Aoki Kikuyo Won Female Kisei

The 15th Female Kisei ended at February 16 with a new winner crowned for the title. Aok Kikuyo (8 dan) won the least game from Xie Yimin, the title holder, and won the series.

Aoki Kikuyo paid her lost at the first game  by winning the second game. The game was difficult and entertaining. A fight started early when Xie tried to help her stone at the bottom. Aoki attacked it and the fight spread to the center. It became the focus of the whole game. Xie showed an impressive skill of life and death, however, it was Aoki who came out ahead by 9.5 points.

Aoki Kikuyo in her bright yellow blazer.

Here is the game record:
Aoki Kikuyo (white) vs. Xie Yimin (black). Result: W+9.5

(;
EV[15th Female Kisei title match 2]
KM[6.5]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
PW[Aoki Kikuyo]
WR[8d]
DT[2012-02-09]
BR[Female Kisei]
RE[W+9.5]
PB[Xie Yimin]
;B[qd];W[dp];B[dc];W[de];B[ce];W[cf];B[cd];W[dg];B[ef];W[eg];B[bf]
;W[ff];B[bg];W[pp];B[qn];W[pk];B[nq];W[pn];B[qq];W[pq];B[qp];W[qo]
;B[ro];W[po];B[rm];W[qm];B[rn];W[jp];B[lp];W[kn];B[mn];W[pr];B[ml]
;W[ql];B[qr];W[mo];B[no];W[lo];B[nm];W[np];B[mp];W[op];B[ko];W[ln]
;B[kp];W[jo];B[jn];W[kl];B[jq];W[iq];B[jr];W[hp];B[ir];W[gq];B[ol]
;W[pl];B[pi];W[mr];B[nr];W[lr];B[mq];W[qs];B[rr];W[rs];B[sp];W[hr]
;B[is];W[oj];B[in];W[kk];B[mj];W[oi];B[li];W[ki];B[kh];W[ji];B[ph]
;W[ns];B[os];W[ls];B[ms];W[oh];B[pg];W[ns];B[or];W[kq];B[ps];W[og]
;B[lg];W[oe];B[pf];W[mh];B[lh];W[me];B[ke];W[pc];B[qc];W[lc];B[hh]
;W[jh];B[jg];W[ig];B[ih];W[jf];B[kg];W[hj];B[gj];W[gk];B[gi];W[hl]
;B[ik];W[il];B[kc];W[kb];B[ld];W[mc];B[jb];W[jc];B[kd];W[ib];B[md]
;W[nd];B[lb];W[ja];B[nc];W[mb];B[nb];W[la];B[pb];W[kf];B[lf];W[ie]
;B[ok];W[pj];B[lm];W[km];B[ll];W[nj];B[nk];W[mi];B[lj];W[qi];B[fk]
;W[fl];B[el];W[ek];B[fj];W[fm];B[em];W[dk];B[en];W[fn];B[eo];W[ep]
;B[fo];W[go];B[fp];W[fq];B[cn];W[di];B[jk];W[ij];B[gf];W[fe];B[le]
;W[rg];B[ge];W[id];B[rf];W[rh];B[hg];W[if];B[gd];W[gg];B[hf];W[fc]
;B[ei];W[ch];B[fd];W[ed];B[ec];W[gc];B[cj];W[dj];B[ck];W[bh];B[hc]
;W[gb];B[gh];W[fg];B[ho];W[ip];B[bi];W[cl];B[bl];W[dl];B[cm];W[ah]
;B[cg];W[df];B[dd];W[ee];B[fb];W[hb];B[rk];W[qf];B[qe];W[qg];B[pe]
;W[re];B[fh];W[aj];B[bk];W[ai];B[dh];W[eh];B[ci];W[be];B[bd];W[hk]
;B[dm];W[dh];B[ak];W[bm];B[am];W[ae];B[ad];W[hd];B[bn];W[bp];B[rj]
;W[qj];B[rd];W[sf];B[kr];W[lq];B[ms];W[ii];B[af];W[hi];B[bj];W[he]
;B[ag];W[ns];B[ss];W[oq];B[ms];W[od];B[oc];W[ns];B[qs];W[hs];B[ms]
;W[rl];B[sl];W[ns];B[kj];W[jj];B[ms];W[be];B[ae];W[ns];B[gp];W[gn]
;B[ms];W[of];B[pd];W[ns];B[ri];W[mf];B[ms];W[lk];B[mk];W[ns];B[mg]
;W[ng];B[ms];W[eb];B[db];W[ns];B[nh];W[ni];B[ms];W[fa];B[cp];W[cq]
;B[co];W[bq];B[da];W[ns];B[nf];W[ne];B[ms];W[on];B[nn];W[ns];B[io]
;W[hq];B[ms];W[sd];B[sc];W[se];B[sh];W[qh];B[ks];W[na];B[oa];W[ma]
;B[ea];W[fb];B[ao];W[sg];B[ap];W[aq];B[bo];W[do];B[jd];W[si];B[sk]
)

At the last game, Aoki Kikuyo played black and opened the game with Low Chinese Fuseki. The opening seems favorable for black. White's position at the top looks awkward. The game once again turned into a wild ride after Xie attacked Aoki's group with white 114. Black utilized white's weak group with black 159. Aoki Kikuyo found the combination and saved her group. Xie resigned soon afterward.

