Like many sports, the Japanese go world has 4 major tournaments- Kisei, Judan, Honnibo, and Tengen. Established 1976, the Kisei is the highest paying title every year - 45,000,000 yen (over 500,000 USD). This year Cho U (on the right) is trying to defend his title against Takao Shinji (left).
Takao emerged as a very strong player in his early 20's reaching. He seemed to slow down after winning the Honnibo and his promotion to 9 dan-pro. He is now seems to be hitting his stride again, rising back to the top of Japanese players. In constrast, Cho U seems to be peaking in his play right now. He has had a great record since 2009 and if he wins this title, it will be his third consecutive Kisei. He currently is 6th all time in Japanese titles (note: modern players have more title games available).
Now with this match it seems as if there the same repeating four names in the Japanese go scene: Cho U, Takao Shinji, Yamashita Keigo, and Iyama Yuta, which some are now calling the "four emperors".
As for this year's championship match, it was back and forth for the first four games with the score tied at 2-2 (black winning every game). Then Cho U took the lead in game five winning with white on Feb 23rd making the score 3-2.
It has come down to a 'do or die' situation for Takao here, and he is playing white. Cho U has been developing a new opening that he has employed now three times as black this series. I am not sure what to call it other than a variant of the micro-chinese fuseki.
Chinese Fuseki (first seen in professional play in the 60's) gave way to innovations - primarily the mini-chinese fuseki in the 90's and then the micro-chinese seen at the beginning of this century. Now though, Cho U seems to be innovating and researching this mirco-chinese relationship without an approach to white's stone. (for clarification see diagrams below)
In this game you will see Cho U's variation on the micro-chinese. As in most modern major championships, each player is given 8 total hours of time per game (then 10 x 1 minute byo-yomi). The games are played over two days, and today Cho U used 3 hours 17 minutes and Takao 4 hours 13 minutes. Below are my brief comments for day one's moves (1 - 67 ).
(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[Takao Shinji]PB[Cho U]
;B[pd]
;W[dc]
;B[qp]
;W[dp]
;B[lq]LB[kq:A][qq:B]TR[op]C[Cho U's exlusive opening as black in this championship series.
This move is very intersting because it discourages an approach on the corner around the marked point--as white would have a hard time settling if he plays directly into black's pincer. It is more territorially tight than a 'mini' chinese move at A. There are not many games with this opening as there are with mini-chinese or traditional Chinese. In some pro examples, white doesn't approach at all, but waits until later in the midgame and dives into the corner at B.
The main idea here, is to play even tighter than the mini chinese, and discourage an approach.]
;W[fq]C[White defends the bottom from further black development there]
;B[ce]C[Black approachs near and low, the most territorially valuable approach.]
;W[ci]C[This three space pincer is ideal for white's formation in the lower left.]
;B[fc]C[This very near counterpincer is somewhat rare, but it generally means that black wants to develop topside influence to work with his 4-4 stone. Here though black has a very interesting plan.]
;W[ed]C[This is most normal for moving out and keeping black separated.]
(;B[cb]LB[fd:A]C[This move in the corner might have been pre-planned. I have never seen it. It would be normal to expect black to push up at A to build a wall of influence towards the right side.]
;W[cc]C[White blocks this way to keep black low on the 2nd and 3rd line up top and white will hope to naturally develop the left side.]
;B[db]
;W[ec]
;B[eb]
;W[fd]
;B[gc]
;W[gd]
;B[hc]
;W[ie]
;B[dh]C[Cho moves his lone stone, seeking to make white's wall ineffective. In this series, Cho U has shown a great ability to manage weak groups.]
;W[di]
;B[eh]
;W[ei]
;B[fh]
;W[gj]
;B[hh]C[Here it seems hard to judge how this early fight will end up. White is making large potential in the lower left (but black can easily disrupt it later). Black is taking territory at the top side. Moving out here is pretty safe since white must worry about his top side group's safety.
