The Road to Gosei

The first game of the 35th Gosei title match has been decided. It'll be played on June 24. This year, challenger Sakai Hideyuki will play one of the strongest Japan master, Cho U.


Sakai Hideyuki beating Yamashita Keigo at 25th Gosei final.

Many favor Cho to defend his title since Cho has more experience in title matches and has proved himself in last Kisei, Judan, and Tengen. While for Sakai, this is his first shot at one of the top 7 titles.


Cho U

So far the record between those two is 2-2. All four games came from two tournaments. They are Meijin (both are from league games) and the televised blitz chmpionship, NHK Cup. Both Cho and Sakai won once in each tournament.

Here I present you with the four game records.

32nd Japanese Meijin, league
Sakai Hideyuki (W) vs. Cho U (B) Result: W+0.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[32nd Japanese Meijin, league]DT[2007-03-08]
PB[Cho U]PW[Sakai Hideyuki]KM[6.5]RE[W+0.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dc];B[dq];W[pp];B[ce];W[ed];B[ci];W[nc];B[qg];W[jc];B[nq];W[lq];B[co];W[iq]
;B[qn];W[pn];B[pm];W[on];B[qq];W[qo];B[pq];W[qm];B[mq];W[qc];B[qj];W[pd];B[qe];W[mr]
;B[nr];W[rp];B[lp];W[kr];B[kp];W[fq];B[rc];W[pc];B[hq];W[hr];B[hp];W[gq];B[ip];W[jq]
;B[gr];W[fr];B[jp];W[gs];B[ql];W[rm];B[rl];W[om];B[ef];W[dh];B[ch];W[dg];B[ee];W[cg]
;B[fd];W[fc];B[gd];W[gc];B[hd];W[di];B[ck];W[hc];B[jd];W[cj];B[bj];W[dj];B[bg];W[id]
;B[ie];W[ic];B[hf];W[pl];B[cl];W[gj];B[ij];W[dk];B[em];W[fl];B[fm];W[gl];B[il];W[gh]
;B[hi];W[hk];B[ik];W[bf];B[bh];W[cd];B[be];W[cf];B[de];W[bd];B[af];W[gi];B[kd];W[rb]
;B[ad];W[bb];B[eg];W[el];B[eh];W[ei];B[fh];W[fj];B[pk];W[ok];B[oj];W[nk];B[rd];W[nj]
;B[oi];W[dp];B[cp];W[dr];B[kc];W[cq];B[bq];W[eq];B[sb];W[ra];B[ne];W[pe];B[pf];W[oe]
;B[nd];W[mb];B[lb];W[of];B[ma];W[pg];B[qf];W[ob];B[na];W[mf];B[le];W[mh];B[og];W[nf]
;B[lg];W[lf];B[kf];W[ng];B[oh];W[kg];B[kh];W[br];B[jg];W[md];B[me];W[mi];B[jb];W[sl]
;B[sk];W[sm];B[rk];W[ib];B[rq];W[dn];B[bp];W[cm];B[bm];W[bn];B[cn];W[dm];B[bl];W[aq]
;B[mm];W[ap];B[an];W[do];B[bo];W[hm];B[mk];W[pj];B[pi];W[im];B[mj];W[nb];B[jm];W[li]
;B[go];W[ml];B[ll];W[nl];B[gm];W[hl];B[lk];W[ac];B[ms];W[lr];B[no];W[op];B[ni];W[od]
;B[nm];W[ol];B[nn];W[oq];B[or];W[sq];B[sr];W[sp];B[gg];W[gn];B[fn];W[hn];B[fo];W[jn]
;B[kn];W[hh];B[rr];W[jo];B[ko];W[kj];B[kk];W[jj];B[jk];W[ae];B[ho];W[in];B[ad];W[np]
;B[mp];W[ae];B[ar];W[as];B[ad];W[km];B[jl];W[ae];B[qp];W[ro];B[ad];W[ja];B[ka];W[kb]
;B[dd];W[ec];B[jb];W[ia];B[ae];W[ii];B[ih];W[ji];B[lc];W[mc];B[hj];W[ig];B[jh];W[hg]
;B[if];W[oa];B[oo];W[po];B[kq];W[la];B[ma];W[jr];B[ls];W[ks];B[ns];W[ar];B[ao];W[kb]
;B[la];W[ld];B[ke];W[gf];B[fg];W[fe];B[he];W[dl];B[lh];W[jb])

