Here Comes the New Gosei

When Cho won the third game, everyone though Cho will defend his title for another year, however Sakai put the tense up when he won the fourth game by 3.5 points thus dragged this year Gosei to its fifth game.

Today, the two meet again for the last and final game to determine who will become the 35th Gosei. The day started by Cho doing the nigiri to decide who will play which color. Sakai guessed it was odd, but then it was revealed Cho's nigiri was even number. Game started with Cho playing the first move.


Here come the king...


And his challenger


Nigiri result

The joseki started at move 11 was similiar with the third game of the 35th Japanese Tengen title match. Cho was playing white at that time. Sakai varied at move 16. He played keima at F6 where Cho played a two spaces extension to (in this case) K3. Cho lost the game back then.



Sakai successfully captured the left side, while Cho managed to get 3 corners. The game ended at move 281. Sakai was far behind in territory, bt he captured enough stones to win the game with komi's help. Sakai won the game by 2.5 points.

With his victory, Sakai Hideyuki was crowned as the new Gosei. Stealing the title from Cho U with 3-2 score. This is Sakai's first shot at the top 7 title and amazingly he didn't goof up during the series (I would be very nervous and goof up if it was my first shot).

Also, Cho lost his chance to win his first honorary title. He was Gosei title holder for 4 consecutive years. Winning the title this year will make him the Honorary Gosei. Too bad. Perhaps this is a karma because Cho prevented Yamashita from becoming Honorary Kisei early this year.


Sakai Hideyuki

Here is the game record:
Sakai Hideyuki (white) vs. Cho U (black). Result: W+2.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[35th Japanese Gosei, title match game #5 ]
DT[2010-08-27]PB[Cho U]BR[9p]PW[Sakai Hideyuki]WR[7p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+2.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dq];B[oq];W[qj];B[do];W[cm];B[cq];W[gq];B[fp];W[er];B[cn];W[dm]
;B[cr];W[fn];B[cf];W[dh];B[cc];W[cd];B[dc];W[ed];B[bd];W[be];B[bc];W[ce];B[fc];W[ge]
;B[qh];W[qm];B[pl];W[qo];B[po];W[pn];B[pp];W[on];B[ql];W[ol];B[pj];W[pi];B[ok];W[qk]
;B[qi];W[pk];B[oj];W[rl];B[oh];W[qc];B[pc];W[qd];B[qb];W[rb];B[pb];W[qf];B[pe];W[rg]
;B[ra];W[sb];B[fd];W[fe];B[hd];W[pf];B[of];W[jc];B[ic];W[jd];B[he];W[mc];B[qe];W[re]
;B[pg];W[gb];B[ec];W[ib];B[hb];W[ha];B[hc];W[kb];B[rd];W[rc];B[sd];W[rh];B[ri];W[sh]
;B[rf];W[sf];B[qg];W[se];B[rf];W[qf];B[ld];W[lc];B[bf];W[af];B[ag];W[ae];B[ch];W[dg]
;B[df];W[ef];B[ci];W[di];B[bk];W[bn];B[bo];W[dn];B[co];W[cg];B[bm];W[bl];B[an];W[ck]
;B[al];W[cl];B[jq];W[bj];B[gp];W[hq];B[io];W[jr];B[kr];W[ir];B[kq];W[dr];B[ro];W[nl]
;B[mk];W[np];B[mn];W[nn];B[nq];W[ml];B[lk];W[jf];B[fb];W[lf];B[ak];W[cj];B[rn];W[mo]
;B[kh];W[gk];B[lg];W[mf];B[jg];W[ik];B[gm];W[ko];B[im];W[hi];B[ds];W[fq];B[fm];W[eo]
;B[ep];W[gr];B[km];W[ll];B[kl];W[kk];B[kj];W[jk];B[es];W[fs];B[cs];W[hp];B[dp];W[gn]
;B[ho];W[eq];B[hm];W[li];B[ki];W[mg];B[kf];W[ke];B[if];W[kg];B[pf];W[rf];B[kf];W[ip]
;B[jp];W[kg];B[hs];W[hr];B[kf];W[jo];B[go];W[kg];B[si];W[sc];B[kf];W[mq];B[mr];W[kg]
;B[gs];W[is];B[kf];W[lq];B[lr];W[kg];B[gs];W[hs];B[kf];W[je];B[hh];W[gh];B[gg];W[fh]
;B[fk];W[fj];B[nb];W[ne];B[ln];W[lo];B[ek];W[aj];B[am];W[ej];B[mb];W[nc];B[em];W[en]
;B[fg];W[eg];B[ii];W[ij];B[hg];W[lb];B[il];W[hk];B[oc];W[qn];B[rm];W[pm];B[sk];W[sl]
;B[rk];W[rj];B[sj];W[ql];B[sm];W[ji];B[ih];W[jj];B[fa];W[ga];B[kg];W[lj];B[mj];W[mi]
;B[oi];W[nk];B[nj];W[lh];B[dk];W[dj];B[mm];W[kp];B[oo];W[no];B[nm];W[om];B[ks];W[jh]
;B[ig];W[ma];B[na];W[la];B[ad];W[ee];B[ng];W[nd];B[op];W[hn];B[in];W[jl];B[jm];W[gj]
;B[hf])