Here's the rewritten version:
### A Win That Didn't Feel Like One?
On January 20, the LG Cup, a major annual Go competition, kicked off in Korea. What seemed like a regular, intense contest turned into a spectacle due to the controversial actions of the organizers. The Korean organizers were accused of favoring their own player, Byun Sang-il, leading to a controversial decision by the referee who ended the match of Chinese player Ke Jie, citing a newly introduced rule.
The Chinese Go Association immediately expressed their disapproval, with Ke Jie choosing to withdraw in style. Multiple associations supported Ke Jie, which made the organizers uneasy, prompting them to revise the new rule. The debate quickly gained momentum online.
The 29th LG Cup World Go Championship took place in Korea, with Chinese contestant Ke Jie facing Korean player Byun Sang-il on January 20. The two engaged in a fierce contest from the start, with the game evenly matched. In the middle game, Ke Jie took advantage of Byun's mistake and managed to secure a win, taking the lead.
However, on January 22, in the second round, Ke Jie faced penalties due to failing to place the captured stones in the designated box, which violated a newly implemented rule by the Korean Go Association. Byun Sang-il took the opportunity to file a complaint when Ke Jie briefly left the seat, and the referee ruled Ke Jie in violation, giving Byun the second game.
On January 23, Ke Jie and Byun Sang-il met for the third and decisive round. Despite trailing initially, the referee once again interrupted the game citing Ke Jie's failure to put captured stones in the box, declaring Ke Jie in violation. Ke Jie protested and requested a rematch, but the Korean side refused. Unable to tolerate this, Ke Jie withdrew from the competition, and Byun Sang-il was declared the winner.
Ke Jie's decision to withdraw shocked the Go world. His actions were not just a protest against the result, but a clear statement about his respect for the rules of Go and his insistence on fairness in the competition. When the awards ceremony came, Ke Jie refused to attend, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction with the decision and the referee's actions, saying he had never felt so wronged.
The Chinese Go team, upon learning of the incident, also refused to attend the awards ceremony, strongly protesting the biased behavior of the Korean referee. This sparked widespread controversy, causing a stir not only within the Chinese Go community but also throwing the Korean Go Association and LG Cup organizers into the spotlight.
In response to Ke Jie's withdrawal and the ensuing pressure, the Korean Go Association and LG Cup organizers quickly took action. Korean media reported that both organizations decided to review the Go rules after the holiday, particularly the regulations regarding captured stones and their placement. They also announced they would pay Ke Jie's prize money into his account.
However, this decision raised further questions. Why offer the prize money if Ke Jie had already withdrawn? Many believed this move was an attempt to salvage face.
Byun Sang-il, the other key figure in the incident, expressed his understanding of Ke Jie's position in an interview after the match. He acknowledged the unfortunate way the match ended and vowed to perform better in the future. When asked about the rule on placing captured stones, Byun Sang-il stated that he didn’t believe it was necessary, further supporting Ke Jie’s stance.
Additionally, Korean netizens reacted strongly to both Ke Jie's withdrawal and the rule changes. Some criticized Byun Sang-il’s performance, while others questioned why the rule changes were not communicated to the players earlier. They also pointed out instances of Byun possibly violating the rules in the first and third games, which were overlooked by the referee.
The incident highlighted the challenges of adapting to new rules, as Chinese players are accustomed to a different standard for handling captured stones. The timing and frequency of referee interventions were also heavily criticized, especially when they interrupted Ke Jie’s opponent’s thinking time.
The situation rapidly escalated online, with some netizens expressing their disapproval of Byun Sang-il’s behavior, calling him a “two-faced person.” They felt his words supporting Ke Jie were contradicted by his actions during the match.
Some also expressed anger towards Ke Jie’s coach, Yu Bin, accusing him of failing to stand up for Ke Jie when he faced unfair treatment, instead remaining passive.
In the end, the event serves as a reminder that rules are the foundation of any competition, and players must maintain professional integrity and sportsmanship. At the same time, referees should act with fairness, transparency, and accuracy to ensure just rulings.
