The relentless dominance of a Go prodigy who rewrote the rankings
In short: For over a decade, one name defined the landscape of South Korean women's Go. Choi Jeong did more than just win; she maintained the top official ranking for 128 consecutive months, breaking barriers in both gendered and open professional divisions through a famously aggressive playing style.
Born on 7 October 1996, Choi Jeong's ascent in the professional Go world began remarkably early. Under the tutelage of 9-dan Yoo Chang-hyuk, she turned professional in May 2010 at just 14 years old. Her early career was marked by rapid success, securing her first tournament championship, the Female Myungin, in 2012—a title she would hold for five consecutive years.
Choi’s impact extends beyond women's-only circuits. In December 2019, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first woman to break into the top 20 of the official Korea Baduk Association rankings for all players. In 2022, she broke conventional game limits by securing a place in the Samsung Cup final, a first for any female player in a premier global event.
Her playing style is as distinctive as her record. Inheriting a combative approach from her teacher, Choi is known for her strength in reading and her willingness to jump boldly into enemy territory. Observers often describe her tactic as 'to cut when attached and to push when pushed,' a philosophy that helped her maintain the number one women's ranking from December 2013 until August 2024.
Her international trophy cabinet is equally formidable, including four Bingsheng Cup titles (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) and three Wu Qingyuan Cup victories (2019, 2021, 2023). Even as she continues to compete, her recent victory in the 2024 Dr. G Women's Top Player Championship reaffirms her enduring status in the field.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Choi Jeong (Go player)
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