Its too early to tell, but I slightly prefer black here.]
;W[bg]C[This is valuable, seeks link up or separate the lone black stone.]
;B[df]LB[be:A]C[Black stays connected while preventing White's connection at A.]
;W[hd]
;B[ic]
;W[ke]
;B[jh]
;W[ii]
;B[kg]C[Nice shape, maintains connection and moves further out, pressuring white.]
;W[me]
;B[fi]
;W[fj]
;B[ek]
;W[ej]LB[bo:A][bp:B]TR[ek]C[It seems as though the 'peep' will aid the future invasion around A or B, but the fight up top must be resolved first.]
;B[og]TR[mg]C[A suprising move for sure! White cannot simply jump to the marked point because he would have some connection issues.
This move is very clever, making some potential on the right, helping the weak group, and white still needs to find a way to settle his topside group.]
;W[ng]C[I imagine that touching this stone is the best way for white to keep black's center group separated and under attack. Generally though this type of play will allow black to get stronger on the right side.
It seems though black will still have his center weak group, but will take an advantage in territory. I think the game is going in black's style and favors him.]
;B[nf]
;W[mf]
;B[mg]
;W[nh]
;B[mh]
;W[ni]
;B[mi]
;W[nj]
;B[of]
;W[mj]
;B[lj]
;W[ki]
;B[li]
;W[lk]
;B[kj]
;W[kk]
;B[ji]
;W[ij]
;B[ih]C[After this skirmish, black is safe in the center and has some potential in the upper right. White is still unsettled.
But it is not all bad for White. His influence is very strong on the lower side of the board. He can still make a considerable framework or even provoke a fight by invading the lower 'micro-chinese' formation later.]
;W[nd]C[The only move to keep black's potential smaller and help white make some eye space along the top side]
;B[kc]C[Steals some eyespace and makes territory]
;W[gf]C[Makes 1 eye for sure, but gote.]
;B[ld]C[The vital point
]
;W[kf]LB[bd:A]C[This maintains connection. White mostly secure on the top. The move around A is a potential eye or another potential eye in the center.]
;B[mk]C[And day 1 ends with this fierce cut.
Black seeks to strike first by cutting before white uses his influence to make a fight on the bottom edge.
This will be a very exciting game. It isn't over for white by a long shot, but black has been dictating the flow from the beginning and therefore I think he is leading.
I am hoping white can strike in Day 2 because every go player hopes for a game 7, and also I went by Shinji in Japan so we share the same name :D .
])
(;B[fd]
;W[ef]
;B[fe]
;W[ee]
;B[gg]LB[cb:B][bc:A]TR[ce]C[A straight forward way of building influence on the topside, and the marked stone has plenty of potential around A or B to live later or reduce white's territory.]))
RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[6.50]
PW[Takao Shinji]PB[Cho U]
;B[pd]
;W[dc]
;B[qp]
;W[dp]
;B[lq]LB[kq:A][qq:B]TR[op]C[Cho U's exlusive opening as black in this championship series.
This move is very intersting because it discourages an approach on the corner around the marked point--as white would have a hard time settling if he plays directly into black's pincer. It is more territorially tight than a 'mini' chinese move at A. There are not many games with this opening as there are with mini-chinese or traditional Chinese. In some pro examples, white doesn't approach at all, but waits until later in the midgame and dives into the corner at B.
The main idea here, is to play even tighter than the mini chinese, and discourage an approach.]
;W[fq]C[White defends the bottom from further black development there]
;B[ce]C[Black approachs near and low, the most territorially valuable approach.]
;W[ci]C[This three space pincer is ideal for white's formation in the lower left.]
;B[fc]C[This very near counterpincer is somewhat rare, but it generally means that black wants to develop topside influence to work with his 4-4 stone. Here though black has a very interesting plan.]
;W[ed]C[This is most normal for moving out and keeping black separated.]
