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])