Lee Chang-ho, 51, a living legend in the global world of Go, has conquered the unprecedented milestone of 2,000 wins.

Today (October 26), Lee secured a resignation win (by resignation after 207 moves with the black stones) against Choi Myung-hoon, 9-dan, in the 11th round of the 2026 Sopall Cosanol Legend League held at the Samnye Culture and Arts Village in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do.

With this victory, Lee reached 2,000 career wins (along with 1 draw and 830 losses, a winning percentage of 70.67%) approximately 40 years and 2 months after turning professional in 1986.

Lee is the first professional Go player in the world to accumulate 2,000 wins.

Having turned professional in August 1986 at the age of 11 years and 1 month, Lee claimed his first professional victory on August 26 of that year by defeating Cho Young-sook, then a 1-dan, in a promotion tournament.

After surpassing 1,000 career wins in October 2000, Lee reached 1,500 wins in January 2010 and 1,900 wins in September 2024.

In December of last year, he secured his 1,969th win, breaking the record for the most wins in history previously held by his teacher, Cho Hoon-hyun, 9-dan, before entering the countdown to 2,000 wins.

Additionally, Lee won his first title at the 8th KBS Baduk Wang Championship in 1989 at the age of 14 years and 1 month.

In 1992, at the 3rd Tongyang Securities Cup at the age of 16 years and 6 months, he defeated Rin Hai-feng, 9-dan, a giant of the Japanese Go world, to become the youngest world champion.

Having subsequently swept major world tournaments including the LG Cup, Samsung Fire Cup, Fujitsu Cup, Ing Cup, Chunlan Cup, and Toyota & Denso Cup to achieve a career grand slam in international events, Lee currently holds the record for the most major tournament titles with 17.

His total number of tournament titles, including domestic events, stands at 142, ranking second all-time behind Cho Hoon-hyun (162 titles).

After achieving the long-awaited 2,000th win, Lee shared his thoughts, saying, "I am personally honored and happy to set a historic record," adding, "The fact that I can continue playing the game of Go, which I love, is in itself a joy and a happiness."

The Korea Baduk Association plans to hold a commemoration ceremony for Lee Chang-ho's 2,000 wins at its building in Majang-dong on November 3.

(Photo provided by the Korea Baduk Association, Yonhap News)