Xie Yimin Leads Female Kisei

The female competition seems to be busy. After the victorius Choi Jung at the Female Myeongin, now we move to Japan and pay attention at the 15th Female Kisei where Xie Yimin Female Kisei will play her challenger, Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan), in a best-of-3 title series.

Xie Yimin Female Kisei Female Honinbo Female Meijin

The first game was played on January 26. Xie Yimin played white while Aoki Kikuyo played black. Aoki Kikuyo opened the game with Low Chinese Fuseki. The game then proceed with a big influence at the bottom part for Aoki and a big territory potential at the upper and botom left corner for Xie.

Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan)

Xie approached the upper right corner and Aoki eagerly attacked the stone. However, Xie  played it well and utilized black's weakness at the upper right to contro the center. Aoki Kikuyo trie to save her stones in the center, but they were successfully killed by Xie. The next game will be played on February 9.

Here is the game record:
Xie Yimin (white) vs. Aoki Kikuyo (black). Result: W+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]GN[Rated game]DT[20120127 [19\:34\]]PB[k.Aoki      8DP]
PW[HsiehYiMin  5DP]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[White wins by resign!]US[www.cyberoro.com]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[pq];W[dc];B[qk];W[nc];B[pf];W[jd];B[cf];W[cd];B[dj];W[cl];B[ef];W[gd]
;B[fq];W[dq];B[jp];W[el];B[po];W[dh];B[ed];W[de];B[df];W[ee];B[ch];W[ci];B[di];W[bh]
;B[eh];W[cg];B[fe];W[fd];B[ce];W[dd];B[dk];W[ck];B[dl];W[dm];B[em];W[fl];B[fi];W[fo]
;B[hp];W[qq];B[or];W[hi];B[hg];W[gk];B[he];W[ge];B[gf];W[if];B[ig];W[ff];B[fg];W[jf]
;B[hf];W[jg];B[hj];W[kn];B[gj];W[kp];B[ko];W[lo];B[jo];W[ln];B[lp];W[mp];B[kq];W[pn]
;B[qo];W[on];B[qn];W[lq];B[lr];W[kp];B[cj];W[bj];B[lp];W[qh];B[oh];W[qe];B[pe];W[qd]
;B[qf];W[rf];B[qc];W[rc];B[oc];W[re];B[hd];W[hc];B[ic];W[id];B[rb];W[sb];B[pb];W[mc]
;B[ri];W[rh];B[lc];W[ld];B[lb];W[mb];B[md];W[nd];B[kd];W[me];B[jc];W[hb];B[ke];W[lg]
;B[kg];W[kf];B[lf];W[mf];B[ie];W[le];B[je];W[og];B[nb];W[na];B[oa];W[ob];B[ph];W[pg]
;B[nb];W[ma];B[qa];W[qi];B[ob];W[pk];B[pl];W[ok];B[ol];W[nl];B[nk];W[ql];B[qm];W[rl]
;B[ml];W[nm];B[pm];W[mk];B[nj];W[pj];B[li];W[mj];B[ni];W[kj];B[ng];W[nf];B[lh];W[kh]
;B[lj];W[kk];B[lk];W[ll];B[mi];W[kl])

Choi Jung, the New Female Myeongin

The 13th Female Myeongin finally crowned. After the end of the second game, Choi Jung was crowned as the new Female Myeongin replacing Rui Naiwei. Choi won 2-0 from Kim Miri to claim the title.

Choi Jung (left) vs. Kim Miri (right)

Choi won the game after a difficult fight in the center. After she carefully took care of her weak group, Choi played the endgame well and won by 5.5 points. Choi became one of the youngest title holder at the age of 15 years and 3 months.

