Xie Yimin Defended Female Meijin

It seems that Xie Yimin is staying on her throne. After a defeat in game 1, Xie fought back to win game 2 and 3 at the 23rd Female Meijin and defended her title from challenger, Mukai Chiaki.


Mukai Chiaki (left) vs. Xie Yimin (right)

Game 2 was played on March 23. The game was continued after the break caused by the earthquake and tsunami that attacked Japan on March 11. The game was fierce, but Xie handled the fight well and won the game by resignation.


Mukai Chiaki

Here is the game record:
Xie Yimin (black) vs. Mukai Chiaki (white). Result: B+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[23rd Japanese Female Meijin, title match #2]
DT[2011-03-11]PB[Xie Yimin]BR[5p]PW[Mukai Chiaki]WR[4p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq];W[oc];B[md];W[qh];B[od];W[qk];B[nc];W[qo];B[dp];W[mp];B[op];W[fq]
;B[ip];W[fo];B[dn];W[in];B[kp];W[mo];B[on];W[fm];B[kn];W[mm];B[kl];W[pn];B[po];W[qp]
;B[pm];W[qn];B[nm];W[ll];B[qm];W[qq];B[or];W[qr];B[nl];W[lk];B[km];W[nq];B[oq];W[lm]
;B[nj];W[kk];B[il];W[ok];B[nk];W[jk];B[im];W[nh];B[pj];W[qe];B[pe];W[qf];B[rd];W[qj]
;B[ph];W[ol];B[pi];W[ql];B[qi];W[om];B[nn];W[lo];B[ko];W[hj];B[gl];W[fj];B[gk];W[gj]
;B[el];W[dr];B[gp];W[fp];B[ek];W[di];B[li];W[ri];B[rh];W[sh];B[ji];W[jj];B[ii];W[hk]
;B[qg];W[rg];B[gh];W[ej];B[fc];W[gf];B[fe];W[fg];B[de];W[ec];B[ed];W[dc];B[fb];W[ce]
;B[df];W[gd];B[fd];W[hg];B[cf];W[be];B[bf];W[bc];B[hh];W[fh];B[cj];W[ci];B[id];W[if]
;B[kf];W[je];B[kc];W[le];B[ke];W[jd];B[kd];W[ib];B[fa];W[cl];B[ck];W[dk];B[dl];W[bi]
;B[cb];W[bb];B[jc];W[cm];B[cn];W[bn];B[bo];W[hd];B[ic];W[bl];B[dm];W[hq];B[iq];W[bp]
;B[cp];W[ao];B[cr];W[co];B[do];W[dq];B[cq];W[hp];B[ho];W[gq];B[hn];W[kh];B[ki];W[oj]
;B[oi];W[pf];B[of];W[pg];B[qh];W[ni];B[rf];W[lh];B[jg];W[mj];B[mi];W[mh];B[jh])

Game 3 was played on March 25. This time, Xie played black again and Mukai had white. Xie played a new move at black 9 and black threw her corner to get a huge thickness. I personally like the result for black. I wonder if C6 is better for white (instead of hane). Xie stacked up a huge moyo using her thickness and didn't really have any trouble during the game. She won the game after 163 moves.


Xie Yimin. I personally don't like the dress. It makes her look old.

Here is the game record:
Xie Yimin (black) vs. Mukai Chiaki (white). Result: B+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[23rd Japanese Female Meijin, title match #3]
DT[2011-03-25]PB[Xie Yimin]BR[5p]PW[Mukai Chiaki]WR[4p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[qp];B[dc];W[cp];B[ep];W[gq];B[cq];W[cm];B[dm];W[dl];B[cn];W[dn];B[em];W[bn]
;B[cl];W[co];B[bm];W[cn];B[dk];W[fo];B[el];W[dq];B[ce];W[kc];B[ic];W[oc];B[mc];W[oe]
;B[qg];W[qc];B[rc];W[pd];B[qe];W[qb];B[me];W[og];B[jd];W[pj];B[ih];W[hl];B[hj];W[np]
;B[lq];W[nq];B[dr];W[bq];B[hq];W[gp];B[io];W[gm];B[ir];W[jq];B[iq];W[cf];B[be];W[fk]
;B[fj];W[ej];B[ek];W[ei];B[ci];W[gj];B[fi];W[gi];B[fh];W[gh];B[gk];W[fl];B[gg];W[fg]
;B[eh];W[hg];B[gf];W[hh];B[hf];W[ig];B[if];W[jg];B[lo];W[rh];B[rg];W[jn];B[jo];W[qi]
;B[rb];W[mn];B[mo];W[nn];B[rp];W[qq];B[km];W[kn];B[ln];W[lm];B[kl];W[in];B[hk];W[il]
;B[mm];W[ll];B[kk];W[lh];B[no];W[on];B[oo];W[pn];B[li];W[ml];B[mh];W[kh];B[mg];W[jj]
;B[mk];W[mb];B[nl];W[nm];B[lk];W[mm];B[kd];W[mr];B[lr];W[gr];B[hp];W[ni];B[mi];W[lc]
;B[hn];W[im];B[rq];W[ko];B[kp];W[rr];B[go];W[gn];B[ho];W[gl];B[fp];W[eq];B[qo];W[po]
;B[qn];W[pp];B[sr];W[qr];B[rk];W[rl];B[ql];W[jp];B[jr];W[rm];B[qm];W[rn];B[ro];W[rj]
;B[qk];W[sk];B[ok];W[ol];B[pk];W[nk];B[oj];W[nj];B[ph])

With this victory, Xie put herself in a tie with Sugiuchi Kazuko (8 dan) for a 4 times consecutive Female Meijin title.