Korean Baduk League

Korean Baduk League is a Korean team competition started in 2004.

2023 format

Now the format expanded to contain 12 teams, divided into two 6-team leagues. Regular season (January to May) consists of 16 rounds: 10 rounds in the double round-robin league and 6 rounds of interleague matches. Top three teams of each league advance to the postseason playoffs (May to June). For the first time, teams from Japan (Nihon Kiin, young players under 30 only) and Taiwan participate, playing games online.

Past results

8 teams compete in a double round-robin league (single round-robin in the first two editions). Four teams compete in a play-off for the title.

Winners (with individual scores, from 2005):

• 2004, Team Hangame: Lee Sedol 3 dan (5-2), Kang Dongyun 3 dan (4-3), Yoo Jaehyung (7-0), Hong Minpyo 4 dan (4-3).

• 2005, Team Holy Construction: Park Yeonghun (Kisung) 7-0; Park Jungsang (5 dan) 3-4; Lee Heesung (6 dan) 5-2; Kim Yeong-hwan (7 dan) 3-4.

• 2006, Team GS KIXX: Choi Cheolhan (9 dan) 14-2; Park Jungsang (9 dan) 9-5; Hong Minpyo (5 dan) 7-6; Lee Jaewong (5 dan) 6-4; Choi Wonyong (4 dan) 3-8.

• 2007, Team Yeongnam Ilbo: Lee Yeongkyu (6 dan) 8-5; Kim Jiseok (4 dan) 12-4; Hong Minpyo (6 dan) 9-5; Son Geungi (3 dan) 1-2; Heo Yeongho (6 dan) 9-4; Kim Hyeongwoo (2 dan) 3-3.

• 2008, Team Yeongnam Ilbo: Kim Jiseok (4 dan) 8-7; Yun Junsang 7 dan (13-5); Kang Yutaek 2 dan (11-7); Cho Hyeyeon 8 dan (1-4); Heo Yeongho 6 dan (12-6); Kim Hyeongwoo 3 dan (8-5).

• 2009, Team Yeongnam Ilbo: Park Yeonghun (9 dan) 10-5, Kang Yootaek (3 dan) 7-8, Kim Jiseok (6 dan) 12-3, Kim Hyeongwoo (4 dan) 5-9, Yeom Cheong-hun (7 dan) 2-6, Yoo Changhyuk (9 dan) 3-4.

• 2010 (the final was played in January 2011), Team Shinan Chunil Salt: Lee Sedol 9 dan 16-2, Han Sanghoon 5 dan 9-9, Lee Chunkyu 3 dan 9-8, Lee Hobum 2 dan 8-6, Park Siyeol 3 dan 3-8, An Kukhyun 2 dan 10-6.

• 2011, Team Posco LED: Kang Dongyun 9 dan 13-2, Mok Jinseok 9 dan 10-4, Baek Hongsuk 9 dan 8-6, On Sojin 6 dan 1-10, Joo Hyeongwuk 6 dan 2-3, Kim Junghyun 3 dan 8-7.

• 2012, Team Hangame: Kim Jiseok 8 dan 13-6, Lee Donghoon 2 dan 11-9 (winner of the last game), Yun Junsang 9 dan 12-9, Lee Taehyun 4 dan 9-5, Kim Sedong 4 dan 9-7, Choi Kihoon 4 dan 3-3, Kang Byungkwon 2 dan 2-2, Park Kyungkun 1 dan 0-1, Kim Miri 2 dan 0-0.

• 2013 (the final ended on 2013-11-24. In brackets play-off results), Team Shinan Chunil Salt: Lee Sedol 9 dan 13-5 (5-1), Kang Yutaek 6 dan 7-12 (4-1; winner of the last game), Kim Junghyun 4 dan 16-4 (6-0), On Sojin 7 dan 9-8 (0-3), Yoo Jaehyung 9 dan 0-1, Lee Hobum 4 dan 7-8 (2-3), Park Daehyeong? 1 dan 2-3, Kang Jisung 9 dan 0-0, Kim Nahyun 1 dan 0-0.

Notes on 2004 League at http://www.xs4all.nl/~rongen17/KBS/league.html

valerio: the first edition was a single robin round. In 2009 only seven teams compete, but in 2010 the teams were nine. In 2012 the teams were ten (9 players per team, 5 play in each round); from 2012 there is also a "B League" (four players per team).