New Website!

Alexander Dinerchtein, 3p, created a new website. It's: http://www.sanrensei.info/

it's a website to test your sanrensei power, based on Takemiya Masaki's style (not really, actually it seems to be based on Sonoda Yuichi and Cho Daehyun's style too, but only Takemiya's photo was in the website).

I really love the layout. It was pretty good!

Try it if you have time.

Here's my result:
San-ren-sei is a perfect choice for you!We cannot promise that you will win all of your games when you use it, but we are sure that every game you play where san-ren-sei appears will be very exciting and enjoyable for you!

The 2009 Nongshim Cup Starts!

The 2009 Nongshim Cup has been started. Three teams from three country,China, Japan, and South Korea, will compete each other in a knockout team tournament.

So far, 4 games has been played. All won by Chinese 3dan, Tuo Jiaxi.

Tuo beat Heo Yeongho,6dan in the first round by resignation.
Heo Yeongho (white) vs. Tuo Jiaxi (black)

In the second round, he beat Yamashita Keigo by 4.5 points.
Tuo Jiaxi (B) vs. Yamashita Keigo (W), B+4.5

Yun Junsang from Korea lost to him in the third round by 4.5 points.


He beat Japanese Tengen title holder, Kono Rin in the fourth round by 4.5 points.


China really has a good start, but it doesn't mean that they will surely win this year. The cup is still running.

Fifth Meijin Title Match

The fifth game of the Meijin title match had been played.

Played as black, Cho U got his third concecutive wins in this series of title match.
by half a point.

Unlike the other four games, Cho chose a moyo strategy. The strategy succeed and Cho
won the fifth game.

Now Iyama must won the sixth game, or he will have no chance to steal the title
until next year.

Let's Talk About: Kato Masao

Kato Masao (March 15, 1947 - December 30,2004) or Kato Kensei, was a famous Japanese 9-dan professional Go player best known for his nickname "The Killer" due to his aggresive attacking playing style.

Kato sensei is the one and only Honorary Oza (until now), due to his victorius in Oza tournament, 8 concecutive times from 1982-1989.

His first major title were 1st Gosei and 14th Judan in 1976. he finally won a title after became unsuccessfull challenger for 8 titles (Honinbo,Pro Best Ten twice, All Japan #1, Prime Minister's Cup,NHK Cup, Shinei,and Nihon Ki-in Championship)

Kato sensei was one of Kitani Minoru's diciples, along with Cho Chikun, Takemiya Masaki, Ishida Yoshio, and Kobayashi Koichi.

He had 4 students, they are Omori Yasushi, Suzuki Isao, Nishida Terumi, and the famous Umezawa Yukari.

There was one of his game that was resulted as void. It was at the 14th Judan title match, when he played against Cho Chikun. The result was void, due to the triple ko occured. The match was replayed and Kato won the game along with the title

Kato sensei was elected to be the Chief Director of the Japanese Nihon Ki-in and President of the International Go Federation (IGF). Kato did several changes under his leadership.He eliminated Oteai (used to be Japanese promotion system) and made new ways of dan promotion (which is still used now). He also changed the komi point, from 5.5 moku to 6.5 moku. He also cut the game times limits. At the same time, Kato sensei still active in the top tournament.

In 2002, Kato sensei established a new record in japanese Go world, as the oldest player ever to win Honinbo title, at age 55. He lost the title to Cho U in 2003.

His record of titles:

* 2003 10th Agon

Kato Masao (W) vs. Cho U 10th Japanese Agon Cup, Final, W+R up to 52 moves

* 2002 57th Honinbo

Kato Masao (W) vs. O Meien 57th Japanese Honinbo, title match #6 W+1.5, up to move 52

Yu Bin (W) vs. Kato masao 3rd Nongshim Cup, game 10, W+5.5

* 2001 10th Ryusei

Kato Masao (W) vs. Cho Hunhyun 2nd Nongshim Cup, game 13, W+3.5 up to move 52

* 1999 32nd Hayago Championship

* 1998 4th JT Cup

* 1997 35th Judan, NEC Cup

* 1996 3rd Agon, 18th Kakusei

* 1995 2nd Agon, 17th Kakusei

* 1994 27th Hayago Championship

* 1993 41st Oza

* 1992 NEC Cup

* 1991 NEC Cup

* 1989 37th Oza

* 1988 36th Oza, NHK Cup, 21st Hayago Championship

* 1987 12th Meijin, 25th Judan, 12th Gosei, 35th Oza

* 1986 11th Meijin, 34th Oza, 8th Kakusei

* 1985 33rd Oza

* 1984 32nd Oza

* 1983 21st Judan, 31st Oza

* 1982 30th Oza

* 1981 7th Tengen

* 1980 28th Oza, 6th Tengen, 2nd Kakusei

* 1979 34th Honinbo, 17th Judan, 27th Oza, 5th Tengen

* 1978 33th Honinbo, 16th Judan, 4th Tengen

* 1977 2nd Gosei, 15th Judan, 32th Honinbo

* 1976 1st Gosei, 14th Judan

Kato Masao vs Cho Chikun in the 14 th Judan, ther result of this game was void, due to triple ko occur. They replayed the game and Kato sensei won the game, along with the title

Two books had been written by Kato Masao and available in English. Chinese Opening: The Sure-Win Strategy and Kato's Attack and Kill.

