▲ Pyeongtaek Brain City Complex claims its first-ever championship in the Women's Go League since its founding.
Pyeongtaek Brain City Complex has claimed its first-ever championship in the Women's Go League since its founding.
On the afternoon of October 25, Pyeongtaek secured a 2-1 comeback victory against H2 DREAM Samcheok in the final third match of the championship series for the 2026 NH Nonghyup Bank Korea Women's Go League, held at the Baduk TV studio of the Korea Baduk Association in Majang-ro, Seongdong-gu.
With this win, Pyeongtaek finished the championship series with an overall record of two wins and one loss, edging out Samcheok to reach the top.
In the opening match of the day, Pyeongtaek's team captain, 4-dan Kim Ju-a, suffered a resignation loss (deukbo) to Samcheok's foreign player, 6-dan Li He, after 280 moves.
However, in the second match, Pyeongtaek's foreign player, 7-dan Wu Yiming, secured a 1.5-point win with White against Samcheok's team captain, 9-dan Kim Eun-ji, after 298 moves to level the score at 1-1.
In the decisive final match, Pyeongtaek's 5-dan Heo Seo-hyun pulled off a dramatic half-point win with White against Samcheok's 7-dan Kim Eun-sun after 269 moves, leading her team to its inaugural championship.
Heo had been slightly behind until just before the end of the game, but capitalized on a miscalculation by Kim Eun-sun during the final half-ko battle to secure a miraculous comeback victory.
Following the match, Heo shared her thoughts, saying, "The game was unfavorable until the very end so I had prepared myself mentally, but it feels unbelievable to have won. I am happy, but I also feel sorry [for Kim Eun-sun]. Seeing my teammates look so happy after the game made me joyful and made the championship feel real."
Previously, Pyeongtaek lost 1-2 in the first match held on October 23, but bounced back in the second match on October 24 with a 2-0 victory, highlighted by Kim Ju-a's decisive win over Kim Eun-ji, tying the series at one win and one loss.
Although they lost the first match of the final third round, Wu Yiming and Heo Seo-hyun claimed consecutive victories in the second and third matches to achieve a dramatic turnaround and capture their first championship since foundation.
Having advanced straight to the championship series after recording 11 wins and 3 losses in the regular league, Pyeongtaek swept the postseason to achieve a combined regular season and championship title.
The awards ceremony to mark the grand finale of the 2026 NH Nonghyup Bank Korea Women's Go League will be held on November 27 at the Korea Baduk Association.
The championship team will receive 100 million won in prize money, while the runner-up will receive 60 million won.
Additionally, third-place Cheorwon Hantangang Jusangjeorigil Road and fourth-place Buan Red Sunset will be awarded 40 million won and 20 million won, respectively.
(Photo provided by the Korea Baduk Association, Yonhap News)
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