Korean, 18, triumphs at Van Cliburn

The little-known Yunchan Lim of South Korea last night defeated a field of experienced Slavs with a storming performance of Rachmaninov’s third concerto that won him the gold medal of the Van Cliburn competition.

The judges, chaired by Marin Alsop, did not need long to decide.

Yunchan, a student at the Korea National University of Arts under Minsoo Sohn, is the competition’s youngest winner. He receives $100,000 and a host of career benefits.

You can watch his astonishing final performance at 2:05 on this video. He takes hold of the concerto with a rare blend of virtuosity, delicacy and authority.

Lim is the second Korean in succession to win the Van Cliburn. The 2017 award went to Yekwon Sunwoo, who was 28 at the time.

See also: A Russian is runner-up

UPDATE: What pianists say