The seventh Chunlan Cup World Professional Go Championship will kick off on Saturday with 24 top players to vie for the title.

China, who had won its first title ever in the tournament through Gu Li in the sixth edition of the board game gala, sent a strong field of 11 players including top ranked Gu Li and Chang Hao to defend the honor, while Lee Saedol, the arguable current world No. 1 player, and former world champion Lee Changho, both from South Korea, will spearhead the challengers.

Eight players, namely Gu Li, Chang Hao, Kong Jie, Xie He, Zhou Heyang, Huang Yizhong, Lee Saedol and Lee Changho, will have a bye in the first round competitions on Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2008)