Lee Changho | Player Profile | PlayGo.gg

The Stone Buddha

Biography

Lee Changho (born 1975) became a professional in 1986 at age eleven as the pupil of Cho Hunhyun. Nicknamed the Stone Buddha for his unreadable calm, he dominated world Go from the mid-1990s through the 2000s.

He won every major international title of his era, often several times over, and was ranked world number one for the better part of a decade. His endgame precision changed how professionals count.

He won gold with the Korean men's team at the 2010 Asian Games and, well into his forties, still qualifies for international main draws. In 2025 he won the first World Blitz Seniors event.

vs. Gu Li, 2010 Asian Games, Men's Team Final

November 26, 2010

In the gold-medal match against China, Lee Changho took Black on the top board against Gu Li and won by resignation. Korea took the team gold in the first Asian Games to include Go.

Lee kept Gu Li under pressure from the opening, and his J5 on move 63 had him at 57%. White's F7 on move 64 lifted Lee to 74%. The move for Gu Li was N11, one that only about one 9-dan player in nine would think of. Lee closed out Korea's gold medal from there.