Lee Changho Again in the Kuksu Final
6 March, Lee Changho 9p and Hong Kipyo 4p played in 1st game of 53rd Kuksu final. For Hong Kipyo this is first time and important test of strength and stamina. On other side for Lee Changho this final is also important. Kuksu is one of the most important titles in the Korea.
Little history
Lee Changho play in Kuksu final first time in the 1989 against his teacher Cho Hunhyun. His first approach was unsuccessfull. He lost 3-1. Next year he won 3-2 against his teacher and from started his domination in the Kuksu.
He was title holder for 5 year in a row from 1993 to 1998, but in new century he face new wave of strong players. Everything started Choi Cheolhan 9p in 2003 when he capture title with the score of 3-2. Choi Cheolhan aggresive style forced Lee Changho to change his strategy.
Next year he tried to recapture title, but fail with the worse possible score 0-3. Of course changing style is not easy task, but in 2005 he succesful won the Kuksu with 3-2 score. When one thoughts that Lee Changho found the key to fight with young Masters, new unknown player enter Kuksu final. Yun Jungsang beat Lee Changho with outstounding record 3-1 for the fresh guy.
Everyone was sure that next few Kuksu edition will be mainly betweeb Yun Junsang and Lee Changho, but in 2007 Lee Changho was eliminated from the tournament in the 1st round by Seo Gunwoo 4p!!! This was big shock. Lee Changho was in the big slump. He don’t even enter Kuksu next year. Recently Lee Changho is in much better shape. Maybe he will even back as National Champion (Kuksu).
53rd Kuksu
Tournament was mainly filled by young players. Smifinal was played between Hong Kipyo 4p vs An Hyungjun 2p and Lee Changho 9p vs Joo Hyeongwuk 5p. As you see the only well known player is Lee Changho. We can see that 53rd Kuksu is again show between experience and youth.
First match
Lee Changho in last years change his style to more aggressive, but he still play very conservative in the opening. He play very thick in the first part, but this was solid foundation to play some outstanding moves in the middle part of the game.
White wedge in the bottom right corner was the winning move of the game.
Lee Changho won the game by resignation after 234 moves. He show that in the game was some gap between his baduk and Hong Kipyo. Will Hong Kipyo regain strength and come back to fight for the title in next games? Everything possible especially that Kuksu was always favorite ground for young masters.
Related posts:
- Lee Changho won 1st game in ING final
- Lee Sedol defended Kuksu title
- Rui Naiwei won 13th Female Kuksu
