Lee Sedol - Gu Li rivalry

    Keywords: Culture & History

Introduction

The rivalry between Korean Lee Sedol and Chinese Gu Li is probably the first real rivalry between two players from a different country contesting the virtual title of the world's best player. Other rivalries have preceded this one but they either concentrated on national domination or befell two fellow countrymen who also contested international titles.

As far as we know, the two players have met 34 times (as of January 2013) and the record is 17-16-1 in Gu Li's favor, the draw being an amazing quadruple ko game, which forced them to tie?.

According to gogameguru's professional commentator An Younggil, Gu Li has displayed superior opening skills, while Lee Sedol often prevails through tenacity and superior endgame, although this part of the game seems to be more of a weakness on Gu Li's behalf. Both excel in fighting, with Lee probably having a slight edge.

This analysis seems to be backed up by the fact that all but one of the 8 games which did not end with resignation, were won by Lee Sedol, including 4 half pointers. Most exemplary was the 2012 Samsung Cup, where Gu Li had the advantage in the opening but only once confidently carried that bonus into a victory. The two other games saw Lee Sedol grind his way back into a half point win.

Psychologically, although the players have an almost split record against each other, it seems that Gu Li suffers more from the rivalry, as he's being rumoured to have Lee Sedol's games lying on his bedside table for bedtime reading.

Encounters

Their encounters can be organized into those played in the China Weiqi League, country team contests and international titles. Finals in the latter are marked in bold case.

Chinese City League

  • 6th, round 9, June 2004, Gu Li (B+5,5)
  • 7th, round 9, August 2005, Lee Sedol (W+0,5)
  • 7th, round 20, December 2005, Gu Li (W+R)
  • 8th, round 5, June 2006, Gu Li (W+R)
  • 8th, round 16, June 2006, Lee Sedol (W+R)
  • 9th, round 13, October 2007, Lee Sedol (B+R)
  • 10th, round 11, June 2008, Lee Sedol (W+R)
  • 11th, round 8, June 2009, Lee Sedol (W+R)

International titles

  • 9th Samsung Cup, semi-final, November 2004, Lee Sedol 2-1 (W+R, W-R, B+R)
  • 10th LG Cup, semi-final, October 2005, Gu Li (W+R)
  • 21st Fujitsu Cup, round 3, June 2008, Gu Li (B+R)
  • 13th LG Cup, final, February 2009, Gu Li 2-0 (B+R, W+R)
  • 23rd Fujitsu Cup, round 3, April 2010, Lee Sedol (W+R)
  • 15th LG Cup, round 1, February 2009, Gu Li (B+R)
  • 15th Samsung Cup, quarter-final, October 2010, Gu Li (W+R)
  • 3rd BC Card Cup, final, April 2011, Lee Sedol 3-2 (W-R, W+R, B+0,5, B-R, B+R)
  • 1st Bosai Cup, round 2, May 2011, Gu Li (B+R)
  • 17th Samsung Cup, round 2, September 2012, draw
  • 17th Samsung Cup, round 2, September 2012, Gu Li (B+R)
  • 1st Guilin Cup?, final, September 2012, Gu Li (W+R)
  • 17th Samsung Cup, final, December 2012, Lee Sedol 2-1 (W+0,5, W-R, B+0,5)

Country team games

  • 4th CSK Cup, round 3, May 2005, Lee Sedol (W+2,5)
  • 5th CSK Cup, round 3, May 2006, Gu Li (B+R)
  • 10th Nongshim Cup, game 13, February 2009, Lee Sedol (W+3,5)

Other

  • Year 2009 Fenghuang Special, August 2009, Lee Sedol (W+4,5)

Game commentaries

Sources

  • [ext] game listing, missing one game
  • Correction from valerio pointing out the missing game #28, in the 2011 Bosai cup.

This is a copy of the living page "Lee Sedol - Gu Li rivalry" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2013 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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