The Moon Still Rises

Yes people, perhaps you can predict it from the title. Moon Dowon (2 dan) won again. Her sixth victory in a row. Today, she beat Song Ronghui (5 dan) of China.


Song Ronghui (left) vs. Moon Dowon (right). It seems that Song decided to grow her hair.

Moon who played black opened the game with Low Chinese fuseki. Song's answer is quite unusual for this fuseki, since usually white approaches the black stone at O3. Song started the fight with an invasion at L3. The sequence up to move 26 looks natural, but I personally like blaack's position better, because her lower right corner looks hard to enter, she can play D2 or D3 anytime to help her group at H4, and white's position at the upper board is still wide open.


Other players at the analysis room

I found black's combination from move 57-67 interesting. Moon Dowon put some weaknesses at white's shape at the upper board and exploits it well. Move 75 is quite intriguing. It seems that white can't cut the stones directly because of the weakness of L17 group and O17 group. If white tried to play L14, black will answer at M14, W M13, B N13, W M12, B O16 and her group is safe due to a damezumari. If white played M14, black will play L15, W K15, black connects with L14 and the battle will be difficult.

Another interesting combination starts at move 111 when black tried to save the corner. Move 122 is a difficult choice for white. I was thinking about the possibility of connecting at O14, but then there are possibilities where both white's groups at P10 and O15 are doomed. White went for S17 and a ko fight started. Black played the ko very well and the outcome reminds me of the latest game from 54th Kuksu title match. After the ko fight, the outcome is pretty much decided and Moon dowon finished it without a problem.


Thumbs up Ms. Moon Dowon. You steal the spotlight this year.

Moon will play the last game of the 1st stage tomorrow against one of Japanese member. I don't know who it will be, but I think it will be Yoshida Mika.

Here is the game record:
Moon Dowon (black) vs. Song Ronghui (white). Result: B+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[9th Jeongganjang Cup, game 6]DT[2011-01-13]
PB[Moon Dowon]BR[2p]PW[Song Ronghui]WR[5p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[qk];W[nc];B[pf];W[pb];B[qc];W[kc];B[fq];W[cn];B[ip];W[kq]
;B[mq];W[ko];B[jq];W[kr];B[in];W[km];B[mo];W[jl];B[hl];W[ij];B[ml];W[gk];B[cf];W[ce]
;B[df];W[fd];B[cj];W[hq];B[hp];W[jr];B[gq];W[ch];B[dh];W[bh];B[cg];W[di];B[ci];W[eh]
;B[dg];W[cl];B[ei];W[dj];B[dk];W[ej];B[ck];W[bl];B[bg];W[fi];B[be];W[bd];B[cc];W[cd]
;B[ld];W[ne];B[lc];W[lb];B[mb];W[kb];B[nb];W[oc];B[mc];W[mf];B[gd];W[ge];B[hd];W[kd]
;B[fc];W[ed];B[le];W[jf];B[kg];W[mg];B[ke];W[je];B[lg];W[mh];B[jg];W[ig];B[ih];W[li]
;B[ic];W[jd];B[if];W[ie];B[hg];W[he];B[fg];W[ec];B[ff];W[ph];B[pj];W[qg];B[qf];W[oi]
;B[fb];W[hb];B[kk];W[rb];B[jk];W[mn];B[nn];W[no];B[ln];W[mp];B[mm];W[nq];B[qb];W[qa]
;B[nd];W[od];B[pc];W[ob];B[oe];W[of];B[pe];W[md];B[og];W[rc];B[pg];W[qh];B[ra];W[sa]
;B[me];W[nf];B[nd];W[rd];B[rf];W[md];B[oh];W[pi];B[ni];W[nh];B[nj];W[rg];B[sh];W[oj]
;B[ok];W[qj];B[pk];W[sg];B[sf];W[ri];B[rj];W[rk];B[qi];W[kf];B[lf];W[qj];B[sj];W[sk]
;B[qi];W[ma];B[oa];W[qj];B[nd];W[si];B[pa];W[np];B[ek];W[gl];B[em];W[hm];B[ik];W[go]
;B[im];W[fn];B[gm];W[fm];B[hn];W[fl];B[dm];W[eo];B[cq];W[er];B[cr];W[eq];B[bo];W[bn]
;B[co];W[dn];B[cp];W[hr];B[gp];W[gr];B[qo];W[fe];B[rj];W[sj];B[gj];W[hj];B[gi];W[hk]
;B[ji];W[il];B[kl];W[jm];B[kn];W[hm];B[jn];W[hl];B[jj])