35th Japanese Meijin, league
Cho U (W) vs. Sakai Hideyuki (B). Result: W+3.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[35th Japanese Meijin, league]DT[2010-04-19]
PB[Sakai Hideyuki]PW[Cho U]KM[6.5]RE[W+3.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dp];B[dc];W[po];B[ce];W[pq];B[oc];W[qi];B[fq];W[hq];B[dm];W[fp];B[cq];W[dq]
;B[cp];W[co];B[do];W[cr];B[br];W[dn];B[eo];W[dr];B[ep];W[bo];B[bp];W[ap];B[bq];W[cn]
;B[en];W[bs];B[cm];W[bm];B[eq];W[ar];B[jq];W[ip];B[jp];W[in];B[jo];W[io];B[km];W[il]
;B[fl];W[kl];B[jm];W[hk];B[np];W[ll];B[oq];W[op];B[nq];W[pr];B[qm];W[no];B[mo];W[mp]
;B[mq];W[mn];B[lo];W[qn];B[qp];W[pp];B[rn];W[rl];B[rm];W[qo];B[om];W[nn];B[qk];W[rk]
;B[qj];W[rj];B[oj];W[nl];B[nm];W[ml];B[ol];W[ql];B[pl];W[pi];B[rh];W[rg];B[qg];W[qh]
;B[rf];W[pj];B[pk];W[ri];B[ni];W[nk];B[ok];W[sh];B[ng];W[ln];B[ck];W[id];B[ld];W[fd]
;B[qf];W[df];B[cf];W[dg];B[bh];W[ch];B[bi];W[ec];B[dd];W[kc];B[fe];W[ge];B[ee];W[gf]
;B[lc];W[kd];B[le];W[ms];B[lr];W[hr];B[gl];W[im];B[lp];W[eb];B[fg];W[fj];B[eh];W[kb]
;B[ed];W[gc];B[ro];W[rp];B[da];W[mb];B[lb];W[la];B[nb];W[dj];B[ci];W[bl];B[gn];W[mc]
;B[md];W[nc];B[nd];W[ma];B[ob];W[db];B[cb];W[ea];B[ca];W[sf];B[re];W[on];B[pm];W[gh]
;B[se];W[sg];B[lh];W[ff];B[ef];W[gg];B[di];W[fh];B[eg];W[kg];B[kh];W[jh];B[ji];W[jg]
;B[rq];W[qq];B[sp];W[rr];B[lg];W[pg];B[qp];W[ii];B[jj];W[rp];B[na];W[ka];B[qp];W[cc]
;B[bc];W[rp];B[kf];W[jf];B[qp];W[kn];B[ke];W[je];B[pf];W[lj];B[kj];W[rp];B[ij];W[hj]
;B[qp];W[og];B[of];W[rp];B[hi];W[ih];B[qp];W[bb];B[cd];W[rp];B[fc];W[fb];B[qp];W[ba]
;B[cc];W[rp];B[gd];W[hd];B[qp];W[gp];B[dk];W[rp];B[si];W[sj];B[qp];W[li];B[ki];W[rp]
;B[bk];W[sq];B[ej];W[mi];B[mh];W[nj];B[oi];W[kk];B[ir];W[jn];B[fk];W[fi];B[or];W[os]
;B[ls];W[iq];B[js];W[ak];B[aj];W[al];B[er];W[ns];B[ds];W[aq];B[mm];W[lm];B[jk];W[jl]
;B[hl];W[hm];B[gm];W[fo];B[gj];W[ik];B[gk];W[gi];B[fn];W[cl];B[dl];W[ei];B[ek];W[hs]
;B[ko];W[is];B[jr];W[go];B[hn];W[ho];B[so];W[sm])