Choi Jung during her post victory interview

Here is the game record:
Choi Jung (white) vs. Kim Miri (black). Result: W+5.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[13th Female Myeongin, final 2]DT[2012-01-26]
PB[Kim Miri]BR[2p]PW[Choi Jung]WR[1p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+5.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dq];B[qo];W[jq];B[cn];W[cp];B[dj];W[ch];B[en];W[gp];B[fc];W[dc]
;B[eh];W[cf];B[jd];W[qf];B[re];W[lc];B[nc];W[le];B[kf];W[lf];B[kg];W[lg];B[kh];W[pi]
;B[rf];W[hd];B[fe];W[hf];B[de];W[ce];B[kd];W[nd];B[oc];W[hc];B[ld];W[ei];B[di];W[fg]
;B[ge];W[he];B[eg];W[ef];B[gg];W[fh];B[gf];W[ej];B[dk];W[ih];B[gh];W[dh];B[fb];W[ig]
;B[hi];W[ii];B[ij];W[jj];B[ik];W[ki];B[lh];W[ek];B[dl];W[kl];B[im];W[fm];B[jn];W[hl]
;B[gk];W[em];B[dm];W[gi];B[fi];W[fj];B[gj];W[dg];B[fi];W[md];B[mc];W[gi];B[db];W[cb]
;B[fi];W[il];B[jk];W[jl];B[kk];W[li];B[kj];W[ji];B[gl];W[gm];B[ll];W[lm];B[mh];W[gi]
;B[hh];W[mm];B[mk];W[nj];B[nk];W[nh];B[ok];W[lj];B[lk];W[ni];B[qk];W[mg];B[ke];W[of]
;B[ko];W[bj];B[bk];W[cj];B[el];W[fl];B[ep];W[do];B[dn];W[eo];B[fn];W[hm];B[hn];W[fk]
;B[bo];W[fo];B[gn];W[jb];B[kb];W[lq];B[iq];W[hq];B[ip];W[ir];B[bq];W[bp];B[ap];W[ib]
;B[kc];W[cr];B[nq];W[ck];B[br];W[bs];B[kr];W[jp];B[hp];W[hr];B[go];W[fp];B[lp];W[kq]
;B[mq];W[io];B[in];W[kn];B[jo];W[om];B[lr];W[ho];B[qg];W[pg];B[qh];W[qi];B[pl];W[bm]
;B[ci];W[bi];B[ph];W[oh];B[oj];W[ri];B[qe];W[pf];B[rh];W[sh];B[rg];W[oi];B[ca];W[ba]
;B[ne];W[nf];B[me];W[rk];B[rl];W[sk];B[ea];W[da];B[qj];W[rj];B[ca];W[bb];B[bn];W[cl]
;B[gb];W[si];B[nn];W[nm];B[hb];W[ic];B[pm];W[on];B[sl];W[pj];B[pk];W[op];B[pp];W[mo]
;B[mp];W[pn];B[qn];W[lo];B[kp];W[jr];B[no];W[oo];B[mn];W[ln];B[np];W[oq];B[or];W[ec]
;B[ee];W[eb];B[fa];W[da];B[mr];W[fi];B[am];W[al];B[cm];W[bl];B[ha];W[sg];B[js];W[is]
;B[ks];W[sf];B[se];W[mf];B[od];W[cq];B[ao];W[hk];B[hj];W[ka];B[la];W[ja];B[an];W[cs])

Xie Yimin Advanced To NHK Cup's Quarterfinal

Xie Yimin the Female Triple Crowns (Female Honinbo, Female Meijin, Female Kisei) made an impressive victory at the 59th NHK Cup. She won the 3rd round against last year's NHK Winner, Yamada Kimio (9 dan) in a quick 109 moves.

Xie Yimin

Xie opened the game with a Mini-Chinese Fuseki and Yamada decided to enter Xie's influence sphere with white 20. A fight started with Xie kept on attacking white's invading stones and soon Yamada Kimio found himself in trouble. In the end, Xie killed the stones and won by resignation.

Yamada Kimio

Xie will face another tough opponent as she will play Hane Naoki Gosei at the next round.

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

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[59th NHK Cup, round 3]DT[22-01-2012]
PB[Xie Yimin]BR[5p]PW[Yamada Kimio]WR[9p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pp];W[dq];B[do];W[co];B[cn];W[cp];B[fc];W[cf];B[kc];W[qj];B[qi];W[pi]
;B[qh];W[pj];B[ph];W[qn];B[nq];W[od];B[pc];W[le];B[nh];W[jd];B[kd];W[ke];B[je];W[id]
;B[jf];W[mc];B[ib];W[he];B[hc];W[lg];B[jh];W[li];B[fe];W[hg];B[ii];W[hi];B[hj];W[gi]
;B[ij];W[fk];B[dg];W[df];B[eg];W[ef];B[ff];W[fg];B[dj];W[cg];B[ei];W[gj];B[dm];W[ci]
;B[gg];W[fh];B[gf];W[cj];B[mj];W[qe];B[re];W[pe];B[oc];W[rf];B[rd];W[oh];B[og];W[oi]
;B[pf];W[ng];B[nf];W[mg];B[ne];W[kb];B[jc];W[nd];B[qf];W[me];B[ni];W[lj];B[ml];W[hh]
;B[hf];W[lk];B[mk];W[rp];B[ql];W[pl];B[pk];W[qk];B[pm];W[rl];B[ol];W[qm];B[km];W[jl]
;B[hl];W[kl];B[jm];W[jj];B[il];W[fp];B[kf];W[kh];B[mh];W[lc];B[ld])

A New Female Master Will Rise

After a long years of reign, Rui Naiwei the 10 times Female Myeongin winner finally dethroned this year after she moved from Korea back to China. This mean that a new Female Myeongin will emerge this year. Rui has dominated the title and only Park Jieun and Cho Hyeyeon ever won the title once in the 12 years of the tournament's history.

