1. Early Life and Education
An Choyoung's early life and educational background were marked by an unconventional path to mastering the game of Go, distinguishing him from many of his peers who typically undergo formal training from a young age.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
An Choyoung was born on September 25, 1979, in Yesan County, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.
1.2. Education and Self-Study
Unlike many professional Go players who receive intensive training at specialized academies from a young age, An Choyoung developed his skills primarily through self-study. He notably honed his Go abilities by meticulously reviewing and learning from game records published in newspapers, a unique method that contributed to his distinctive playing style.
2. Professional Career
An Choyoung embarked on his professional Go career in 1993, steadily ascending through the ranks and achieving significant competitive results in both domestic and international tournaments. His career is marked by consistent performance and several notable title victories.
2.1. Professional Debut
An Choyoung began his professional career in 1993 at the age of 14. In the same year, he won the youth group at the World Youth Go Championship. Early in his professional journey, he quickly demonstrated his potential by advancing to the main rounds of several prestigious tournaments in 1996, including the Samsung Fire & Marine Cup World Open, the 8th Kisung, and the 11th BC Card Cup.
2.2. Dan Promotions
An Choyoung's progression through the professional Go ranks reflects his steady development and increasing mastery of the game. He achieved 5-dan in 1998, followed by 6-dan in 2000, and 7-dan in 2001. In 2004, he was promoted to 8-dan, and on June 22, 2005, he reached the highest professional rank of 9-dan.
2.3. Major Titles Won
An Choyoung has won several significant titles throughout his professional career:
- SK Gas Cup New Pro Top 10: 1997 (his first professional title)
- BC Card Cup Rookie King Battle: 2004
- Wonik Cup (Sibdang Cup): 2007 (defeating Baek Hong-seok 2-1 in the final)
2.4. Key Tournament Performances
An Choyoung has consistently performed well in a variety of major Go tournaments, both domestically and internationally.
In international competitions, he reached the best 8 in the BC Card Cup World Championship in 2010, where he defeated Han Tae-hee and Gu Li before being eliminated by Kim Ki-yong. In the LG Cup World Championship, he also reached the best 8 in 2010, overcoming Peng Quan and Gu Li before losing to Meng Tailing, and made it to the best 16 in 2013. He advanced to the best 16 in the Samsung Fire & Marine Cup World Open in 2000, defeating Yoda Norimoto before losing to Hikosaka Naoto. An Choyoung participated in the China-Korea New Pro Wang in 2004, where he lost 0-2 to Qiu Jun. He also represented Korea in the Kangwon-Land Cup China-Korea Go Match in 2006, achieving a strong record of 3 wins and 1 loss, defeating Chen Yaoye, Wang Xi, and Luo Xihe, though he lost to Chang Hao.
Domestically, An Choyoung secured 3rd place in the 2nd SK Gas Cup New Pro Top 10 in 1998. He was a challenger in the Highest Position Battle in 1999. In 2002, he was the runner-up in both the Paewang and the 33rd SK Enclean Cup Myungin tournaments. He also reached the final of the Kisung tournament in 2006, finishing as runner-up. In the Electronic Land Cup King of Kings tournament, he won the White Tiger Division in 2006 and was the runner-up in the same division in 2008.
2.5. Korea Baduk League Participation
An Choyoung has been a consistent participant in the Korea Baduk League, contributing to various teams over the years. His records reflect his sustained presence and performance in the league.
| Year | Team | Record (Wins-Losses) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Parkland | 4-3 |
| 2005 | Bohae | 4-3 |
| 2006 | Shinseong Construction | 7-7 |
| 2007 | Hangame | 7-5 |
| 2008 | T-broad | 5-7 |
| 2009 | T-broad | 6-5 |
| 2010 | T-broad | 8-8 |
| 2011 | Sinan Cheonil Salt | 6-8 |
| 2012 | Cyber ORO | 5-11 |
| 2012 | T-broad | 3-4 |
| 2013 | Kixx | 6-6 |
2.6. Korea Baduk Ranking
An Choyoung has maintained a notable presence in the Korean Go player rankings. His highest recorded position was 8th in August 2006, demonstrating his standing among the top professional players in South Korea.
3. Playing Style and Reputation
An Choyoung is recognized in the Go community for his distinct playing style and a memorable nickname that reflects a key characteristic of his game.
3.1. Nickname and Characteristics
An Choyoung is widely known as the "Emperor of Half-Point" (半目の帝王Hanme no TeiōJapanese). This nickname stems from his remarkable ability to consistently win games by the narrowest possible margin, often by just a half-point, which is the smallest unit of scoring in Go. This characteristic highlights his precise endgame play and his skill in navigating complex situations to secure minimal but decisive victories.