Li Xuanhao: The Quiet Storm of Chinese Go

Known as “Xuan-tificial Intelligence” or “Xuangong Intelligence” (From the Chinese term for AI: Ren‘gong’ Zhineng),  Chinese Go player Li Xuanhao (李轩豪) is often overlooked as a strong contender of the professional Go world. Though not as well-known as names such as Ke Jie and Park Junghwan, Li’s name is often there in important semi-finals or breaking a fan favorite’s winning streak.

Li Xuanhao isn’t the loudest name in the world of professional Go, but over the past few years, he’s become one of the most talked-about players in China. As a “late bloomer”, he emerged as a new force in 2022, surprising many with strong performances against some of the best players in the world. In February 2023, he reached the top of the domestic ranking. Widely regarded as extremely focused and disciplined, Li reputedly studied Go “from eight in the morning to nine in the evening”, according to team coaches. His dedication to training, especially with Go AI, has earned him the nickname “Xuangong Intelligence”, for his deep analytical approach and methodical progression. 

Early Life and Entry into Go

Born in 1995 in Chongqing, Li began to learn Go at 6 years old. At only 9 years old, he left his hometown for Beijing, where he studied at the Nie Weiping dojo. Showing great talent, in 2005, Li participated in his very first professional ranking tournament and secured his professional status by finishing in first place. Soon after becoming a professional 1 dan player, he was selected out of many fellow Go players for the National Youth Go Team and officially became a disciple of Yu Bin, a Chinese Go professional, and head coach of the Chinese national team. In 2006, he continued his streak of success, taking home another win at the National Youth Go Championship. 

First Decade: Emergence

In July of 2009, in his debut match in the 9th round of the Chinese Go League, he showcased his strong skills with his defeat of Tao Xin, a 4 dan player from the Shandong team. In the following years and ensuing tournaments, Li maintained a successful streak with consistent wins and began to cement himself as a formidable opponent in the world of Chinese Go. In 2012, he performed exceptionally well in the 9th Changqi Cup, defeating strong opponents such as Shi Yue, Li Zhe, and Qiu Jun. Although he ultimately lost during the semi-finals, this tournament gave him increased media coverage as well as public scrutiny. 

In 2016, Li made a strong showing in the Chinese Go League, with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses, achieving a win rate of 75%. Notably, he secured 6 wins and 2 losses in the Blitz games, ranking among the top three in the Blitz game standings. In the following years, he continued to achieve high standings and showcase his strong technical skills and unique playing style. Some accomplishments include:

• Runner–up in the 2017 CCTV Blitz Tournament
• Defending the Chinese title at the 4th Gratitude Cup International Go Elite Showdown against the Korean team
• Winner of the World Go King Tournament in 2020

Career Breakthrough and Highlights

Li’s great breakout year on the international stage that had been long anticipated came in 2022, after many years of professional competition. In April, he participated in the 19th Asian Games Chinese National Go Team Training Selection Tournament in Hangzhou, and advanced successfully with a perfect record of 7 wins. This success allowed him to be promoted to 9 dan, becoming the 54th 9 dan player in the entire history of Chinese Go. Continuing his fierce streak, Li won two domestic tournaments: the Quzhou-Lanke Cup and Wangzhongwang (King of Kings) Tournament in April and May of 2022, respectively. Furthermore, Li reached the rank of 9 dan in April of 2022 as well.

In December, he participated in the 14th Chunlan Cup, where he defeated Yang Dingxin in the quarterfinals, and wowed the world with his win over Shin Jinseo in the semi-finals, who was a player that defined Korean dominance of the era. This success allowed Li to secure his first-ever spot in the final of an international tournament. Though he eventually lost to Byun Sang-il in the final, his performance sent a clear message to the world: Li Xuanhao was a force to be reckoned with.

Li is also known for his strong performances in domestic Chinese leagues, long playing second chair on China’s national team lineups. His track record shows his consistency in play and skill that spans over a decade of professional play. 

In March 2023, the Chinese Go Association announced Li as China’s new top-ranked player as he surpassed Ke Jie, breaking his record of 51 months. According to the Chongqing Chess Academy: “Li Xuanhao’s ability to surpass Ke Jie in the rating rankings is directly related to his outstanding performance representing the Chongqing T23 team in the Weijia League, In the previous season of the Weijia League, Li Xuanhao ranked first in the league with 15 wins in 17 games, helping the Chongqing team achieve its best results since the league was reformed.”

In 2024, Li won the 5th MLily Cup by defeating Dang Yifei 3-1 in the final, landing him his first world title. At 29, his name is among the oldest world champions since Gu Li, who won the Chunlan Cup in 2015 aged 32, and Yu Bin, who won his first world championship in 2000 aged 33.

In a field where increasing age is often associated with decreasing playing ability, Li only entered his prime at 28 years old. Just two years before his breakthrough in 2022, Li was still overlooked: a 7 dan player with no domestic tournament wins at hand. Despite all odds, Li truly showed his talent and commitment.

Li has been open about his “late-blooming”, sharing that ‘regardless of whether one is over 30 and on a decline, with hard training using AI, there can still be progress, and it can show in the games.” 

Playing Style

Li’s playing style is often characterized as positional, with a strong preference for solid shapes; deep-reading, especially in life-and-death situations and invading sequences; endgame precision, often turning half-point losses into wins, and emotionally neutral, rarely overplaying or tilting. Many consider his strength to be based on his balance: though he does not have a signature trick or play up his sleeve, he also has no glaring weaknesses either, and plays a game that emphasizes patience and timing.