(;B[cb]LB[fd:A]C[This move in the corner might have been pre-planned. I have never seen it. It would be normal to expect black to push up at A to build a wall of influence towards the right side.]
;W[cc]C[White blocks this way to keep black low on the 2nd and 3rd line up top and white will hope to naturally develop the left side.]
;B[db]
;W[ec]
;B[eb]
;W[fd]
;B[gc]
;W[gd]
;B[hc]
;W[ie]
;B[dh]C[Cho moves his lone stone, seeking to make white's wall ineffective. In this series, Cho U has shown a great ability to manage weak groups.]
;W[di]
;B[eh]
;W[ei]
;B[fh]
;W[gj]
;B[hh]C[Here it seems hard to judge how this early fight will end up. White is making large potential in the lower left (but black can easily disrupt it later). Black is taking territory at the top side. Moving out here is pretty safe since white must worry about his top side group's safety.
Its too early to tell, but I slightly prefer black here.]
;W[bg]C[This is valuable, seeks link up or separate the lone black stone.]
;B[df]LB[be:A]C[Black stays connected while preventing White's connection at A.]
;W[hd]
;B[ic]
;W[ke]
;B[jh]
;W[ii]
;B[kg]C[Nice shape, maintains connection and moves further out, pressuring white.]
;W[me]
;B[fi]
;W[fj]
;B[ek]
;W[ej]LB[bo:A][bp:B]TR[ek]C[It seems as though the 'peep' will aid the future invasion around A or B, but the fight up top must be resolved first.]
;B[og]TR[mg]C[A suprising move for sure! White cannot simply jump to the marked point because he would have some connection issues.
This move is very clever, making some potential on the right, helping the weak group, and white still needs to find a way to settle his topside group.]
;W[ng]C[I imagine that touching this stone is the best way for white to keep black's center group separated and under attack. Generally though this type of play will allow black to get stronger on the right side.
It seems though black will still have his center weak group, but will take an advantage in territory. I think the game is going in black's style and favors him.]
;B[nf]
;W[mf]
;B[mg]
;W[nh]
;B[mh]
;W[ni]
;B[mi]
;W[nj]
;B[of]
;W[mj]
;B[lj]
;W[ki]
;B[li]
;W[lk]
;B[kj]
;W[kk]
;B[ji]
;W[ij]
;B[ih]C[After this skirmish, black is safe in the center and has some potential in the upper right. White is still unsettled.
But it is not all bad for White. His influence is very strong on the lower side of the board. He can still make a considerable framework or even provoke a fight by invading the lower 'micro-chinese' formation later.]
;W[nd]C[The only move to keep black's potential smaller and help white make some eye space along the top side]
;B[kc]C[Steals some eyespace and makes territory]
;W[gf]C[Makes 1 eye for sure, but gote.]
;B[ld]C[The vital point
]
;W[kf]LB[bd:A]C[This maintains connection. White mostly secure on the top. The move around A is a potential eye or another potential eye in the center.]
;B[mk]C[And day 1 ends with this fierce cut.
Black seeks to strike first by cutting before white uses his influence to make a fight on the bottom edge.
This will be a very exciting game. It isn't over for white by a long shot, but black has been dictating the flow from the beginning and therefore I think he is leading.
I am hoping white can strike in Day 2 because every go player hopes for a game 7, and also I went by Shinji in Japan so we share the same name :D .
])
(;B[fd]
;W[ef]
;B[fe]
;W[ee]
;B[gg]LB[cb:B][bc:A]TR[ce]C[A straight forward way of building influence on the topside, and the marked stone has plenty of potential around A or B to live later or reduce white's territory.]))
A few extra notes:
1) Overall record between these two players is 28-23 (Cho U leads).
2) Kisei is roughly be translated "Go Saint" (more lit. - board game spirit)
3) Before the modern era only two players were given the title Kisei, Shusaku (1829 - 1862) and Dosaku (1645 - 1702)
No comments:
Post a Comment