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The challenger in the Judan Title, Takao Shinji (who is also the Honinbo Title holder) won the first game against Cho Chikun (who is also playing the Kisei Title match) by resignation.

Here is the beginning of the game (Takao played Black):

It is interesting to notice the exchange of 24 for 25: White peeps at a point where he could cut later. I have seen this move in several games lately.

Also, after Black’s invasion in san-san with 31 it’s a touch decision for White to pick the side to block on: in this case the decision has nothing to do with the potential White would develop on the outside (because that potential is too small to be interesting anyways, given that White has low extensions on both sides), but with the fight that starts once Black is forced to capture one stone.

Here’s a nice photo montage from the Nihon Ki-in site:

Yashiro Kumiko of Japan (left in the photo) against Tang Yi of China.

Tang won by resignation after a surprise killing of a group of Yashiro’s.

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Here is the beginning of the game (Tang plays Black):

It’s interesting to notice the same joseki (and similar follow-up strategy) in the lower-left as the one played between Japan and China earlier in this tournament (the Aoki vs. Fan game).

Also, compare the upper-right joseki with the one played in the previous game in the same tournament.

(Link to game record)

Tang Yi (left) was paired next against Lee Hanjin from Korea in Jeongganjang Cup.

Tang won by 7.5 points. Here is the beginning of the game:

It’s interesting to see:

• the variation in the lower left: White prefers to build a thick position in gote with 14 and 16 nowadays instead of taking sente with 14 to the left of 9 and leaving bad aji behind.
• how patient Black is with 33 (in most pro games I’ve seen Black attacks at 34 instead)
• how Black plays 43 to “threaten to build a big go threat”: it’s not in itself a ko threat since the ko on the lower side hasn’t started yet, but if White responds to 43 in the upper left corner, Black can start the ko next and then she’ll have a clear ko-threat in the upper left.

(Link to the game record)

Tang Yi is playing Yashiro Kumiko of Japan next.

Lee Hajin of Korea (left photo) vs. Manami Kana of Japan (right photo) in 2008 Jeongganjang Cup.

Answer: Lee Hajin won by resignation. Here is the beginning of the game: after move 55 Black has more territory but has one unsettled group in the center.

Interestingly, the game record (from Cyberoro) shows the last move as White’s - did Manami resign on her own move?

(Link to game here).

Lee Hajin of Korea (left photo) vs. Fan Yujing of China (right photo) in 2008 Jeongganjang Cup.

Answer: Lee Hajin won by resignation.

There a are a lot of interesting moves even if we only look at the beginning of the game:

• Black 15 which is a new(ish) reply to White’s invasion at 12 (well, it stopped being new several years ago, but it’s “new” with respect to the English Go books)
• The technique of playing kosumi-tsuke with 25, then directly attacking with 27 instead of defending on the right side - which of course makes a lot of sense in this case since Black is already very strong on the right side
• The order in which 13 and 15 are played is puzzling to me: not sure what other choice does White have for 14 (maybe playing at 20? or jumping to the left of 17?), and how would that affect Black’s choice of 15.

(Link to game here).

Aoki Kikuyo of Japan (left in the photo) vs. Fan Yujing of China (right) in 2008 Jeongganjang Cup.

Answer: Fan Yujing won by 6.5 points.

Here is the beginning of the game (Fan plays Black):

And here is an interesting exchange that took place at move 78: White (Aoki) decided to sacrifice the stones on the middle of the right hand side, but they retain potential (and came back to life later in the game).

(Link to game here).

It’s time again for the “Guess Who Won” series. Today’s photo quiz is about the 6th Jeongganjang Cup game between Aoki Kikuyo 8p (Japan) and Kim Sesil 2p (Korea):

Answer: Aoki won by 2.5p.

Aoki (Black) used o-moyo (big moyo) strategy - see the diagram below for the first 49 moves (complete game record here).

Aoki’s next opponent will be Fan Yujing 2p of China (they will play later today).