Hane Naoki's Honinbo Hunt

It was a sad 29 June 2010 for Hane Naoki. It was the day when he lost his Honinbo title to Yamashita Keigo. The meeting result between the two was less favorable for Hane (24-12 in Yamashita's favor) and he failed to break the jinx down and lost his only title.

This time, Hane Naoki is back for a revenge. He won the last game against O Rissei (9 dan) with a slim 0.5 point margin to win the challenger's seat. He will play Yamashita Keigo Honinbo on May 11-12 and will continue in a best-of-7 series.


Hane Naoki (left) vs. O Rissei (right)

Here is the game Hane played earlier at the league:
Hane Naoki (black) vs. Seto Taiki (white). Result: B+R

(;DT[2011-03-03]EV[66th Japanese Honinbo, league]
PB[Hane Naoki]PW[Seto Taiki]
KM[6.5]RE[B+R]SO[Go4Go.net]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dq];B[do];W[oc];B[cq];W[qo];B[ld];W[me]
;B[od];W[nd];B[oe];W[pc];B[qc];W[le];B[jd];W[lc];B[qk];W[qg]
;B[qf];W[rf];B[re];W[pf];B[qe];W[ok];B[op];W[ql];B[fc];W[cf]
;B[pl];W[pk];B[qm];W[rl];B[rm];W[rk];B[qj];W[rj];B[ol];W[nl]
;B[pn];W[qi];B[nk];W[ml];B[nn];W[dl];B[dp];W[eq];B[cr];W[ip]
;B[gq];W[go];B[cj];W[ek];B[dg];W[cg];B[ej];W[fj];B[ei];W[fk]
;B[gh];W[fd];B[gd];W[fe];B[ec];W[dc];B[ge];W[fg];B[fh];W[gf]
;B[hf];W[hg];B[gg];W[ff];B[ie];W[ig];B[hi];W[hb];B[mc];W[lb]
;B[ib];W[kd];B[ic];W[ik];B[ij];W[jk];B[jj];W[kk];B[ke];W[md]
;B[kg];W[qq];B[pr];W[mp];B[mo];W[lp];B[lo];W[kp];B[fo];W[rn]
;B[sm];W[rp];B[rr];W[pp];B[po];W[qr];B[qs];W[oq];B[qp];W[if]
;B[he];W[pp];B[nq];W[kf];B[or];W[je];B[ch];W[bh];B[bi];W[dh]
;B[ci];W[eg];B[bl];W[db];B[eb];W[fn];B[fp];W[bm];B[cl];W[id]
;B[gb];W[jc];B[hc];W[cm];B[bg];W[bf];B[ah];W[gn];B[af];W[bd]
;B[ir];W[ko];B[lm];W[kn];B[hk];W[hl];B[nj];W[oi];B[ll];W[mk]
;B[lk];W[mj];B[kj];W[lj];B[ni];W[nh];B[mi];W[li];B[mh];W[lh]
;B[ng];W[mg];B[oh];W[oj];B[nh];W[ph];B[of];W[jh];B[lg];W[mf]
;B[jm];W[km];B[kl];W[il];B[jl];W[in];B[dk];W[dm];B[ad];W[be]
;B[ae];W[ac];B[ag];W[hh];B[gi];W[qb];B[rb];W[ra];B[pb];W[pa]
;B[qa];W[bk];B[ak];W[qb];B[ob];W[nb];B[qa];W[aj];B[al];W[qb]
;B[nm];W[kh];B[qa];W[eh];B[fi];W[qb];B[rg];W[rh];B[qa];W[am]
;B[ck];W[qb];B[sf];W[rc];B[qa];W[ai];B[bj];W[qb];B[pg];W[sb]
;B[qh];W[ai];B[aj];W[qg];B[og];W[rs];B[ss];W[mr];B[qh];W[sh]
;B[pi];W[pj];B[kr];W[np];B[no];W[rq];B[mq];W[sq];B[so];W[lr]
;B[ps];W[nr];B[qn];W[bp];B[bo];W[ao];B[cp];W[bb];B[gk];W[gl]
;B[en];W[em];B[bq])