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Dang Yifei (R) from Shanxi province?competes with his rival for the world Go champion on Feb 8 in Seoul. [Photo/sxrb.com] |
Dang Yifei from China's Shanxi province has become the world Go champion for the first time after winning the 21st LG World Go Championship in Seoul on Feb 8.
Deemed an underdog, the 23-year-old Taiyuan native cruised into the final with eight straight wins, stunning compatriot Zhou Ruiyang 2-0 to secure the title in what he said afterwards was a dream come true.
Yang missed out on his first Go world championship title five years ago after losing in the final at the BC Card Cup World Go Championship in 2012. He never lost confidence though and fought his way back to the elite stage.
"I've struggled a little bit since (2012) but I always have confidence in myself. When I get another opportunity, I said to myself it is now or never this time. I come to South Korea for the victory."
The positive attitude worked and helped Dang to take down Zhou, who held a 5-2 winning record before their Feb 8 matchup.
"Basically, we are on the same level. He maybe gets a slight lead over me but only by a tiny margin. Maybe he is sitting much higher than me in the pro rankings, so there could be more pressure on his side."
Dang's historic win marks a breakthrough in the Chinese board game in his hometown, which has a huge number of Go fans yet no professional team, said Geng Jinglin, director of the Chess and Card Administration Center of Shanxi province.
"It holds incredible historic significance for the development of Go and other board games in Shanxi province," Geng said.
