The 5th “Sinan International Elderly Go Championship” ended at the Eldorado Resort in Sinan County, Jeollanam-do, South Korea on June 13th, with Korean player Liu Changhe defeating Chinese player Luo Xiehe by 1.5 points to claim the championship for the third time in this event.
In the semifinals on the morning of the 13th, Liu Changhe defeated his rival Lee Chang-ho and advanced to the finals. Luo Xiehe, the only player from mainland China among the top four, performed outstandingly by defeating the youngest Korean player in this tournament, An Ju-yong, in the middle game, setting up a final showdown with Liu Changhe.
Luo Xiehe, born in 1977, is 11 years younger than Liu Changhe. The two players had met three times before in 2002, 2005, and 2023, with Luo Xiehe emerging victorious each time, making it difficult for Liu Changhe to secure a win.
In the afternoon finals on the 13th, after Liu Changhe chose to play as black, both players engaged in intense strategic battles throughout the game. Despite a tough fight, Liu Changhe’s precise judgment and moves eventually outplayed Luo Xiehe, leading to Liu Changhe’s victory with a 1.5-point advantage.
Although there was a moment of crisis when Liu Changhe made an unexpected mistake, his overall advantage was too significant for Luo Xiehe to turn the game around. After 281 moves, Liu Changhe secured the win, breaking the three-game losing streak against Luo Xiehe and claiming the championship once again.
After the match, Liu Changhe reflected on the game, mentioning that while the early and middle game had gone well, he made unexpected errors in the later stages that shook the dominant position he had built. He also attributed his success to his habit of taking walks by the seaside, which seemed to be a key factor in his victory.
The “Sinan International Elderly Go Championship” took place from June 11th to 13th, with 16 elderly players aged 45 and above from 8 countries participating. The event featured 7 Korean players, 2 players each from Japan and China, and 1 player each from Taiwan, the USA, the Netherlands, Australia, and Vietnam, providing a platform for veteran players to showcase their skills. Liu Changhe’s victory marked the end of the tournament.
The event was organized by the Korean Go Institute, sponsored by Jeollanam-do and Sinan County, and followed Korean Go rules with a 6.5-point Komi. Players had 30 minutes each for the game with an additional 60-second overtime allowance up to 3 times. The champion received a prize of 30 million Korean won (approximately 22,000 USD), while the runner-up received 15 million Korean won (approximately 11,000 USD).