Park Jeong-hwan, a 33-year-old Go player, has emerged victorious in the inaugural Shinhan Bank World Go Championships, claiming a grand prize of 400 million KRW. On the final match held on the 27th of September in Seoul, he faced off against Chinese player Wang Xinghao, 22, winning decisively with a score of 2 wins to 1 loss. This victory marks Park's sixth major world title and is significant as it is his first title in five years since winning the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Cup in 2021.

The final match was intense, with Park and Wang exhibiting complex strategies. Despite a challenging start, Park capitalized on a misstep from Wang in the latter half of the match, executing precise endgame tactics that led to his ultimate victory. In a post-match interview, Park expressed his joy at overcoming previous obstacles since his last world championship win and emphasized that the honor of becoming the champion was more meaningful than the monetary reward. He also conveyed a sense of excitement about the future, indicating his intention to continue achieving strong results.

During the award ceremony that took place right after the finals, notable figures including Shinhan Bank's bank president and representatives from the Korean Baduk Association congratulated both players. Park, dressed in traditional Hanbok-like attire reminiscent of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' received the trophy crafted from silver with the Shinhan Bank logo and the emblem of the Sungnyemun gate, while Wang graciously accepted a bouquet and the runner-up prize of 10 million KRW. This event not only highlights the prestige of Go but also cements Park's legacy in the international Go community as a leading player.