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Chen Yaoye to challenge Lee Sedol for Chunlan Cup

Lee Sedol 9P (l), the lone Korean to make it to the semifinals of the Chunlan Cup,will defend his title against Chen Yaoye 9P (r), the number one ranked player in China. Vying for his first international title, Chen was a child prodigy, becoming a pro at 10 years-old. He also broke a record for youngest player to become a 9-Dan professional, coincidentally after losing to Lee in the 2007 Asian TV Cup, the last time they played each other in an international final. Lee, on the other hand, has won every major international title except the Ing Cup. Last year he defeated China's Xie He in the final to win the Chunlan Cup. The quarter finals December 4-5 in Hangzhou, China included Jiang Weijie 9P, Piao Wenyao 9P, Kong Jie 9P, Won Seongjin 9P, Kim Jiseok 8P and Park Junghwan 9P. Chen defeated Jiang Weije 9P, and Lee bested Kong Jie 9P in the semifinals on December 6th to earn their spots in the final, a best-of-3 match early next year, though the exact dates have not yet been set. The Chunlan Cup is sponsored by Chunlan Group, a Chinese conglomerate with interests in the air conditioning, domestic appliance, automotive, finance and alternative energy industries. The tournament uses Chinese rules, with a komi of 7.5 points, and offers a prize of $150,000 USD to the winner. Adapted from a report on Go Game Guru; click for game records and more information. Edited by Ben Williams