Disclaimer: The article and images are sourced from the internet. This article aims to promote positive social energy and does not endorse any vulgarity or inappropriate guidance. If there are issues with copyright or uncertainties, please contact us, and we will delete the content immediately!Here's the rewritten version:
### A Win That Didn't Feel Like One?
On January 20, the LG Cup, a major annual Go competition, kicked off in Korea. What seemed like a regular, intense contest turned into a spectacle due to the controversial actions of the organizers. The Korean organizers were accused of favoring their own player, Byun Sang-il, leading to a controversial decision by the referee who ended the match of Chinese player Ke Jie, citing a newly introduced rule.
The Chinese Go Association immediately expressed their disapproval, with Ke Jie choosing to withdraw in style. Multiple associations supported Ke Jie, which made the organizers uneasy, prompting them to revise the new rule. The debate quickly gained momentum online.
The 29th LG Cup World Go Championship took place in Korea, with Chinese contestant Ke Jie facing Korean player Byun Sang-il on January 20. The two engaged in a fierce contest from the start, with the game evenly matched. In the middle game, Ke Jie took advantage of Byun's mistake and managed to secure a win, taking the lead.
However, on January 22, in the second round, Ke Jie faced penalties due to failing to place the captured stones in the designated box, which violated a newly implemented rule by the Korean Go Association. Byun Sang-il took the opportunity to file a complaint when Ke Jie briefly left the seat, and the referee ruled Ke Jie in violation, giving Byun the second game.
On January 23, Ke Jie and Byun Sang-il met for the third and decisive round. Despite trailing initially, the referee once again interrupted the game citing Ke Jie's failure to put captured stones in the box, declaring Ke Jie in violation. Ke Jie protested and requested a rematch, but the Korean side refused. Unable to tolerate this, Ke Jie withdrew from the competition, and Byun Sang-il was declared the winner.
Ke Jie's decision to withdraw shocked the Go world. His actions were not just a protest against the result, but a clear statement about his respect for the rules of Go and his insistence on fairness in the competition. When the awards ceremony came, Ke Jie refused to attend, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction with the decision and the referee's actions, saying he had never felt so wronged.
The Chinese Go team, upon learning of the incident, also refused to attend the awards ceremony, strongly protesting the biased behavior of the Korean referee. This sparked widespread controversy, causing a stir not only within the Chinese Go community but also throwing the Korean Go Association and LG Cup organizers into the spotlight.
In response to Ke Jie's withdrawal and the ensuing pressure, the Korean Go Association and LG Cup organizers quickly took action. Korean media reported that both organizations decided to review the Go rules after the holiday, particularly the regulations regarding captured stones and their placement. They also announced they would pay Ke Jie's prize money into his account.
However, this decision raised further questions. Why offer the prize money if Ke Jie had already withdrawn? Many believed this move was an attempt to salvage face.
Byun Sang-il, the other key figure in the incident, expressed his understanding of Ke Jie's position in an interview after the match. He acknowledged the unfortunate way the match ended and vowed to perform better in the future. When asked about the rule on placing captured stones, Byun Sang-il stated that he didn’t believe it was necessary, further supporting Ke Jie’s stance.
Additionally, Korean netizens reacted strongly to both Ke Jie's withdrawal and the rule changes. Some criticized Byun Sang-il’s performance, while others questioned why the rule changes were not communicated to the players earlier. They also pointed out instances of Byun possibly violating the rules in the first and third games, which were overlooked by the referee.
The incident highlighted the challenges of adapting to new rules, as Chinese players are accustomed to a different standard for handling captured stones. The timing and frequency of referee interventions were also heavily criticized, especially when they interrupted Ke Jie’s opponent’s thinking time.
The situation rapidly escalated online, with some netizens expressing their disapproval of Byun Sang-il’s behavior, calling him a “two-faced person.” They felt his words supporting Ke Jie were contradicted by his actions during the match.
Some also expressed anger towards Ke Jie’s coach, Yu Bin, accusing him of failing to stand up for Ke Jie when he faced unfair treatment, instead remaining passive.
In the end, the event serves as a reminder that rules are the foundation of any competition, and players must maintain professional integrity and sportsmanship. At the same time, referees should act with fairness, transparency, and accuracy to ensure just rulings.
Disclaimer: The article and images are sourced from the internet. This article aims to promote positive social energy and does not endorse any vulgarity or inappropriate guidance. If there are issues with copyright or uncertainties, please contact us, and we will delete the content immediately!