In this game during the Nongshim Cup between Park Junghwan and Li Xuanhao, Li demonstrated his resilience under pressure, tactical sharpness and flexibility, and willingness to take risks. According to Sadaharu’s Go blog: “Park Junghwan played an extremely solid game–almost like a robot–but Li’s invasion unsettled everything.” Though Li started the game not in the most advantageous position, he maintained composure even when his condition was less than optimal. In this game, Li performed a crucial invasion into Park’s large-scale territory, pressing forward to create a complicated fighting scenario, turning the game decisively in his favor. This shows not only his reading strength but also flexibility, with his way of capitalizing on small misjudgements to reshape the board.

According to a commentary by Sina Sports, Li Xuanhao’s growth trajectory is very similar to that of Gu Li, Chongqing’s top Go player and eight-time world champion. In addition, Li Xuanhao’s playing style is also similar to Gu Li’s: both players are strong and have a good sense of the big picture, so Li is often known as “Little Gu Li” in the circle of Chinese professional Go. In an interview, Li also shared that the players that he watched the most when he was young were Gu Li and Lee Sedol.

Recent Developments and Future

Li is also known for his deep study of AI, which he uses to improve his skills, earning him the nickname “Xuan Gong Intelligence” or Xuan-tificial Intelligence among fans. Speaking about how AI has helped him, Li Xuanhao shared: “In some situations, I don’t know how to play, but AI can provide some enlightenment. The moves that AI makes, even if you don’t understand them then, can make sense when you think about them later. Now, everyone is studying AI’s openings, which opens up one’s thinking.”

“I often set up games myself, and with AI, I frequently find that my setups are wrong. Regardless of whether one is over 30 and on a decline, with hard training using AI, there can still be progress, and it can show in the games.”

After winning his first World Title in 2024, Li shared his future goals during an interview on CCTV’s “Laugh and Talk” segment. “After winning the world championship, I’ll have a more peaceful mindset and play more relaxed in future games, trying to perform my best.” 

Controversy

In December 2022, after Li defeated Shin Jinseo in a closely-fought battle, a controversy emerged as Chinese player Yang Dingxin, who had been Li’s longtime teammate, accused him of cheating in games with the use of AI. 

A year earlier, Li had also faced similar accusations from Ke Jie and other Go professionals, which led to a body search with nothing found. Ke was also asked to predict the odds of the Li vs. Shin Jinseo match, to which he replied: “It should be impossible for Shin to beat Li.” Given Shin Jinseo’s widely acknowledged status as the world’s top player, many interpreted this statement as sarcasm, hinting that Li’s form or alleged unfair advantage made him unexpectedly unstoppable.

The Chinese Weiqi Association investigated the situation, deciding that the cheating accusations were unsubstantiated, and issued a six-month suspension to Yang. 

Go enthusiasts and professionals all around the world have varying opinions and stances on this issue. Some believe that the online format of the Chunlan Cup and suspicious circumstances may point to cheating, while others believe that Li’s win was due to a variety of reasons, including a mishap on Shin’s part in the middlegame. 

Analytical commentary on the game by Go Professional Cho Yeonwoo noted that Li achieved 85% “accuracy” – defined as playing moves among AI’s top suggestions – while Shin managed 72%. Many of Li’s moves were deemed “beyond human comprehension”, particularly in the early-midgame and certain endgame invasions. However, it is important to note that Go AI Accuracy Checks are more of a “red flag” tool than a definitive detector, making them helpful for context clues but very unreliable as proof. With the rise of AlphaGo, elite players often naturally play “AI-like” moves and humans can often spike accuracy without cheating.

Despite all, Li has continued to showcase a balanced and consistent skill set, and his performance from 2023 has not dropped in the slightest, such as during the MLily Cup and other domestic titles. He maintains a strong performance without interference, which many see as a clearance of past accusations. 

While Li’s case remains unproven, AI use and cheating is a real and present concern in modern Go. Online debates, particularly on Reddit and Zhihu, reflect deep division on not only this controversy, but also on the future of Go in general with the rise of AI technologies.

Off the Board

Outside of Go, Li has shared that he enjoys badminton and soccer. In terms of his off-the-board involvement and influence, Li is more of a quiet achiever than a public-facing personality. For example, his interviews, teaching events, and public streaming presences are very limited in number. However, he does participate occasionally in printed and online publications, such as providing game commentary for European Go Journal. Recognized as one of the hardest-working Go professionals in China, he allows his disciplined study and tournament performances speak for him.

Conclusion

At 30 years old in 2025, Li sits in a curious position in the grand scheme of professional Go. Though no longer part of the young, “rising stars”, he remains ranked among the strongest Go professionals of the era and continues to perform well in tournaments. Li’s mastery of the game isn’t in breathtaking creativity, but in its precision and clarity, persistent over his entire career. 

At the age of 13, he became a professional Go player, and at 29, he won his first world championship. Compared to the youthful vigor of his early days, Li Xuanhao’s Go career seems to be more about the accumulation and refinement of experience, like an old horse that has been through the wars. An interview with the Nie Weiping dojo used this headline: “World Champion Li Xuanhao: Perseverance is a tremendous act of courage.”

Have you seen any games by Li Xuanhao before? What did you think about them?