Go legend Lee Chang-ho writes new history as the first in the world! Reaches milestone of 2,000 wins... "Great achievement" after 40 years and 2 months since turning professional

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Lee Chang-ho (51), a legend of Korean Go, became the first professional player in the world to achieve the major milestone of 2,000 career wins.

On the 26th, Lee secured a black win by resignation against Choi Myung-hoon in 207 moves during Round 11 of the 2026 So-Phalco-Sanol Legends League, held at the Samryeong Culture and Arts Village in Wanju County, North Jeolla Province.

With this, Lee reached the milestone of 2,000 career professional wins. Since turning professional in 1986, he built a golden tower that will be remembered in world Go history after an impressive 40 years and 2 months.

Thanks to today's victory, Lee's career record stands at 2,000 wins, 1 draw, and 830 losses out of 2,831 games. He recorded a win rate of 70.67% (excluding draws).

Lee is a legendary player who represents the world Go scene beyond Korea.

In 1989, at the age of 14 years and 1 month, he won his first title at the 8th KBS Go King Tournament. Following this, in 1992, he set the record for the youngest world champion by winning the 3rd Dongyang Securities Cup at the age of 16 years and 6 months.

He subsequently dominated the world stage. By topping the podium at tournaments including the Dongyang Securities Cup, LG Cup, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Cup, Fujitsu Cup, Yingshui Cup, Chunlan Cup, and Toyota Denso Cup, he achieved a grand slam in world championships.

He has won a whopping 17 times in world major tournaments alone, with a total of 142 career titles.

In particular, last December, he recorded his 1,969th win, surpassing his mentor Cho Hoon-hyun to set a new all-time record for the most wins. And about 10 months later, he wrote a new history by becoming the first in the world to reach 2,000 wins.

Lee's first victory dates back 40 years. On August 26, 1986, he secured his first professional win against Cho Young-sook (then dan player) at the 62nd Promotion Tournament.

Subsequently, he achieved 1,000 career wins on October 16, 2000, followed by 1,500 wins on January 18, 2010, 1,800 wins on February 23, 2021, and 1,900 wins on September 27, 2024.

After maintaining top-tier skill for a long time, he finally completed the major record of 2,000 wins, which no one had ever reached before.

After achieving the record, Lee expressed his feelings through the Korean Go Association, stating, "It is an honor and a joy for me personally to set a historic record," and "The fact that I can continue to play Go, which I love, is itself enjoyable and happy."

Meanwhile, Lee received the Silver Crown of Cultural Merit from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 1996, and published his autobiography, "Lee Chang-ho's Bu-deuk-Tam-Seung," in 2011.

The Korean Go Association is scheduled to hold a "Celebration Ceremony for Lee Chang-ho's 2,000 Wins" on November 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the lounge on the first floor of the new building of the Korean Go Association to commemorate his historic achievement.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original