Who will be the hottest player in the Korean Go world in 2021? What is the most exciting game for Korean chess fans? Recently, Korea's Go TV selected the "Korea Go TV Awards" through audience voting, and among these awards are the protagonists of various fields in this year's Go industry.
Let's take a look:
Most touched by the game award
At the 22nd Nongshim Cup in February this year, Shen Zhenchen's final innings to defeat Ke Jie was selected as the "most touching match". If the "Korea Go TV Awards" are likened to film festivals, this "Most Moving Match Award" is equivalent to the Works Award. This game allowed South Korean Go to reproduce lee chang-ho's "Shanghai Victory" scene in 2005 after 16 years, coupled with south Korea's re-winning of the Nongshim Cup after 3 years, so it won a total of 131 votes.
The second most touching match was the "brother final" between Park Tinghuan and Shin Jin-hyun in november,2021 Samsung Cup (116 votes), which was the Korean chess player who ended China's Samsung Cup for six consecutive titles and regained the Samsung Cup after 7 years; the third was the 25th LG Cup final, Shin Min-ho defeated Ke Jie to win the world championship for the first time (94 votes).
Most fit in the Chess Player Award
The Samsung Cup final eventually became an event for Park Tinghuan. A year ago, in the "South China Sea Pushun Seven Chess", he suffered the humiliation of losing all 7 battles. However, in the final of this Samsung Cup, he reversed the defeat and victory against the junior Shin Jin-chan, who was 7 years younger than himself, showing his "health".
The 2nd-ranked player, who had been suppressed for 22 consecutive months, defeated the No. 1 player, a result that caused a huge response and gave Park Tinghuan the "Most Healthy Chess Player Award". With this victory, Park Tinghuan broke the situation of Shin Jin-chan's domination of the world and got rid of the shadow of 2 years without a crown.
The second in the "Most Healthy Chess Player Award" is Lee Chang-ho (46), who qualified for the tournament through the Samsung Cup's senior group and set the record for the most qualified; the third is Won Seung-joo, who won the Korean Go League MVP at the age of 36 and became the youngsters' learning list.
Best Opponent Combination Award
The most popular opponent combination among chess fans, not surprisingly, was Shin Jin-chan and Ke Jie, who received an overwhelming 235 votes. In South Korea and China, Shin Jin-chan and Ke Jie have long occupied the throne of the first person in rank. In 2021, the first person between China and South Korea met twice in the World Series, and the result was that Shin Jin-chan won.
Based on the families who joined pay TV, the ratings for the two Men's Nongshim Cup were 0.351% and 0.347% in the semi-finals of the 26th LG Cup. Among the 266 channels (excluding comprehensive channels) in South Korea, the ratings ranked 9th and 7th respectively in the same time period.
The second most popular opponent award was the team of Cui Jing and Yu Zhiying (72 votes) competing for the World Women's Go Championship.
Maximum reversal prize
Reversal here means "amazing progress". Cao Chengya was selected as the player who has made the most progress and achieved the most dazzling "reversal" in the Korean Go world this year. For a long time this year, Cao Chengya's four-dan record dominated the three records of South Korea's multiple wins, win rate and consecutive wins.
In addition, Cao Chengya also defeated the "ceiling" of South Korea's women's Go world, Choi Jung, twice this year – after facing Choi Kyung's 7 consecutive defeats, Cao Chengya defeated his opponent in the Samsung Cup preliminary women's final, and then beat Choi Jing again in the Lakeside Cup. With these outstanding performances, Cao Chengya received a total of 201 votes in this award.
The second winner of the "Biggest Reversal Award" was Lee Chang-seok (94 votes) who grew up to be a "big man", and the third place was Ha Can Seok Cup champion Moon Min-jong (46 votes).
In addition to the above awards, the Amateur Award was won by Choi Ho-cheol.
Voting for the "Korea Go TV Awards" began on November 29 and ended on December 12 through the official website of Go TV. Although there is no prize money or other events, this year is the third year, a total of 341 spectators participated, which is the largest number of participants in history, and it can be said that the response is enthusiastic.
Go TV will broadcast the winners' presentations from December 23 for a week.
(Saury compiled from a column by Chosun Ilbo reporter Lee Hong-yeol)