The 13th series will mark not only a new winner, but also a new generation of Korean female player as 2 youngsters won all the way to the final and face each other to determine who the next master will be. The 15 years old Choi Jung won the winner's block after she beat Cho Hyeyeon in an excellent start, Kim Soojin, and Park Jieun at the final. An amazing achievement for beating 2 of Korean strongest female. Meanwhile, at the loser's block, the 20 years old Kim Miri made her way to the final after she beat Kim Eunsun, Kim Soojin, Cho Hyeyeon, and Park Jieun. A rebound of her first round lost to Park Jiyeon.

Kim Miri (left) vs. Choi Jung (right)

The game was played at January 19 with Choi Jung played black and Kim Miri played white. Choi played a Low Chinese Fuseki at the right side and after Kim invaded the upper right corner, Choi went for thickness at the right side.

Choi Jung. Young and dangerous.

A fight started at the bottom right when Kim Miri attacked Choi's corner. The attack wasn't success as Choi handled it well and killed the invader. The failure made Kim changed her attack to the left side. Choi started a ko fight to save all of her groups and successfully won the ko after 167 moves.

Kim Miri who turned pro in 2008 and had a blast since the start.

The second game will be played at January 26. Will Choi reign as the new Female Myeongin, or will Kim save her chance? We will see.

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[13th Korean Female Myeongin, final 1]
DT[2012-01-19]PB[Choi Jeong]BR[1p]PW[Kim Miri]WR[2p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[pq];W[dd];B[qk];W[fq];B[jd];W[fc];B[lp];W[qc];B[qd];W[pc];B[oc];W[ob]
;B[nc];W[nb];B[mc];W[rd];B[re];W[rc];B[qf];W[jp];B[kn];W[lk];B[nk];W[lm];B[jo];W[ip]
;B[nm];W[mn];B[np];W[qq];B[qp];W[pp];B[po];W[jl];B[cj];W[cl];B[cg];W[ce];B[cc];W[dc]
;B[cn];W[co];B[dn];W[dk];B[fo];W[fp];B[hn];W[hl];B[dj];W[ej];B[ei];W[fj];B[fi];W[gj]
;B[kp];W[dh];B[be];W[bf];B[bg];W[cf];B[dg];W[eh];B[di];W[ch];B[bh];W[eg];B[gi];W[hi]
;B[ef];W[fg];B[gg];W[ff];B[hh];W[ii];B[df];W[fe];B[jg];W[rp];B[op];W[qo];B[qr];W[pp]
;B[rq];W[qp];B[rr];W[ql];B[pl];W[qm];B[rk];W[oo];B[pn];W[pm];B[on];W[ol];B[nl];W[pk]
;B[rl];W[qn];B[qi];W[oq];B[pr];W[ni];B[oj];W[ig];B[ih];W[jh];B[kh];W[ji];B[if];W[kg]
;B[jf];W[kr];B[lr];W[lh];B[oi];W[mq];B[mp];W[ho];B[io];W[gn];B[bl];W[bk];B[ck];W[bj]
;B[dl];W[bi];B[ci];W[bm];B[cm];W[al];B[cl];W[ah];B[ag];W[bn];B[ak];W[aj];B[ai];W[qj]
;B[rj];W[ah];B[bo];W[bp];B[ai];W[om];B[nn];W[ah];B[am];W[an];B[ai];W[ok];B[rm];W[ah]
;B[bd];W[cb];B[ai];W[rn];B[so];W[ah];B[hp];W[ao];B[ai];W[sn];B[sp];W[ah];B[cd])

Takao Shinji Leads Kisei

The 36th Kisei finally comes to its title match. This year, Takao Shinji will challenge Cho U Kisei in a best-of-7 title series. Takao won the challenger's seat after he beat Iyama Yuta at the final.

Takao Shinji (left) and Cho U (right)

The first game was played at Kurashiki, Okayama. Usually, once in 2 years, the first game of Kisei will be played abroad. However this year, all the game will be played in Japan (the last time the game was played abroad was 2 years ago. The game was played at Taiwan). I'm not sure why the game wasn't played abroad, but maybe the sponsor also tastes a little bit of crisis and decided not to have an abroad game.

