Lee Chang-ho Achieves 2,000 Wins in Go, Reflecting on a Lifelong Journey
Lee Chang-ho, a legendary figure in Korean Go, made history on October 26, 2026, by becoming the first professional player in the world to reach 2,000 career victories. Starting his professional career at the age of 11, he has dedicated over 40 years to the game, culminating in this remarkable achievement. During a ceremony held on November 3 at the Korea Baduk Association in Seoul, he described his 2,000 wins as a personal award, expressing his happiness in being able to pursue what he loves throughout his life. He acknowledged that while he struggled to enjoy the game during his peak due to the pressure of winning, he now feels more at ease and satisfied.
In his remarks, Lee emphasized that the significance of his 2,000 victories extends beyond mere numbers. It represents a lifetime commitment to a passion, enduring countless victories and defeats, and returning to the starting point to make another move. While many brilliant individuals shine brightly for a moment, few demonstrate their talent through consistent dedication over four decades. Achieving the most ordinary task with the greatest depth and sincerity may be the most challenging endeavor for humanity, perhaps even a path toward divinity.
The Warmth of a Family That Nurtured the Young Go Prodigy
The journey began with the love of a family that embraced young Lee Chang-ho. In 1984, the nine-year-old boy from Jeonju moved to Seoul to become a disciple of the era's top strategist, Cho Hun-hyun. Living in Cho's home in Yeonhui-dong, Lee found not only a mentor in Cho but also maternal care from Cho's wife, Jeong Mi-hwa. Despite her own responsibilities, Jeong took care of Lee's daily needs, providing him with a nurturing environment in a new city. Lee later referred to her as 'little mom,' indicating the depth of their bond that transcended the typical student-teacher relationship.
A poignant memory from that time illustrates Lee's vulnerability. As a child who struggled to sleep alone, he initially shared a bed with Cho's parents and later kept the light on and the door open even after he began sleeping alone. Jeong recalled that she never heard Lee's footsteps going upstairs, highlighting his cautious nature. The future Go master was once a frightened child in an unfamiliar home.
This reflection prompts a reconsideration of the birth of genius. When discussing great figures, we often emphasize innate talent, rigorous training, and fierce competition, overlooking the love and support from those who provided the foundation for that talent to flourish. While Cho taught Lee the intricacies of Go, Jeong and her family created the nurturing environment necessary for him to pursue his path. If Cho's teachings represented the strength of the heavens, Jeong's care embodied the nurturing embrace of the earth. Lee's 2,000 victories are not only a testament to his efforts on the board but also a tribute to the love and dedication of his family and mentors.
The Significance of 800 Losses in Lee Chang-ho's Journey
The ancient Eastern text, the I Ching, teaches that the heavens are strong and unyielding, encouraging individuals to strive tirelessly. It also emphasizes the importance of nurturing others with a generous spirit. Lee's 2,000 victories are a convergence of these two philosophies. Over his 40-year career, he has faced more than 800 losses, enduring countless challenges that did not go his way. However, these defeats did not end his journey, nor did the weight of time prevent him from returning to the Go board. At the ceremony, he confessed that maintaining consistency is more challenging than it seems. While it is relatively easy to continue when things are going well, persisting through difficulties is much harder, even for those with exceptional talent. True genius is not defined by a single moment of brilliance but by a lifetime of dedication to proving one's abilities.
Yet, Lee's greatness is not solely rooted in his fierce competitive spirit. Despite reigning at the top for many years, he prioritized the game itself over personal accolades. He acknowledged that his junior, Shin Jin-seo, has already surpassed him, a recognition that is not easy for many to accept. However, true masters do not wish for their era to last forever; they hope for the next generation to reach even greater heights. When strength meets humility, it cultivates dignity, and when perseverance meets generosity, the essence of humanity begins.
The Philosophy of Life Reflected in Go and Golf
Lee's journey also draws parallels with life itself. In Go, overconfidence can lead to overlooking an opponent's clever moves, while in golf, one must contend with the elements and the course. Both games reflect the unpredictability of life, where plans may not unfold as expected, and opportunities and failures arise unexpectedly. Just as one cannot undo a move in Go or a shot in golf, life does not allow for the reliving of past days. Therefore, it is crucial to focus not on regretting past moves but on contemplating the next steps.
In this sense, the Go board serves as a microcosm of the universe. Just as stars move within gravitational relationships, the stones on the board gain meaning through their interactions. While the rules of Go and the laws of the universe are not identical, there is a profound philosophical similarity in how parts and wholes are interconnected, and how one change can lead to another. A single stone can alter the entire game, just as a person's choice can change a family's fate, a company's direction, or even the course of history.
