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 Post subject: Rui Naiwei passion and effort
Post #1 Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:50 am 
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The ‘Auntie Player’ That Lee Chang-ho Feared the Most:

The Unfading Passion and Effort of Rui Naiwei 9-dan

"Haha! I guess we should each gift her a pair of scissors..."

On February 21, 2000, as the new millennium began, Cho Nam-chul, the pioneer of Korean Go, made this remark as a pointed joke to his male junior players. That day, in the 43rd Kuksu Championship Challenger Match Game 3, a female player, Rui Naiwei (芮乃偉) 9-dan, defeated the legendary Cho Hun-hyun 9-dan by a score of 2-1 and claimed the title.

The Kuksu Championship is the longest-standing title match in Korea. Although its prize money is relatively lower than other competitions, it is an undeniable symbol of the highest honor in Korean Go. It is a title coveted by all professional players. Given this, it was shocking and sensational that a woman—especially a non-Korean, a guest player from China—managed to seize this prestigious title.

Most notably, Rui 9-dan’s victory marked the first time in world Go history that a female player had become the champion of a mixed-gender professional tournament. Even First Lady Lee Hee-ho sent a congratulatory message to Rui 9-dan, regardless of her nationality, in recognition of this remarkable achievement in ushering in a ‘female-dominant’ era. It was likely the first time a professional Go player had received a congratulatory note from the First Lady.

In the past, Go was considered an art or a path of discipline (道, Dao), but today, it has firmly established itself as a competitive sport. Yet, even among all sports, it is exceedingly rare for female athletes to compete on equal footing with male players in mixed-gender events. Go remains one of the very few exceptions.

The World's First Female 9-dan, the Strongest Woman in Go
Born in Shanghai in 1963, Rui Naiwei 9-dan was the first woman in the world to achieve the prestigious 9-dan rank. Her Go strength was so formidable that she earned fearsome nicknames like "The Amazon Warrior of the Go Board," "The Witch," and "The Iron Lady." However, within the Go community, she was affectionately called "Auntie Rui" due to her humble and kind nature.

Did you know that this very Auntie Rui fell out of favor with powerful figures in the Chinese Go scene in the late 1980s and ended up wandering between the U.S. and Japan for over ten years? She was also at the heart of a romantic love story with her husband, Jiang Zhujiu 9-dan—one reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.

It’s impossible to talk about Rui 9-dan without mentioning their passionate love story. Jiang Zhujiu had risen as a national hero in China’s Go scene after securing five consecutive victories in the first China-Japan Super Go Tournament, while Rui was one of the strongest female players in China.

However, in 1987, during a China-Japan Go tournament held in the Three Gorges (三峽), Rui became entangled in the so-called "Three Gorges Incident." She was disciplined by the Chinese Go leadership for allegedly violating their rules. Jiang Zhujiu, outraged by the unfair treatment, openly protested against the decision. This act of defiance brought the two of them closer together.

The Three Gorges Incident was a scandal in which Rui Naiwei was falsely accused of "immoral conduct," an accusation that was particularly devastating for a female Go player. Rui, who loved Go and thought of nothing but the game, was punished simply for playing Go overnight in the room of Japanese pro Yoda Norimoto 9-dan. However, she was not alone—other players like Kato 9-dan and Jiang Zhujiu 9-dan were also present.

Despite the circumstances, Rui was severely disciplined. Jiang Zhujiu, who stood up for her and protested against the unfair decision, was also penalized. Unable to endure the situation, Jiang first "defected" to the U.S. in 1990 under the guise of playing Go. Rui soon followed, using Go study as an excuse to leave for Japan. Separated but united in spirit, the two continued their Romeo and Juliet-like romance while living apart in the U.S. and Japan.

In 1992, Jiang Zhujiu participated in the 2nd Ing Cup in Japan, where they were finally able to complete their marriage registration and officially become husband and wife. However, they could not even have a wedding ceremony. For nearly another year, they were forced to live apart—Jiang in the U.S. and Rui in Japan—until Jiang received U.S. permanent residency in late 1993. Like the legendary lovers of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl (who could only meet once a year on the Qixi Festival), they endured a painful separation.

Even after reuniting, they struggled to make a living as professional players, moving between the U.S. and Japan without being able to participate in official tournaments. Their long exile finally ended in 1999 when the Korea Baduk Association (Korean Go Federation) granted them guest player status. This opportunity allowed them to put an end to their Go nomad lifestyle and resume their professional careers after more than a decade.

"Heaven is Where We Can Play Go"
"No matter how hellish a place is, if we can play Go, it is heaven. No matter how heavenly a place is, if we cannot play Go, it is hell."

These words perfectly reflect their unwavering passion for the game.

After settling near the Korea Baduk Association, the couple dedicated themselves entirely to Go. Rain or shine, they would visit the association every day to study and improve their skills. Watching their dedication, one could not help but recall a famous quote from The Analects of Confucius: "Knowing something is not as good as loving it, and loving it is not as good as enjoying it."

Indeed, in any field, those who truly enjoy their craft will always rise above the rest. And who could be more devoted than those who had endured a Go-less hell for so many years?

"Go is Both Play and Sacred Labor, Life and Refuge"
Rui Naiwei and Jiang Zhujiu often said, “Go is both play and sacred labor, life and a place of rest.” Their words bring to mind former Hyundai Group chairman Chung Ju-yung, who famously said that he would go to work every morning feeling like he was going on a picnic, eagerly wishing for the next day to arrive.

Rui Naiwei’s passion for Go is truly awe-inspiring. Legendary pianist Arthur Rubinstein once said, “If I skip practice for one day, I will notice. If I skip for two days, my friends will notice. If I skip for three days, everyone will notice.” Similarly, Rui has always studied Go with a humble attitude, believing that "no matter how much I practice, it is never enough." Her relentless pursuit of improvement, fueled by her love for the game, allowed her to dominate women's Go worldwide—even in her 50s—and fiercely compete against top male players. Her success was not merely the result of natural talent but of tireless effort and passion.

The Warrior Who Made Even Lee Chang-ho Cry
In 1992, during the round of 16 at the Ing Cup, Rui Naiwei completely overwhelmed a young Lee Chang-ho. On the flight back from Japan, the devastated prodigy tearfully confessed to his father, “I don’t want to play Go anymore.” Rui Naiwei was the one player whom the great Lee Chang-ho feared the most.

As of 2004, their official record stood at Rui leading 6-2. Including unofficial matches, their head-to-head score was 7-6 in Rui’s favor—a rare feat against the man who would later be called the Stone Buddha for his unshakable composure.

Even Cho Hun-hyun, a legendary warrior of Go who reached the pinnacle of combat-style play, fell to Rui in a title match, where she claimed the Kuksu (National Champion) title. The secret to her success? An unyielding passion and relentless effort that never waned, even as she aged.

### this is one of ten stories witten by a Korean pro go player, Yang, Sang kook, and translated with chatGTP, https://www.cyberoro.com/news/N_news_view.oro?num=531394

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