Chinese chess player Yang Kaiwen, a 9-dan, has secured his first world championship title by defeating South Korean player Park Ting-hwan in the final of the 15th Chunlan Cup.

On June 23, Beijing time, the final match of the 15th Chunlan Cup World Professional Go Championship took place in Shenzhen. In the end, Chinese player Yang Kaiwen, playing black, managed to overturn the situation and defeat South Korean player Park Ting-hwan, winning with a total score of 2 to 1 and earning his first world championship trophy.

Chinese player Yang Kaiwen, a 9-dan (right), won by resignation against South Korean player Park Ting-hwan in the best-of-three final of the 15th Chunlan Cup, clinching the championship with a total score of 2-1.

Yang Kaiwen's victory is highly significant, as he climbed to the top by overcoming three major South Korean world champions: Shin Jin-seo, Byun Sang-il, and Park Ting-hwan, helping China reclaim the Chunlan Cup after a two-year hiatus. Yang Kaiwen becomes the 25th world champion from China, bringing the total number of world champions from China to 52.

Park Ting-hwan, who has previously won five world championships, attempted to reclaim a world title after winning the Samsung Cup in 2021, but after losing to Yang Kaiwen, he must now shift his focus to the next major tournament. With Yang Kaiwen's victory, Chinese players have now won the Chunlan Cup a total of six times, while South Korea leads with eight titles and Japan has one.

The champion prize for the Chunlan Cup is $150,000 (approximately 204 million Korean won), while the runner-up receives $50,000 (around 68 million Korean won).