Though it was a difficult loss with white, as all of Kang's matches beforehand had been with black, it still made the Korean Team gain an advantage in members remaining, and with fellow Korean baduk kings Lee Se-dol and Lee Chang-ho remaining, Korea was still the strongest contender for the cup. The Chinese team had world number 2 Gu Li and former champion Chang Hao, but the rivalry between the two Lee's and Gu and Chang made the matches seem extra important.
Although it was a tough defeat with white, as all of Kang's prior matches had been with black, it still gave the Korean Team an edge in terms of remaining members, and with fellow Korean baduk monarchs Lee Se-dol and Lee Chang-ho still on board, Korea remained the strongest contender for the cup. The Chinese team boasted world number 2 Gu Li and former champion Chang Hao, but the rivalry between the two Lees and Gu and Chang made the matches seem particularly significant.