a big group. That was the case here, the game finishing after 148 moves. His concentration seems to have dipped. Is marriage on the horizon?
The score in the best-of-five series still stands in his favour, 2-1. Game 4 is on 9 March, at the same venue as Game 3, the Korean Baduk Association headquarters (Hanguk Kiweon).
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Older News from 23 February 2001: YI'S CHALLENGE CONTINUES RELENTLESSLY
Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan moved one step closer to his 100th title (see Yi's Milestones) when he defeated holder Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan in the delayed Game 2 of the 35th P'aewang on 23 February 2001. He forced a resignation after 202 moves
The series is a best-of-five. Game 3 is on 3 March and Yi has Black in this case, with which he is almost invincible, even with the larger Korean komi.
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Older News From 16 January 2001: YI CHALLENGE STARTS SUCCESSFULLY
Challenger Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan took the first game of the 35th P'aewang on 16 January 2001 when he defeated his teacher Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan by a comfortable 7.5 points with Black at the Korean Go Association headquarters.
The series is a best-of-five. Game 2 is provisionally on 18 January.
Older News From 11 January 2001: RECORD RUNS INTO BUFFERS
Maybe there is something of the spoilsport about Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan, but he brought the staggering run of 20 successive victories by his pupil, Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan, in the 35th P'aewang to an end on 12 January 2001.
Worse, as if to remind his pupil that he still has a lot to learn, he thumped him by 10.5 points. Cho and Yi now go on to contest a best-of-five final starting on 16 January. Since Cho has been giving the youngster a hard time in all their games recently, and seems to have successfully evolved a strategy of saving his energy for the big games now, it would be rash to bet against Cho.
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Older News From 19 December 2000: ONE TO GO!
Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan is just one game away from a clean sweep in the 35th P'aewang. On 18 December 2000 he defeated Han Chong-chin 3-dan in Game 18, making his run of victories, including two games in the preliminary event, 20.
The final game, against the current P'aewang and Yi's teacher Cho Hun-hyeon, will be on 12 January 2001.
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Older News from 12 December 2000:YI MAKES IT 19
The astonishing run of victories by Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan in the 35th P'aewang continued on 11 December 2000 when he outgunned An Tal-hun 3-dan in Game 17. Including two games in the preliminary event Yi has now won 19 on the trot and has just two more opponents between him and a clean sweep.
His next game is on 21 December.
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Older News from 2 December 2000: YI KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING.....
Ha Ch'an-seok became the 18th successive victim as Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan extended his run of victories in the new-style 35th P'aewang on 30 November 2000.
Here are the last couple of games from the main event (remember Yi won two games of his run in the preliminary event):
Older News From 11 November 2000: YI EXTENDS RECORD YET FURTHER
World No. 1 Yi Ch'ang-ho extended his remarkable run in the new-style 35th P'aewang. By defetaing Chang Tu-chin 7-dan on 28 November 2000 he extended his run of consecutive victories in this event to 17 - this includes two from the preliminary stage.
Here is the complete run of victims in the main event, which began on 22 May 2000:
1. Yi Seong-chae 6d
2. Yang Chae-ho 9d
3. Yun Ki-hyeon 9d
4. Seo Pong-su
5. Hong T'ae-seon 8d
6. Yi Heui-seong 3d
7. Seo Neung-uk 9d
8. Yun Seong-hyeon 7d
9. Cho Han-seung 4d
10. Yi Se-tol 3d
11. Kim Seong-ryong 6d (Kim defaulted)
12. An Cho-yeong 6d
13. Kim Ch'an-u 6d
14. Yu Chae-hyeong 4d
15. Chang Tu-chin 7d (28 Nov)
Yi Ch'ang-ho
The players left in the competition are Ha Ch'an-seok 8d, An Tal-hun 3d, Han Chong-chin 3d and Cho Hun-hyeon 9d.
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Older News From 11 November 2000: YI EXTENDS RECORD
Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan has now pushed his record to 16 consecutive wins, having defeated Kim Seong-ryong 6-dan, An Cho-yeong 6-dan, Kim Ch'an-u 1-dan and -on 9 November 2000 - Yu Chae-hyeong 4-dan since our last report. Chang Tu-chin 4-dan will be the next lamb to the slaughter on 27 November.
To elaborate on the re-vamp mentioned last time, it appears that the sponsors are now the Seoul-based computing firm Hansol CSN Co. Ltd, and the Seoul Shinmun newspaper. The players are competing also for the com018 Cup.
There are still some other details we await.
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Older News From 10 October 2000: YI EQUALS RECORD
After the financial problems of the last few years, the P'aewang tournament has been revamped completely for the 35th term and is now a win & continue event - the winner of each game stays in the ring until he loses, and the winner of that game takes over until he in turn loses. Ultimate victory is decided by who puts up the longest winning streak.
Holder Yi Ch'ang-ho obviously likes the new format. He has just (5 October 2000) equalled Seo Pong-su's 1972 record of 12 successive wins in such events. He is on course for a possible maximum of 19, and of the players left only one would normally give him difficulty, namely his teacher Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan.
Yi's progress so far, from Game 1, has been victories over:
Yi Seong-chae 6d
Yang Chae-ho 9d
Yun Ki-hyeon 9d
Seo Pong-su 9d
Hong T'ae-seon 8d
Yi Heui-seong 3d
Seo Neung-uk 9d
Yun Seong-hyeon 7d
Cho Han-seong 4d
Yi Se-tol 3d
To come are:
Kim Seong-ryong 6d
An Cho-yeong 6d
Kim Ch'an-u 1d
Yu Chae-hyeong 4d
Chang Tu-chin 4d
Ha Ch'an-seok 8d
An Tal-hun 3d
Han Chong-chin 3d
Cho Hun-hyeon 9d
The new format of the P'aewang has been taken over from the Maxim Cup, but with 20 players instead of 18. Players earn money as they progress (at the time of his record-equalling win Yi had made over 60 million won), but there is now a bigger prize fund than ever before, of 130 million won. The final winner's prize is 10.2 million. They also play for the 018 Cup.
The BC Card Cup has gone down the same win & continue route, incidentally, in current Term 11.
The P'aewang tournament, one of the oldest in Korea though it has had gaps, is sponsored by the Seoul Sinmun (Seoul Newspaper), now known as the Taehan Maeil newspaper.
The total prize fund was set at 100m won in 1996 (winner 12m won; runner-up 5m won) but, as a result of the financial turbulence in Asian markets, Term 34 was postponed for a year and the prize fund has been temporarily reduced. The winner's prize for year 1999-2000 will be 9 million won, with 2.5 million won for the runner-up. Players also currently compete for the OneShot 018 Cup.
The main tournament is a knockout with a main tournament of 16 players, the winner (latterly from a 3-game final) challenging the title holder to a 5-game match (temporarily reduced to 3 games in term 34) which has taken place in mid-winter or, latterly, in the spring.
Time limits are 5 hours each. Komi is 5.5 points but will change to 6.5 points in Term 35.