Aoki Kikuyo (left) vs. Xie Yimin (right)

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

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[15th Female Kisei, game 3]DT[2012-02-16]
PB[Aoki Kikuyo]BR[8p]PW[Xie Yimin  ]WR[6p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[qk];W[fq];B[fc];W[cf];B[jd];W[qf];B[re];W[lc];B[nc];W[le]
;B[of];W[jb];B[ic];W[ib];B[dc];W[cc];B[cb];W[ec];B[db];W[eb];B[ed];W[fb];B[gc];W[gb]
;B[hb];W[ha];B[hc];W[kc];B[ga];W[fa];B[ia];W[ja];B[da];W[ia];B[cd];W[de];B[fe];W[bd]
;B[bc];W[be];B[ba];W[nd];B[mc];W[md];B[od];W[ee];B[fd];W[lg];B[ig];W[ci];B[kp];W[po]
;B[qp];W[mq];B[np];W[mp];B[mo];W[no];B[nq];W[lo];B[mn];W[lp];B[nm];W[ln];B[lm];W[km]
;B[ll];W[pk];B[pj];W[ok];B[ql];W[nr];B[or];W[oj];B[pi];W[oi];B[ph];W[om];B[on];W[pm]
;B[pn];W[qm];B[qn];W[rn];B[ro];W[rl];B[mf];W[ng];B[nf];W[lf];B[mg];W[li];B[mh];W[lh]
;B[gp];W[gq];B[ip];W[kl];B[lk];W[mi];B[gn];W[jn];B[dn];W[dl];B[ep];W[dq];B[fp];W[hq]
;B[do];W[gf];B[gg];W[ff];B[hf];W[hh];B[hg];W[ge];B[fg];W[he];B[ie];W[jf];B[jg];W[je]
;B[if];W[hj];B[gi];W[hi];B[ji];W[jj];B[kj];W[ki];B[fk];W[fl];B[ch];W[bh];B[ij];W[jk]
;B[gk];W[gl];B[hk];W[jh];B[hl];W[el];B[in];W[ho];B[hp];W[hm];B[im];W[gm];B[ik];W[hn]
;B[io];W[ii];B[ei];W[fn];B[cj];W[bj];B[di];W[bi];B[ck];W[cl];B[bk];W[bl];B[aj];W[cg]
;B[eq];W[er];B[go];W[al];B[bo];W[cp];B[bn];W[ek];B[cr];W[dr];B[bq];W[bp];B[ap];W[gh]
;B[fh];W[jr];B[jq];W[ir];B[ej];W[gj];B[fj];W[en];B[eo];W[ak];B[eg];W[ef];B[dh];W[rj]
;B[ri];W[qo];B[oo];W[so];B[rp])

This is the first Female Kisei title for Aoki Kikuyo. It was also a swet revenge for her lost at the 28th Female Honinbo from Xie. Congratulations for Aoki Kikuyo!

Female Kisei, the 11th title for Aoki Kikuyo.

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])

9th Jeongganjang Cup Started

The annual all female team tournament, Jeongganjang Cup started with the first game was played at January 8. The opening game was between Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan) of Japan vs. Moon Dowon (2 dan) of South Korea.


Aoki Kikuyo (left) vs. Moon Dowon (right)

Aoki opened the game with her favorite opening, the Low Chinese fuseki. Moon answered it with a new fashion in this fuseki, keima enclosure against black low stone. The game proceed fast and Moon was the first to start a fight with his keima approach. Aoki played a territorial oriented answer and took a potential upper side.

Aoki later played a dangerous combination which left her with an unsettled group at the lower side. Moon later found a good combination (move 142 and 144) and successfully trapped black's weak group at the left side and eventually killed them. Aoki resigned at move 220. She was behind more than 10 points.


Moon Dowon (19 y.o), became pro in 2008 and promoted to 2 dan in 2009.

