By Jae Matson and Jamie Tang Eric Lee 6D displayed immense willpower in the 2023 Professional Qualification Tournament, transforming his run from rocky to ready. In the days leading to the tournament, Eric Yoder 6D, a seasoned Go player known for his sharp reading skills, stayed with Lee and played several games. “I didn’t feel too good going into the tournament,” Lee said in an email interview with Baduk News. “Eric had stayed over before the tournament, and I lost two games extremely fast against him.” Distracted, Lee struggled to find his footing in the tournament. Lee found himself with a 0-2 record after losing to Stephen Lin 4D and Michael Chen 7D. Another player might have folded under pressure, but Lee held his composure to win Rounds 3 and 4. “I didn’t think about my winning streak,” Lee said. “I just wanted to win the game in front of me.” By Round 5, Lee had reached a 2-2 record and needed one more win to make the semi-finals. His next challenger was Emil García 5D, one of Mexico’s top players. García had entered the tournament to represent Mexico City alongside Abraham Florencia. “Developing Go is not an easy task,” said García, the Ibero-American Federation of Go President. “I hope more Mexican players compete in NAGF Qualifiers in the future.” A furious battle erupted in their game, but Lee killed Garcia’s dragon by move 147. Advancing to the semi-finals, Lee faced off against Eric Yoder, who had achieved a flawless 4-0 record in the Round Robin stage. Lee clamped victory with a 2-0 win. “It felt great,” Lee said. “There’s something about realizing I’m one match away from reaching pro, even if I can’t win.” Lee expressed doubt over defeating tournament frontrunner Michael Chen. “I’m in as good form as I’m going to get four days into the tournament,” Lee said. “I want to play a good game , but Michael is too good.” His judgment of Chen’s prowess was accurate, and Chen swiftly won both games. Nonetheless, onlookers were surprised and supportive of Lee’s run in the tournament. One onlooker Ellie Spohr 1D had been in the same online friend groups as Lee for over a decade. “Who doesn’t like an upset?” Spohr said. “It’s cool to see someone you know get strong enough to do well in the . I didn't think Eric Lee had the best shot at winning the tournament, but he should be proud of his streak." Lee’s passion for the game remains unwavering, with or without a professional title. “There is so much in Go that can’t be understood by words but only by learning the hard way,” Lee said. “The desire to understand more of the game remains a big motivator to improve.” Lee credits all players, organizers, and production crew for contributing to the meaningful tournament experience.
