Sakai Hideyuki Pulled to Game 5

After almost one month break since the third game of 35th Gosei title match, Cho U Gosei once again sit in front of the goban to face his challenger, Sakai Hideyuki.


Sakai Hideyuki (left) vs. Cho U (right)

Sakai who played white in this fourth game opened the game by a rare Niken Takagakari (2 spaces high approach). Cho U's answer was new! Instead of the usual Q3 or P3, he played P5. Sakai denied to answer and pinch Cho's approaching stone at the bottom left corner instead. Cho decided to play for influence by playing move 9-19 combination.

The game was close. Sakai once again showed his endgame skill and won the game by 3.5 points.

I'm impressed by Sakai. He can stand Japan's number 1 player so well. Seems that Iyama Yuta is not the only threat for Cho's dominance at Japanese go world.

The last game will be played August 27 at Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Here is the game record:
Sakai Hideyuki (white) vs. Cho U (black). Result: W+3.5.

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[35th Gosei title match, game #4]DT[2010-08-19]
PB[Cho U]BR[9p]PW[Sakai Hideyuki]WR[7p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+3.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dq];B[co];W[np];B[oo];W[cl];B[hp];W[cp];B[ep];W[eq];B[fp];W[bo]
;B[dp];W[cq];B[cn];W[bn];B[no];W[lp];B[nq];W[qi];B[mp];W[qf];B[qe];W[pf];B[nc];W[ql]
;B[pj];W[qj];B[rf];W[rg];B[fc];W[df];B[db];W[cc];B[hd];W[jc];B[ic];W[jd];B[cb];W[qc]
;B[pc];W[re];B[rd];W[sf];B[rc];W[if];B[ch];W[cj];B[eh];W[ff];B[gh];W[fi];B[eg];W[fd]
;B[gd];W[gg];B[fh];W[ih];B[ce];W[cf];B[ef];W[de];B[ee];W[ed];B[fe];W[bb];B[dk];W[dl]
;B[ck];W[bk];B[dj];W[ib];B[hb];W[id];B[hc];W[iq];B[hq];W[lq];B[ip];W[jq];B[ba];W[ab]
;B[bf];W[be];B[bg];W[bd];B[bj];W[nr];B[or];W[mr];B[qm];W[rm];B[qn];W[bl];B[pl];W[pk]
;B[rl];W[qk];B[ko];W[pr];B[oq];W[os];B[qr];W[pq];B[qq];W[lo];B[km];W[jo];B[jp];W[kn]
;B[jn];W[kp];B[in];W[lm];B[kl];W[ll];B[kk];W[lk];B[ki];W[kj];B[jj];W[lj];B[ji];W[mc]
;B[mb];W[lc];B[nd];W[lb];B[nb];W[kg];B[mn];W[li];B[kr];W[jr];B[ln];W[ks];B[ol];W[rn]
;B[ro];W[ok];B[nf];W[jb];B[el];W[em];B[fm];W[eb];B[ec];W[fb];B[dc];W[gb];B[ga];W[fa]
;B[gc];W[ha];B[hf];W[hg];B[gf];W[hi];B[jf];W[kf];B[ie];W[ig];B[je];W[ke];B[hj];W[ci]
;B[fl];W[bi];B[ii];W[ng];B[mg];W[mf];B[me];W[lf];B[gr];W[mq];B[op];W[fr];B[fq];W[er]
;B[kh];W[jg];B[nh];W[he];B[fg];W[og];B[lh];W[rk];B[dm];W[cm];B[en];W[mi];B[mh];W[nl]
;B[pp];W[pe];B[qd];W[di];B[ei];W[hh];B[gi];W[nm];B[ps];W[ko];B[ni];W[bh];B[cg];W[mo]
;B[nn];W[pm];B[pn];W[om];B[nj];W[oj];B[oi];W[pi];B[oh];W[ph];B[ge];W[oe];B[ne];W[ie]
;B[ir];W[lr];B[ns];W[ms];B[io];W[od];B[oc];W[ma];B[na];W[la];B[sd];W[of];B[ld];W[kd]
;B[se];W[rf];B[sn];W[sl];B[so];W[sm];B[ae];W[ad];B[ah];W[ai];B[is];W[gs];B[mm];W[ml]
;B[js];W[kq];B[hr];W[os];B[ag];W[ns];B[np];W[af];B[ia];W[ja];B[ae];W[nk];B[mj];W[af]
;B[fs];W[es];B[ae];W[le];B[md];W[af];B[hs];W[fs];B[ae];W[rb];B[qb];W[af];B[ca];W[ia]
;B[ae];W[pb];B[qa];W[af];B[jk];W[ae])