On May 4, the fifth “Dream Lily Cup World Go Open” Go championship finals concluded at the Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel in Rugao, Jiangsu Province, China. Chinese Go player Li Xuanhao, a nine-dan professional, defeated his teammate Dang Yifei, also a nine-dan professional, with a total score of 3-1 to claim his first world championship title.
In 2023, Chinese Go players dominated the competition with their superior numbers and outstanding performance, securing all top eight spots in the tournament. Li Xuanhao and Dang Yifei, two seasoned players, emerged victorious to face off in the finals. According to Weiqi statistics, Dang Yifei held a slight edge over Li Xuanhao with 13 wins to 11 losses in their previous encounters.
In the first game of the five-game Go finals on April 29, Li Xuanhao played black due to the draw. Dang Yifei made a rare “Star-33” opening, strategically targeting the opponent’s corner formation early in the game. Despite gaining an advantage in the bottom right corner, white’s position weakened as the game progressed.
As the middle game unfolded, Dang Yifei made several inaccuracies, allowing Li Xuanhao to reverse the game and maintain a lead. Li Xuanhao strategically outplayed his opponent, securing a two to three-point advantage and ultimately winning the first game with a score of 1-0.
In the game of Go, the black player in Chinese rules has a disadvantage due to the “komi” rule, making it crucial for Li Xuanhao to win the first game as the black player to have a better chance of winning the series.
Moving on to the second game on April 30, the roles were reversed, with Dang Yifei playing black. The second game showcased a fierce battle as both players clashed in the center of the board before extending the conflict to the lower part. Li Xuanhao’s precise calculations and tactical decisions allowed him to secure a clear victory by capturing his opponent’s dragon in the lower left corner, winning two games in a row.
Li Xuanhao’s remarkable performance in the initial games demonstrated his skill and strategic prowess, earning him the nickname “Xuan Intelligence.” In contrast, Dang Yifei faced consecutive defeats, leaving him with no choice but to fight back in the third game.
On May 2, in the third game of the finals, Li Xuanhao played black once again. Despite establishing a significant lead early in the game, Li Xuanhao unexpectedly made a series of unconventional moves, allowing Dang Yifei to seize strategic opportunities and turn the game around. In a surprising turn of events, Li Xuanhao conceded defeat, giving Dang Yifei a chance to narrow the score to 1-2.
Following the series of games, Li Xuanhao reflected on his performance, admitting that a lapse in concentration led to his defeat in the third game. Despite his initial advantage, Li Xuanhao’s mindset shift during the game puzzled both fans and analysts alike.
In the fourth game on May 4, Dang Yifei played black once more, facing pressure from Li Xuanhao’s strong play. Li Xuanhao regained his composure, delivering a dominant performance and securing a victory with a final score of 3-1 to clinch the world championship.
Li Xuanhao revealed that winning the championship on his wife’s birthday was a special gift for her. With the rise of artificial intelligence in the world of Go, players like Li Xuanhao have had to adapt and innovate to stay competitive, leading to a trend of younger players achieving world championship titles.
In the five editions of the “Dream Lily Cup” tournament, Chinese Go players have claimed victory four times, showcasing their dominance in the competition. While South Korea managed to secure one championship title, players from other countries have struggled to make an impact, with few advancing beyond the quarterfinals.
The tournament, organized by the Chinese Weiqi Association, adheres to Chinese Go rules with black giving a 3 and three-quarter komi, each player having a basic time limit of two hours, and five minutes of overtime with 60 seconds of additional time up to five periods. The champion receives a prize of 1.8 million RMB (approximately $254,300 USD), while the runner-up earns 600,000 RMB (approximately $84,400 USD) in prize money.