Kato sensei's favorite opening was the Chinese fuseki. He played the fuseki a lot.His last game against Yuki Satoshi (who was that year's Kisei challanger) in the 31st Japanese Tengen tournament was a very good example of how to use Chinese fuseki to attack and kill. His next opponent in Tengen tournament was Imamura Toshiya 9-dan. Unfortunately, the game would never been played.

Kato died on december 30, 2004. The cause was cerebral infection. Kato first signs of becoming ill showed on december 7. There were an operation performed on December 10 and was said to be successfull, but in December 28, his condition dropped and he died two days later. At that time, he was member of Japan team at the Nong Shim Cup and hadn't played yet.

Kato was one of 1,200 wins club's member, with a 1,253 win and 664 loss. Only few players can achieve 1200 win.. There are many dedication to him, including a large book published by Nihon Ki-in containing over 200 games of him. Another one is internet Go tournament dedicated to him.

Despite his success, he was modest, his typical manner was low-key and friendly, but also known for his firm principles, which was perhaps the reason why he was entrusted as the Chairman of Nihon Ki-in and the President of IGF.Kobayashi Koichi commented that Kato Masao showed a great fighting spirit inside and outside the Goban (Go board).

I think, many things can be learned from Kato sensei. His fighting spirit, both at his Go life and his personal character, a good character, and his responsibility as a Chairman (he really did what he must did!).

Thank you Kato Masao. You've left us not only your priceless kifu, but also something we must learn about. Two thumbs up for you.

Cho U Tie Himself to Iyama Yuta

Cho U, Meijin won the fourth title match of 33rd Meijin. It made him tie with 2-2 score with Iyama Yuta, the challenger.

The game was played in October 8-9, 2008 at Atami, shizuoka

Playing white, Cho U forced Iyama to resigned in 167 moves.

The opening was unusual. Usually white play at hoshi instead of sansan (move 4) at this kind of opening.

Cho U(W) vs. Iyama Yuta (B), up to move 52

I wonder if move 159 is actually needed. Because that move allowed white to play move 162 which was the winning tesuji.

The next game will be very interesting. Whoever win it will have 3 win and will make game 6 become very decisive.

Xie Yimin - Suzuki Ayumi, 1-1

Xie Yimin, Female Honinbo, able to draw the position in the 27th Female Honinbo title match.

The game was played in October 8, 2008. At Chiyoda, Tokyo

Playing as white, Xie Yimin was able to forced Suzuki Ayumi, the challenger to resign in 128 moves.

I admit that Xie Yimin played a very impressive game this time. The gap was very big.

I found that her move 18, was pretty good. It forced Suzuki Ayumi to play R14 which is a mistake in direction, since it made Xie naturally played R7. Because the extension is far from black's enclosure, it made black thin while it didn't put any pressure to white's stones

Xie Yimin (W) vs. Suzuki Ayumi (B), up to move 52

Tsumego 2

All right. Another tsumego time.

Black just played at x. Where should white play, so he can kill black's stones in the corner?

33rd Kisei Challenger

At October 2, Cho U played Yoda Norimoto to decide who'll play against Iyama Yuta, League A winner, to decide who will get the opportunity to steal Kisei title from Yamashita Keigo.

And the winner is.... Yoda Norimoto. Yoda won from Cho with 1.5 points margin.

Many actually predict (maybe hoping) Cho U to won, so he'll play Iyama who has won league A (with perfect 5-0 score) and add their game's list this year.

But the fact is different. Yoda Norimoto will play Iyama Yuta. I haven't got the time when they will play the match. But it will be interesting to see who will win it.

27th Female Honinbo, Title Match #1

This year title match for the Female Honinbo title had been played.

Xie Yimin, Female Honinbo, is challanged by Suzuki Ayumi 4 dan.

The first match was played at October first, in Hanamaki, Iwate.

Suzuki Ayumi won the first match by resignation.

The game was peaceful. There were no big fight in this game. I don't understand Suzuki Ayumi's choice of playing B 15 when Xie played C 17. It seems that she wanted to keep the group separated, but it seems (for me) that taking the corner is bigger. Anyone kind enough to tell me the reason?

Until October 3, Suzuki Ayumi was ranked 11 in Japanese most won record, with 24 win and 9 loss with impressive 73% winning rate, while Xie Yimin was ranked 16 with 21 win and 13 loss with 62% winning rate.

Suzuki Ayumi

Xie Yimin doesn't do very well until now. Last year, she was ranked third with 40 win and16loss with 71% winning rate. AtOctober 3, she was ranked 15 with 22 win and 14 loss with 61% winning rate

Xie Yimin

But it is still October. We should see the end result in December.

Tsumego

I have one tsumego question. This one came from one of my game.

Black just played the squared stone. The question is, how can white saves his stones, so the triangled group is still dead?


It is pretty easy. I bet you can solve it in no time ;)