Lee Chang-ho, a master of go, known as baduk in Korea, who has long been dubbed the Stone Buddha, set a new wins record on Friday with his 1,969th career victory, taking the title from his mentor, Cho Hun-hyun.

The fifty-year-old secured the milestone in the second playoff match of the 2025 Incrediwear Legend League, defeating Kim Su-jang in a 159-move black victory at the Korea Baduk TV Studio in Seoul.

Lee, who turned pro in 1986 at age eleven, reached one thousand wins in 2000, one thousand-500 in 2010, one thousand-800 in 2021 and one thousand-900 in 2024 before finally breaking the national record.

He called the achievement “an honor” and said he was grateful to still be competing in a game he has loved since childhood, adding that he will continue striving to show “better Go” in future matches.

With 142 career titles—second only to Cho’s 162—and 17 major world championships, Lee is regarded globally as one of the greatest Go players of all time.

Now competing largely in senior events, he has posted 51 wins and 13 losses this season, and is on pace to become the first player ever to reach 2,000 career victories next year.

His team, Hydrogen City Wanju, advanced to the Legend League finals after sweeping GOGO Yangyang two-nil and will face top-ranked Hyorim on December 3.