Legendary Go player Lee Sedol, a 9-dan professional, is set to take the mound at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.
The LG Twins, a professional baseball team in South Korea, announced on Monday that they have chosen Lee Sedol as the ceremonial first pitcher for their home game against the NC Dinos on August 27 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.
Lee Sedol, who turned pro at the tender age of 12 in 1995, had an illustrious career until 2019. During his time as a professional, he amassed an impressive 50 tournament victories and set a record with a 32-game winning streak.
His accolades include a gold medal in the team event at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. In 2016, he etched his name in history as the only Go player to defeat AlphaGo in an official match against artificial intelligence (AI).
Lee’s connection with LG runs deep. He reached his first major international final at the 5th LG Cup World Championship in 2000. He went on to clinch victories in the 7th and 12th LG Cup championships in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Notably, he won the 7th tournament as a 3rd dan player, which led to his promotion to 6th dan.
It’s an honor to throw the first pitch for the LG Twins, Lee Sedol said. He’s excited to support LG’s quest for their V5 championship.
The opening day of the three-game series on August 25 will feature Yihyun and Mia from the girl group Baby DONT Cry as the ceremonial first pitcher and batter, respectively.
Baby DONT Cry, a four-member girl group that debuted in June 2025, has been making waves in the K-pop scene. Their second digital single “I DON’T CARE” and their mini-album AFTER CRY, released in March this year, have garnered significant attention, establishing them as one of the hottest rookie groups.
Yihyun and Mia are no strangers to the LG Twins. They performed the same roles at an LG game on July 20 last year, which resulted in an LG victory, earning them the nickname victory fairies.
On August 26, Lumei, the mascot of the Taiwanese professional baseball team Wei Chuan Dragons, will take center stage for the ceremonial first pitch.
Earlier this year, LG signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Wei Chuan Dragons to foster marketing and cultural exchange. Following LG’s cheering squad’s joint performance in Taipei, Taiwan in May, the Wei Chuan Dragons’ cheer team will showcase a variety of performances, including a solo show and joint cheering events, at Jamsil Stadium on August 25 and 26.