55th Japanese NHK Cup, semi-final
Cho U (W) vs. Sakai Hideyuki (B). Result: W+R

(;DT[2008-03-02]EV[55th Japanese NHK Cup, semi-final]
PB[Sakai Hideyuki]PW[Cho U]
KM[6.5]RE[W+R]SO[Go4Go.net]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dq];B[do];W[po];B[qo];W[qn];B[qp];W[co]
;B[dp];W[cp];B[eq];W[cn];B[dn];W[dm];B[cq];W[dr];B[bq];W[cr]
;B[cm];W[cl];B[br];W[er];B[bm];W[bn];B[bl];W[bp];B[fq];W[dl]
;B[ck];W[fr];B[fo];W[dk];B[cj];W[dj];B[ao];W[ap];B[bs];W[ar]
;B[an];W[aq];B[am];W[bk];B[bj];W[gn];B[ak];W[cs];B[ip];W[fn]
;B[pn];W[qm];B[pm];W[pl];B[oo];W[ol];B[nm];W[qf];B[nc];W[qi]
;B[in];W[ho];B[hp];W[io];B[jo];W[jp];B[ir];W[kp];B[jn];W[jr]
;B[gr];W[is];B[jq];W[kq];B[iq];W[ln];B[kr];W[om];B[lo];W[lr]
;B[js];W[ko];B[kn];W[mo];B[lm];W[lp];B[nn];W[on];B[no];W[mq]
;B[np];W[mp];B[nr];W[nq];B[or];W[mn];B[mm];W[mr];B[fc];W[hd]
;B[ge];W[cf];B[dc];W[cc];B[cb];W[ec];B[db];W[ed];B[eb];W[gd]
;B[fd];W[fe];B[gb];W[gf];B[ff];W[he];B[ee];W[fg];B[ge];W[gq]
;B[gp];W[fe];B[bo];W[as];B[ge];W[ep];B[fp];W[fe];B[de];W[ef]
;B[cd];W[qc];B[qd];W[rd];B[pc];W[rc];B[pf];W[qe];B[pe];W[pg]
;B[og];W[oh];B[ng];W[ch];B[jd];W[kl];B[km];W[kf];B[ke];W[ic]
;B[jf];W[jg];B[kg];W[nh];B[mh];W[mi];B[li];W[mj];B[lj];W[mk]
;B[ph];W[qg];B[jh];W[ig];B[lk];W[kh];B[lg];W[if];B[hk];W[je]
;B[nk];W[ni];B[lf];W[ji];B[ci];W[di];B[ij];W[ih];B[kc];W[lh]
;B[mg];W[jj];B[jk];W[kk];B[ml];W[oj];B[jl];W[gs];B[hr];W[rn]
;B[ro];W[kj];B[bh];W[bg];B[fl];W[fk];B[gl];W[em];B[qb];W[jb]
;B[rb];W[ah];B[bi];W[lb];B[kb];W[ka];B[re];W[rf];B[sc];W[se]
;B[mb];W[lc];B[ld];W[jc];B[kd];W[ob];B[pb];W[mc];B[md];W[la]
;B[nb];W[gj];B[pp];W[hj];B[ll];W[be];B[bd];W[nl];B[gk];W[ek]
;B[hn];W[go];B[ma];W[ja];B[hb];W[oq];B[pn];W[ii];B[ik];W[ns]
;B[ps];W[ae];B[jf];W[ie];B[dh];W[cg];B[df];W[dg];B[sn];W[sm]
)

56th Japanese NHK Cup, round 3
Cho U (W) vs. Sakai Hideyuki (B). Result: B+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[56th Japanese NHK Cup, round 3]DT[2009-02-01]
PB[Sakai Hideyuki]PW[Cho U]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dc];B[dp];W[qq];B[ce];W[ed];B[ci];W[oc];B[jc];W[hc];B[mc];W[qh];B[pc];W[pk]
;B[nq];W[jp];B[hq];W[po];B[jr];W[kq];B[kr];W[cq];B[cp];W[dq];B[eq];W[er];B[fr];W[bp]
;B[bo];W[co];B[do];W[di];B[ch];W[bq];B[fp];W[cn];B[bn];W[cm];B[bm];W[cl];B[bl];W[cj]
;B[ck];W[dk];B[bk];W[dr];B[qf];W[gp];B[go];W[en];B[bj];W[fo];B[hp];W[gn];B[gq];W[in]
;B[og];W[pb];B[qb];W[kd];B[kc];W[md];B[hd];W[lc];B[lb];W[ld];B[mb];W[gd];B[nd];W[pd]
;B[qc];W[ne];B[od];W[jd];B[ic];W[id];B[he];W[ib];B[gc];W[hb];B[jb];W[ja];B[kb];W[ge]
;B[hf];W[fc];B[dj];W[ng];B[oe];W[oh];B[nf];W[mf];B[me];W[lf];B[hi];W[mh];B[no];W[dn]
;B[fm];W[gm];B[fn];W[eo];B[fl];W[gl];B[fk];W[ep];B[kn];W[jo];B[lq];W[ho];B[qm];W[pm]
;B[pn];W[on];B[qn];W[oo];B[pl];W[om];B[ol];W[qk];B[ql];W[qo];B[ml];W[lp];B[mp];W[lr]
;B[mq];W[mj];B[ok];W[pg];B[kl];W[lm];B[mm];W[ln];B[mn];W[lo];B[pr];W[or];B[oq];W[pq]
;B[ll];W[jq];B[iq];W[gf];B[qr];W[rr];B[nr];W[qs];B[os];W[rp];B[hg];W[bd];B[be];W[cd]
;B[km];W[gp];B[gb];W[fb];B[go];W[hj];B[gj];W[gp];B[ia];W[ga];B[go];W[ii];B[gi];W[gp]
;B[fq];W[ih];B[gg];W[de];B[oj];W[of];B[ko];W[eg];B[hk];W[ij];B[gk];W[ik];B[il];W[go]
;B[cf];W[rg];B[rj];W[re];B[ad];W[ac];B[ae];W[bc];B[rf];W[sf];B[pf];W[pi];B[pj];W[rn]
;B[kp];W[rm];B[jf];W[jg];B[kj];W[ne];B[jn];W[io];B[li];W[mi];B[kg])