The game opened with an unusual approach direction from white. White 6 usually played at R14 or R10, but white played a Kobayashi fuseki at the upper board instead. At the end of day 1, black position's seems to be more promising. Cho U sealed his move for the next day.

Cho U sealed his move

Day 2 started with Cho played his sealed move. Takao Shinji played keima tsuke as the answer and the battle at the center continued.The game was a great game to watch and learn. The fight at the center was careful by both side and the endgame was well played. Takao Shinji finally won the game by 2.5 points and opened the title series.

Counting the territories

Here is the game record:
Takao Shinji (black) vs. Cho U (white). Result: B+2.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[36th Japanese Kisei, g\\title match game 1]
DT[2012-01-12,13]PB[Takao Shinji]BR[9p]PW[Cho U]WR[9p]KM[6.5]RE[B+2.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dc];B[oq];W[nc];B[qf];W[jd];B[cf];W[ch];B[dd];W[ed];B[cc];W[cb]
;B[cd];W[eb];B[ee];W[fd];B[cj];W[di];B[dj];W[fi];B[cn];W[gf];B[ej];W[fq];B[bb];W[ba]
;B[da];W[db];B[ei];W[eh];B[dg];W[dh];B[fg];W[fh];B[gg];W[fj];B[fk];W[gk];B[fl];W[gl]
;B[fm];W[hg];B[gh];W[co];B[bo];W[gm];B[hh];W[dn];B[cm];W[bp];B[eo];W[hj];B[do];W[cp]
;B[go];W[hf];B[ii];W[jk];B[ki];W[lk];B[pk];W[oo];B[pn];W[nq];B[nr];W[or];B[mq];W[np]
;B[pr];W[ne];B[oc];W[nb];B[lr];W[nl];B[nm];W[mm];B[om];W[mn];B[og];W[qg];B[pf];W[qi]
;B[le];W[lc];B[oj];W[rk];B[rm];W[oi];B[ni];W[rh];B[rf];W[oh];B[nh];W[pj];B[qk];W[nj]
;B[ok];W[ph];B[jn];W[rl];B[nk];W[jh];B[ij];W[jm];B[im];W[ik];B[kj];W[kn];B[in];W[ih]
;B[eg];W[ko];B[jl];W[kk];B[gq];W[fp];B[fo];W[bg];B[fe];W[ge];B[kh];W[ip];B[ho];W[km]
;B[je];W[kd];B[dr];W[dq];B[gr];W[bn];B[bm];W[ao];B[ob];W[oa];B[pa];W[na];B[pb];W[mj]
;B[ke];W[ie];B[fr];W[cr];B[rj];W[qj];B[ql];W[hi];B[bf];W[ng];B[nf];W[mg];B[mf];W[lg]
;B[kg];W[bc];B[bd];W[ab];B[bi];W[oe];B[of];W[pq];B[os];W[bh];B[id];W[jf];B[jg];W[ig]
;B[ff];W[mi];B[ic];W[jc];B[jb];W[kb];B[ld];W[kc];B[ib];W[hd];B[md];W[mc];B[kf];W[nd]
;B[jp];W[jo];B[io];W[kq];B[jq];W[op];B[qq];W[lq];B[if];W[he];B[mp];W[kr];B[nn];W[mo]
;B[no];W[iq];B[ir];W[jr];B[hq];W[kp];B[er];W[bk];B[bj];W[am];B[bl];W[al];B[ck];W[ri]
;B[cs];W[bs];B[ds];W[br];B[ml];W[sm];B[sn];W[sk];B[sl];W[or];B[pp];W[sm];B[gc];W[gd]
;B[sl];W[ls];B[mr];W[sm];B[rn];W[pe];B[qe];W[ak];B[is];W[mk];B[ll];W[kl];B[ol];W[rd]
;B[qd];W[rb];B[qc];W[rc];B[ra];W[rg];B[re];W[il];B[ad];W[ac];B[gi];W[gj];B[gn];W[hm]
;B[sl];W[sj];B[eq];W[ep];B[od];W[sf];B[se];W[sg];B[lm];W[ln];B[nl];W[lp];B[oq];W[ms]
;B[af];W[jf];B[sm];W[if];B[ns];W[ks])

Hey, It's 1 Week Already

I can't believe that one week already passed by in 2012. I was not really active in 2011 and I hope I can be as active as I was in 2010 and continue to write in this blog. Keep on checking this blog guys  and follow my Twitter @biondyalfian to see more updates about professional go news.

I hope 2012 will be a blast for everybody. :)