1. Choi Chulhan 9p Won Ing Cup World Baduk Championship.

Korea Baduk Association chose the news of Choi Chulhan 9p defeating Lee Changho 9p and winning the Ing Cup as the hottest news in 2009. Choi Chulhan 9p defeated Lee Changho 9p by 3-1 and won the Ing Cup world Baduk Championship.
Choi Chulhan 9p was defeated in the final match at this competition 4 years ago (by Chang Hao by 1-3) and this was his first world champion in major Baduk tournaments.
The Ing Cup World Baduk Championship has been held for 6 times. Starting from Cho Hoonhyun 9p, the first champion to Choi Chulhan 9p, it was the 5^th Ing Cup Championship won by a Korean player. By winning the Ing Cup, Choi Chulhan 9p also topped the money list in 2009 Year award race (633 million won as of Dec. 14).

2. Lee Sedol 9p Announced a Leave of Absence

The news of Lee Sedol announcing a leave of absence was chosen as the 2^nd hottest news.
In June 2009, Lee Sedol shook the Baduk world by announcing a leave of absence from professional Baduk. It was for one and a half years from Jun.
30, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2010 but as he kept it up by giving up his right to be seeded in final selections at Korean and the world Baduk tournaments that were going to be held during this time and returning the Guksu title he was holding, it shocked Baduk fans and his fellow Baduk players.

3. Baduk Association became a regular member sport organization of Korean Olympic Committee.

The news of Korea Amateur Baduk Association becoming a regular member sport organization was chosen as the third biggest news, which raised Baduk's position to a higher level. Efforts had been made since 2001 to make Baduk into sport.
Korean Olympic Committee approved Baduk Association as an admitted organization in 2002 and Baduk Association became an associate member sport organization in 2006. Finally, Baduk Association became the 55^th regular member sport organization of Korean Olympic Committee by the approval of the 25^th stand committee of Korean Olympic Committee.
Baduk was included as a regular discipline in the Guangzhou Asian Games program held in November next year and 3 gold medals will be awarded in the Baduk events.

4. The BC Card Cup Was Renewed as World Baduk Open Championship.

The 1st BC Card Cup World Baduk Championship began with the motto of regular cutoff round prize system.
BC Card Cup New Star Competition was renewed as BC Card Cup World Baduk Championship. BC Card Cup adopted a totally open system for the first time in the world. BC Card Cup also adopted a cutoff prize system from the final selection round of 64. Its innovative new ways caused a sensation in the international Baduk world.

 


 5. Kim Jisuk 6p Stood Out in 2009!
Kim Jisuk 6p spent his best year, winning his first championship and topping the 4 lists of total victories, the percentage of victories, consecutive victories and the number of matches. Kim Jisuk 6p defeated Lee Changho 9p at Korea Price Information Cup Championship (Mulgajeongbo) by 2-0 and won his first championship. He came out as the 5^th player of Nongshim Cup World Baduk Championship and won 3 consecutive victories.

As of 14 Dec., with the outstanding record of 71 wins and 16 loses, he topped total victories, the percentage of victories (81.61%), consecutive victories (17 consecutive victories) and the number of matches (87 matches).

6. Chinese Pro Players Played Well at International Baduk Competitions.

The rapid progress of Chinese Baduk was particularly remarkable this year. The situation of the rise of Chinese Baduk pressuring Korean Baduk was chosen as the 6^th biggest news.

As of Dec. 14, with the record of 133 wins and 249 loses for Korea in the total 382 matches between Korea and China, the percentage of victories for Korea was no higher than 34.82%. Even Korean ranking No. 1 player, Lee Changho, was defeated by Chang Hao in the final match at the Chunlan Cup and his final jinx of 7 consecutive loses at final matches was succeeded as he was defeated by Piao Wen Yao (at the BC Card Cup), Kong Jie (at the Asian TV Cup) and Qui Jun (at the Samsung Cup) at major Baduk competitions.

 7. The Yeongnam Ilbo Won the K-League Championship in 2009 for 3 Consecutive Years.
In 2009 Korea Baduk League, The Yeongnam Ilbo team, led by head coach Choi Gyubyung, won the championship for 3 consecutive years for first time ever in the league.
The Yeongnam Ilbo Team who occupied the 1st place in the regular league with the record of 8 wins and 4 loses, won the final championship and 200 million won prize money as the team won over Hangame in the final 3-game match by the total score of 2-1.

8. Army Baduk Classes Were Regularized.

Korea Baduk Association began to promote Baduk classes to soldiers in the army from March 2009.
Starting from 65 Infantry Division, army Baduk classes, having opened for 1,000 soldiers per year in 10 military units such as Navy Headquarters Operational Section, 1 Marine Division, Air Force Headquarters Operational Section and Korea Army Capital Hospital, are considered to be encouraging in context of expanding the base for the Baduk population.

9. Korea Recaptured Nongshim Cup World Baduk Championship.
 Korea recaptured Nongship Cup World Baduk Championship after a year that was taken away from Korea by China last year.
Korea won the championship with the combination of the 3^rd player, Kang Dongyoon's 5 consecutive victories and the 2^nd player, Lee Sedol's 2 consecutive victories at the end, without the team leader, Lee Changho, participating in matches.

Co. 10. Kang Dongyoon Won Fujitsu Cup and National Representative Team Was Organized.
Kang Dongyoon 9p won his first world baduk championship title as he won the 22^nd Fujitsu Cup World Go Championship. As Kang Dongyoon 9p defeated Lee Changho, he confirmed Korean players won their 14^th Fujitsu championship in total.

In preparation for 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, Korea Baduk Association operated the first regular Baduk team system. In terms of the organization of the regular Baduk teams, the female Baduk team was organized first to urgently reinforce its strength and Yang Jaeho 9p was chosen as the first head coach.
It is scheduled to organize the male Baduk team in March 2010 and select the final female and male representative players in July or August next year.
 

-KBA 2009, Beomjune Kim-<