Lee Sedol - Gu Li rivalry
Introduction
Yi Se-tol of S. Korea and Gu Li of China formed the 21st century's first international rivalry, contesting the status of world's strongest.[1] As of September 2013, the two players have officially played each other in 36-games with a record of 18-17-1 in Yi's favor. The no result was the outcome of a rare quadruple ko position.
According to An Younggil 8d, Gu Li displays his superior opening skills and timing of initiating fights, while Yi Se-tol displays his tenacity and superior endgame technique. Both excel in complex fighting, but with Yi having a slight edge.
On the other hand, the endgame has presented itself as a weakness for Gu Li, being the cause of at least a few of his losses against Yi Se-tol. In fact, all but one of the eight games which did not end with resignation were won by Yi, including four half-point finishes. Most recently was the 2012 Samsung Cup, wherein Gu twice had the advantage coming into the late middlegame, but due to endgame mistakes wasn't able to carry either to a victory.
Psychologically, although the players have an almost split record against each other, it seems that Gu Li is more serious about the rivalry, with he being rumored to have Yi Se-tol's games lying on his bedside table for reading.
Games
Their encounters can be organized into four categories: the China Weiqi League, International Individual Titles, International Team Titles, and Other. Victor marked in bold.
Game # | Year | Event | White | Black | Result | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2004-06-17 | 2004 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 9 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+2.75 | ||
2 | 2004-11-16 | 9th Samsung Cup, Semi-final, Game 1 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | ||
3 | 2004-11-18 | 9th Samsung Cup, Semi-final, Game 2 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
4 | 2004-11-19 | 9th Samsung Cup, Semi-final, Game 3 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | B+R | ||
5 | 2005-05-03 | 4th CSK Cup, Round 3 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+2.5 | ||
6 | 2005-08-06 | 2005 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 9 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+0.25 | ||
7 | 2005-10-19 | 10th LG Cup, Semi-final | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
8 | 2005-12-10 | 2005 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 20 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
9 | 2006-05-03 | 5th CSK Cup, Round 3 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
10 | 2006-06-10 | 2006 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 10 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
11 | 2006-11-11 | 2006 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 16 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | ||
12 | 2007-10-13 | 2007 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 13 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | B+R | ||
13 | 2008-06-07 | 21st Fujitsu Cup, Quarter-final | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
14 | 2008-06-21 | 2008 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 11 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | ||
15 | 2009-02-19 | 10th Nongshim Cup, Game 13 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+3.5 | ||
16 | 2009-02-23 | 13th LG Cup Final, Game 1 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
17 | 2009-02-25 | 13th LG Cup Final, Game 2 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
18 | 2009-06-27 | 2009 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 8 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | ||
19 | 2009-08-29 | Ancient Phoenix City World Summit (Fenghuang Special) | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+2.25 | ||
20 | 2010-04-14 | 23rd Fujitsu Cup, Round 3 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | ||
21 | 2010-06-07 | 15th LG Cup, Round 1 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
22 | 2010-10-14 | 15th Samsung Cup, Quarter-final | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
23 | 2011-04-23 | 3rd B.C. Card Cup Final, Game 1 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
24 | 2011-04-24 | 3rd B.C. Card Cup Final, Game 2 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | ||
25 | 2011-04-26 | 3rd B.C. Card Cup Final, Game 3 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | B+R | ||
26 | 2011-04-27 | 3rd B.C. Card Cup Final, Game 4 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
27 | 2011-04-28 | 3rd B.C. Card Cup Final, Game 5 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | B+R | ||
28 | 2011-05-17 | 1st Bosai Cup, Round 2 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | ||
29 | 2012-09-05 | 17th Samsung Cup, Round 2 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | NR | Quadruple ko | |
30 | 2012-09-05 | 17th Samsung Cup, Round 2 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | B+R | Their re-match on the same day | |
31 | 2012-09-16 | 1st Guilin Cup? Final | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
32 | 2012-12-11 | 17th Samsung Cup Final, Game 1 | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+0.5 | ||
33 | 2012-12-12 | 17th Samsung Cup Final, Game 2 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | W+R | ||
34 | 2012-12-13 | 17th Samsung Cup Final, Game 3 | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | B+0.5 | ||
35 | 2013-03-20 | 2013 Tianxin Pharmaceutical Cup | Yi Se-tol | Gu Li | W+R | Exhibition match | |
36 | 2013-10-20 | 2013 China Weiqi League, Division A, Round 17 | Gi Li | Yi Se-tol | B+R | ||
37 | 2014-01-26 | 2014 Jubango first match | Gu Li | Yi Se-tol | B+R |
Jubango
In 2014 a 10 game match is organized between the two players. The prize money is 5-million yuan for the winner and 200,000 yuan for the loser. The event is sponsored by MLily
Schedule:
- 26 January, Beijing (winner Lee Sedol B+R in 251 moves)
- 23 February, Shanghai
- 30 March, Chengdu, Sichuan province
- 27 April, Korean
- 25 May Xianggelila, Yunnan province
- 27 July, Liuan ,Anhui province
- 31 August, Lasa, Tibet
- 28 September, Chongqing
- 26 Octobre, Hongkong
- 30 November, Wuhu ,Anhu province
Game Commentaries
- Samsung 2012 game 1
- Samsung 2012 game 2
- Samsung 2012 game 3
- Samsung 2012 game 4 from the preliminaries
- Lee Sedol - Gu Li, first encounter
- Lee Sedol - Gu Li, second encounter
- Lee Sedol - Gu Li, third encounter
- Lee Sedol - Gu Li, 36th encounter
- Lee Sedol - Gu Li Jubango, game 1
Notes
[1] Other international rivalries for the status of world's strongest have preceded this one, such as Yi Ch'ang-ho & Ma Xiaochun in the mid 1990s.
Games kifu, missing two games.