From 4th dan to 9th dan in a year… a new entry record in 4 years and 5 months
Han Woo-jin, born in 2005,꽁머니사이트 is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about players in the world of Go. He recently celebrated his 18th birthday, and there are four reasons why he is in the spotlight
First, status. He reached the highest rank, 9th dan, last week as a runner-up at the Baek Am Bae. He is the second-youngest black belt ever, just over a month behind Park Jung-hwan (30), who reached 9th dan at 17 years and 11 months. Second-place finisher Shin Shin-seo (23) was relegated to third place by 13 days.
His time from entry to 9th dan is even more remarkable. At 4 years, 5 months, and 18 days after his professional debut, he broke the domestic record of Park Young-hoon (4 years, 7 months, and 1 day) by 9 years. The third through fifth place record holders in this category are Park Jung-hwan, Shin Shin-seo, and Shin Min-joon.
What’s even more amazing is that this is not only the fastest time in Korea, but also the fastest time in the world. It’s nearly two months faster than Fan Tingyu in China. Curze, Chen Yaoye, Yang Dingxin, and Guri took between 7 and 11 years. Yuta Iyama holds the Japanese record at 8 years and 10 months. Of course, the rules for advancement vary from country to country and era to era, so simple comparisons are not possible.
Regardless, the fact that he jumped from 4th dan to 5th dan in one year speaks volumes about his progress. He won the 3rd Lee Bung-bae (2022) to become a 1st dan and the Millennium Cheonwonjeon (2023) to become a 2nd dan. Then, in early June, he reached the eighth dan for winning the World U20 Globis Cup and the ninth dan for finishing runner-up at the Baekam Cup.
Second, performance. He won 17 straight games before losing to Kim Myung-hoon in the final of the Baekamba, defeating top players such as Park Gun-ho (Lanker 4th) and Byun Sang-il (Korea 3rd) along the way. It’s been a “berserk streak,” with two wins and one runner-up finish this year alone. His ranking (37th) is also close to breaking the top 20.
The third is confidence and competitive temperament. After losing the first game of GlobisBasher, he was undaunted and defeated three Chinese knights to win the title. In particular, Tou Xiaoyu (20), his semifinal opponent, and Wang Xinghao (19), his final opponent, are two of the strongest players China has to offer. Wang Xinghao is also a world quarterfinalist (LG Ship).
Han is fearless. “I’m not afraid to play with anyone this year,” he says. He also disagrees with some critics who say his style is too straightforward and attack-oriented. “It’s true that I enjoy attacking, but I try to find my own balance,” he says. He is assertive and confident.
Fourth is hard work. “I quit my hobbies this year and have been focusing on Go since then,” he said. The ‘hobby’ he admitted to repeatedly was 메이저놀이터 추천 gaming. “Increasing the number of direct matches with AI (artificial intelligence) has had a big effect. I study with AI even in the subway. Realizing the importance of physical fitness, he recently installed an iron bar at home. I hang from it every chance I get, and I can easily do double-digit pull-ups.
Now, he knows it’s time for him to perform in general and international competitions. “Earning a 9th Dan in the shortest time is an honor, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. I will put all my efforts into my dream of world domination,” says Han, one of the hottest names in Go.