In a stunning upset at the 27th Maxim Coffee Tournament’s semifinals held on the 17th in Seoul, top player Shin Jin-seo unexpectedly lost to Park Jeong-hwan due to a critical mistake. The match, which was highly anticipated as a showdown between the world's strongest player, Shin, and the second-ranked domestic player, Park, saw Shin make a significant blunder in his strategy. After a tense back-and-forth, Shin's decision during a critical moment left him vulnerable, ultimately leading to his defeat in just 125 moves.

This loss follows a recent disappointing performance for Shin, who had previously been ousted in the 16th round of the GS Caltex Cup by Kang Dong-yoon. Now, Shin must navigate through the consolation bracket to have another shot at the finals. In stark contrast, Park's victory comes on the heels of his triumph in the recent Giseon Tournament, confirming his strong momentum as he aims for the championship in the Maxim Coffee Tournament, which offers a significant prize of 70 million won.

Park Jeong-hwan's victory not only breaks a five-match losing streak against Shin but also marks a milestone for him as the 9th player to reach 1,200 wins. The finals will take place on the 24th and 31st of this month, with the possibility of a decisive third game on April 2nd if the series ends in a tie, with a consolation prize of 30 million won.