The Importance of Food, Work, and Dreams in Human Life
Lee's nickname, 'Stone Buddha,' invites deeper reflection. While it originated from his calm demeanor in victory and defeat, it also signifies a profound silence. Unlike those who seek constant validation for their achievements, true masters do not need to boast about their successes; their journey speaks for itself. Lee's acknowledgment of Shin Jin-seo's accomplishments, surpassing his own, illustrates that greatness lies not in remaining at the top but in paving the way for future generations.
In the age of artificial intelligence, Lee's 2,000 victories take on new significance. Following the 2016 match between Lee Sedol and AlphaGo, the world of Go underwent a fundamental transformation, prompting a reevaluation of strategies once considered standard. While AI now demonstrates superior Go skills, human play remains meaningful. If AI explores the best moves in Go, humans question what constitutes the best life through the game. The joy of victory, the sorrow of defeat, respect for mentors, and love for juniors cannot be quantified by mere win rates.
As we enter an era where AI takes on intellectual tasks and physical labor, we must reflect on the purpose of our work, the nature of our relationships, and the values we wish to pass on to future generations. The advancement of technology does not render human life meaningless; rather, it emphasizes the need for a philosophy that values love for one's work, respect for others, and harmony with nature. While Go records wins and losses, a person's life encompasses how they achieve victory and how they cope with defeat.
I have long believed that food, work, and dreams must coexist in human life. Food represents survival, work signifies self-realization, and dreams transcend life itself. While survival is possible with food alone, life can become barren without it. Work may lead to achievement but can also lead to burnout, and dreams can inspire beautiful visions but may lose touch with reality. When these three elements harmonize, human life becomes whole.
For Lee, Go has been food, work, and a dream. In his youth, it was a dream for the future; as a professional, it became a responsibility; and after reaching the pinnacle, it became a stage to prove his talent. Now, Go is a lifelong companion that brings him happiness. This single pursuit has deepened in meaning over time. Many believe that success will bring happiness, yet some remain unhappy even after achieving it, finding peace only after stepping down from the top. Lee's statement that he feels more at ease now than during his peak highlights the distinction between success, which is often measured against others, and happiness, which is found in reconciling with one's own life.
The Spirit of Perseverance and Continuous Growth
In this light, the years young Lee spent in Cho Hun-hyun's home resonate deeply. For the nine-year-old boy from Jeonju, a warm bed and a meal were more immediate needs than the grand dream of becoming a world champion. While Cho's strict teachings honed Lee's talent, Jeong's nurturing provided the soil and water for that talent to take root. The story of a disciple surpassing his master is a tale of Go history, but the memory of a student cherishing the care he received as a child is a testament to human history. Behind every great achievement lies unseen love, and greatness is not achieved in isolation but through the nurturing of others.
Lee has expressed a desire to aim for 2,500 wins. It is heartening to know that even after achieving 2,000 victories, he still harbors dreams of reaching 500 more. However, it is not essential for him to achieve this milestone. What matters more is the ability to sit at the Go board tomorrow, discover new moves, and continue to experience the joys of victory and the lessons of defeat. If his youthful ambitions were aimed at reaching the top, he now seems closer to wanting to continue doing what he loves for as long as possible. A life that remains vibrant while embracing emptiness, that moves without exhaustion, and that renews itself with age embodies the spirit of perseverance and continuous growth.
We often perceive divine realms as existing beyond human capability. However, I believe that such a state is not about ceasing to be human but about living one's life to the fullest, harmonizing with the fundamental order of the universe. The heavens move tirelessly, the earth silently nurtures all beings, and the bellows, though empty, continuously produce new winds. Humans can cultivate themselves through perseverance, embrace others with generosity, empty their hearts, and create new vitality. By practicing virtues daily, we may one day reach a state where virtue naturally manifests without conscious effort.
This path is not one of instant enlightenment but a gradual journey of living day by day, experiencing countless failures, and starting anew. Lee has not made grand declarations to the heavens nor sought to explain his greatness. He simply sits at the Go board, makes a move, contemplates the next, and makes another move. Thus, 40 years have passed, and 2,000 victories have accumulated. What we discover at the end of this long journey is not just the number of victories but the dedication of a single individual, whose life, rooted in the love that nurtured him as a child, has engaged with the world and ultimately embraced it.
The heavens move today, the earth nurtures all beings today, and Lee Chang-ho will sit at the Go board tomorrow, contemplating a new move. In that ordinary move lies the universe, and in the lifelong pursuit of that move lies the path of humanity.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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