South Korean Go master Shin Min-jun has advanced to the LG Cup finals for the first time in five years, setting up a showdown with Japan’s Ryo Ichiriki.
In a thrilling semifinal match held on Wednesday at the The Korea Baduk Association in Seoul’s Seongdong District, Shin secured a white resignation victory against Taiwan’s Hsu Hao-hung after 218 moves.
Having clinched the title in 2021, Shin now has his sights set on reclaiming the championship after a five-year hiatus.
The final showdown will be a best-of-three series against Ryo, who bested Byun Sang-il, and is scheduled for January 19, 21, and 22, 2026.
Despite a shaky start that put him on the back foot, Shin demonstrated resilience by capitalizing on his opponent’s mid-game error to stage a comeback and secure the win.
Byun’s bid for back-to-back titles was thwarted as he succumbed to Ryo, resigning after 124 moves.
Fresh off his Ing Cup victory last year, Ryo has reached the LG Cup finals for the first time in his career. He is the first Japanese player to achieve this feat since Yuta Iyama in 2017, ending an eight-year drought for Japan.
Notably, China has opted out of this tournament. Their absence stems from dissatisfaction over a controversial stone management incident during last January’s LG Cup finals. Chinese prodigy Ke Jie faced forfeit and resignation losses against Byun in the final matches due to improper stone management, relegating him to runner-up status. The Chinese Go Association vehemently protested the tournament’s operational procedures in the aftermath.
The LG Cup champion will earn 300 million KRW (about 217,000 USD), while the runner-up will take home 100 million KRW (about 72,000 USD).