this was the last international final kong played in. within the next few years, with the rise of new 1990s generation professionals and the increased competition at the international level, only gu li and lee sedol would continue to have high tournament placings in big international tournaments. during the 15th samsung cup, kong defeated a soon to be wedded lee chang-ho before succumbing to kim ji-seok in the quarterfinals. the match, with kong playing black, turned out to be a crucial "fight to the death" of both sides' dragons, but kong miscalculated a combination by kim on move 150, and on move 202, resigned, thus failing to defend his crown.