The original article was published in the column of Park Ji-moon, a reporter of the JoongAng Daily
On the evening of April 3, the 2021-2022 KB Kookmin Bank Go League played out the final round of matches. This is the duel between The beautiful Han Shaan and Celltrion, and it just so happens that the captains of the two sides, Park Tinghuan and Shin Jin-hyun, are engaged in a fierce battle in the first encounter. In the end, Shin Shin won and led the team to a 3:2 victory. After last season, Shin also won all of them on his own this season (16-16), rewriting the history of the Go League. With a total victory over the Chinese players, a total victory over the Japanese players, and a total victory in the domestic Go league this time, how long will Shin's domination continue? He also achieved his 100th win in the Go League that day.
The beautiful Han Shaanchuan lost in the final showdown with Celltrion, but still occupied the first place in the regular season. Although it was 10 wins and 6 losses with pohang Iron and Steel, and the individual wins were also 48 wins and equals, it was ahead in terms of relative record and almost ranked first. In the "advanced" playoffs, they stand at the top and wait for the team below to challenge. The greatest feat of the beautiful Han Shanchuan was the outstanding 2-name Park Yong-hoon (12 wins and 4 losses). Captain Park Young-hwan (11 wins, 5 losses) and 5-name Park Jong-hoon (9 wins and 6 losses) also fulfilled their responsibilities. Winning and losing is wonderful. In the final showdown with Celltrion, all three players lost, but Luo Xuan and Kim Jin-hui, who had been slightly depressed before, won and helped the team hold the first place.
2021-2022 KB National Bank Go League Results
Defending champions Team Celltrion failed to live up to Shin's outstanding performances and came in 6th place. On April 7, it played a knockout match against the 5th place "Go Holy Land Government", winning 3:2 and advancing. At the beginning of the league, the coaches selected Pohang Steel and Celltrion as the top two, but this prediction was only half right.
Pohang Iron & Steel has not only been credited to Bian Sang-yi (12 wins and 4 losses), Lee Chang-seok (10 wins and 5 losses), Choi Chul-han (9 wins and 6 losses), and 4 named Park Jian-ho (10 wins and 6 losses). In fact, pohang iron team is an impeccable team, who looks likely to win the first place, but the result is a small gap in second place. In the final round, POCM lost 2-3 to Kixx, dividing the top two.
In third place is com2us & Tygem. The Tai Chi team was considered a weak team at the beginning of the league, but the 4-point Park Jin-ri (10 wins and 5 losses), the captain Park Ha-min (10 wins and 6 losses), and the female chess player Choi Jung (9 wins and 6 losses) showed amazing fighting spirit and led the team into the playoffs. Cui Jing, the only female chess player in the Go League, was 3 wins and 4 losses in the first half, but 6 wins and 2 losses in the second half, and the performance was very eye-catching. Especially at the critical moment, the team won 3-2, made a meritorious achievement, and promoted the Tai Chi team to the third place.
Kixx has been a tough fight all season. Due to the slump of captain Shin Min -- (8 wins and 8 losses), it was almost impossible to exert his strength at first. But after entering the second half, Kim Seung-jae was revived, and Park Min-kyu also helped. In the final match against Pohang Iron & Steel, Park Min-kyu defeated the formidable rival Bian Sang-yi, and Shin Min-kuo won 3-2 in desperation. Kixx finished 4th in the final stages with a miraculous 6-game winning streak. So far, the top four have the same record of 10 wins and 6 losses. The difference in the number of individual wins determines the ranking.
In 5th place is "Go Mecca Council Government". The captains of the parliamentary team Kim Ji-seok (11 wins and 3 losses) and Choo Hyun Joon (11 wins and 5 losses) lived up to expectations, hovering in the first half of the 1st and 2nd places, but due to lack of stamina, the ranking slipped to 5th place.
The KB Go League thus ended the regular season. The nine teams, including 45 players from the First Division and 27 players from the Second Division, ended a total of 576 matches. Looking back, the most impressive thing is Shin Jin-chan, who can win every time he plays, and Cui Jing, a female chess player who suppresses men without scruples. Although the team (YOUWHO) was eliminated, the fighting spirit of Lee Chang-ho, the league's oldest man who devoted all his efforts, was also unforgettable. The playoffs began on April 7, with the Celltrions defeating the Mecca Government in the knockout rounds; the final title battle will be held from May 7 to 13.
Go columnist Park Ji-moon
(Compilation of the Sword of Evil Spirits)