Koreans Admit Rule Unreasonable but Insist on Enforcing It

According to the new rules, players are required to place their captured stones on the lid of their Go box. Failure to do so on the first occasion incurs a penalty of two points, while repeated offenses result in an automatic loss. Ke Jie, who was in a favorable position on the board, forgot to place his captured stone on the lid twice, leading to his opponent, Han Woo-jin, raising an objection.

Despite protests from the Chinese team, including coach Yu Bin, the umpires upheld the decision, declaring Han Woo-jin the winner. This decision marked a first in the history of the World Go Championship, where a player was declared defeated due to a technical foul rather than a loss on the board.

The Chinese team ultimately accepted the ruling, but the incident has sparked a lively discussion on social media, with many fans and professionals questioning the fairness of the new rule and the decision to apply it so stringently. While some have praised Han Woo-jin for his attention to detail, others have accused him of unsportsmanlike conduct, suggesting that his decision to report Ke Jie's infraction was motivated by a desire to win at all costs.

In a post-game interview, Ke Jie expressed his respect for the judges' decision, stating that although he has reservations about the rule, he will not contest the penalty. "I understand the rule, but I think it's not reasonable," Ke Jie said. "However, I respect the judges' decision and will focus on the next game."

Ke Jie's coach, Yu Bin, also weighed in on the controversy, stating that the rule is "not reasonable" and that the penalty was "too harsh." However, he also acknowledged that the team had been informed of the rule change before the tournament and should have been more careful.

Yu Bin, the head coach of the Chinese national Go team, expressed his frustration with the Korean rules that led to Ke Jie's disqualification, but ultimately accepted the decision. "This is an instinctive problem," he said. "After this rule was introduced, every player has learned about it. There are some other details, such as pressing the clock first and time management, where the Chinese and Korean rules differ, and we have learned about these differences."

Yu Bin acknowledged that the team had been informed about the new rule before the competition and had even reminded Ke Jie specifically about it five minutes before the game. However, he noted that Ke Jie's habit of placing the stones outside the box cover was deeply ingrained and difficult to change.

"We believe that the punishment is too harsh," Yu Bin said. "We have expressed our criticism to the Korean Go Association, and they have accepted it. However, they think that it's a matter for the next competition."

As the tournament moves into its final game, the incident has added a new layer of tension to the competition. Will Ke Jie be able to put this setback behind him and mount a comeback, or will Han Woo-jin emerge victorious? One thing is certain: the world will be watching with bated breath as these two Go masters clash in the final showdown.

Despite the controversy, Ke Jie remains focused on the championship, saying that he will "put aside all distractions and play a good game" in the final match. The LG Cup is one of the most prestigious Go tournaments in the world, and the incident has cast a shadow over the competition. However, Ke Jie's sportsmanship and dedication to the game have earned him widespread respect and admiration from fans and fellow players alike.