Here is the game record:
Moon Dowon (white) vs. Aoki Kikuyo (black). Resukt: W+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[9th Jeongganjang Cup, game 1]DT[2011-01-08]
PB[Aoki Kikuyo]BR[8p]PW[Moon Dowon]WR[2p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[qk];W[fq];B[fc];W[cf];B[jd];W[qf];B[re];W[rf];B[qe];W[pf]
;B[nd];W[qi];B[oj];W[nh];B[nf];W[po];B[np];W[no];B[mo];W[nn];B[lp];W[mn];B[qj];W[pi]
;B[mk];W[mi];B[mj];W[jq];B[ko];W[ln];B[jp];W[kq];B[iq];W[ir];B[hr];W[lo];B[mp];W[kp]
;B[ip];W[mr];B[nr];W[js];B[lr];W[kr];B[ms];W[hq];B[eq];W[dq];B[gq];W[hp];B[fr];W[ho]
;B[eo];W[do];B[dr];W[cr];B[fp];W[kj];B[kk];W[jk];B[km];W[kn];B[jl];W[jj];B[lj];W[li]
;B[ml];W[hc];B[kh];W[ki];B[hd];W[ic];B[id];W[jc];B[dc];W[cc];B[ed];W[kd];B[de];W[cd]
;B[ke];W[lc];B[ld];W[kc];B[mc];W[le];B[kf];W[md];B[nc];W[lf];B[lg];W[jg];B[kg];W[jh]
;B[if];W[mg];B[eg];W[cg];B[cm];W[dn];B[cj];W[ds];B[es];W[er];B[jn];W[jo];B[dr];W[ol]
;B[ok];W[er];B[in];W[io];B[dr];W[qc];B[pc];W[er];B[mf];W[gc];B[ng];W[gd];B[mh];W[oi]
;B[dr];W[dm];B[cs];W[cl];B[fe];W[br];B[gb];W[hb];B[eb];W[mb];B[nb];W[la];B[cb];W[bb]
;B[ba];W[ef];B[ff];W[eh];B[bl];W[bm];B[ck];W[dl];B[bn];W[cn];B[am];W[bi];B[bj];W[ej]
;B[cm];W[ak];B[ci];W[bh];B[dh];W[di];B[ce];W[dg];B[bf];W[fg];B[qp];W[hs];B[gr];W[lm]
;B[ll];W[il];B[qn];W[ee];B[bd];W[bs];B[ds];W[fd];B[bc];W[hg];B[fm];W[gl];B[fl];W[fk]
;B[gm];W[el];B[hl];W[hk];B[gk];W[gj];B[im];W[ik];B[hf];W[gf];B[bg];W[ch];B[ri];W[rh]
;B[rj];W[qo];B[ro];W[rn];B[pn];W[op];B[rp];W[oq];B[or];W[qm];B[rm];W[pm];B[on];W[om]
;B[sn];W[oo];B[rn];W[nl];B[oh];W[ni];B[pg];W[qg];B[nq];W[ga])

Korea Even the Score with Japan

The second stage of the 8th Jeongganjang Cup was started today (December 20). The stage was opened with a match between Park Sohyun from Korea and Aoki Kikuyo from Japan.

When the first stage ended in September (can't believe how fast time fly by O_o) Korea's position is slightly worse than Japan, since 2 of their members already eliminated, while Japan and China both still have 4 members.

However, today Park Sohyun managed to won the game from Aoki Kikuyo and made Korea tied with Japan.


Park Sohyun

Park played the game as white while Aoki Kikuyo played as black. The game opened with Aoki took 3 corners, while Park took the initiative by sacrificing the last empty corner. Up to move 33, the game is usual. White move at 34 is rather rare, since usually white will attach from Q5 to make a ladder breaker, but Park decided to play for territory.


Board position up to move 111

After the exchange in the bottom right corner, white attacked black's weak stones in the center. Black exchanged her uper right corner for a solid position in the upper board (inside white's area). White then played a very good game and hold the initiative.

White 156 is a very big move. It's a big move and white took it first. Black later tried to catch up in the yose (black 165 is a good example of a yose tesuji), but it's not enough to chase white.

White eventually won by 6.5 points.



Tomorrow Park Sohyun will play against one member from China. Let's see who.

Xie Yimin Defended Her Female Honinbo

Successfully defended her Female Meijin title this year from veteran Chinen Kaori, Xie Yimin repeated her success by defending another title she owned, Female Honinbo.

Winning the second and the third game, Xie scored another victory in October 28 and defended her title from the challenger, Aoki Kikuyo, with 3-1 score.

Xie won the game by resignation after killing Aoki's group in the left.


Xie Yimin Female Honinbo, Female Meijin

This is the second time Xie defended her title. Last year she defended it from Suzuki Ayumi, also by the same condition, where she lost the first game, but won the next three games.

Xie Yimin Won the Third Game

The third game of the 28th Female Honinbo Title was held at October 21. Xie Yimin Female Honinbo and Aoki Kikuyo the challenger both shared 1-1 position. The third game was played at Chiyoda, Tokyo.



Xie played as black and Aoki played white. The game opened with a crosscut joseki in the lower left corner. Aoki played nobi at move 20 to finished the joseki, but I think it's better to play ikken biraki since it's more flexible.

In response of white 20, black played a kakari in the left side. Aoki didn't directly try to create base with a pincer, but prefer to play a solid move at E10. Up to move 43, Aoki made some points in the left side, but ended up with a sealed corner.


Board position up to move 83

After both played for solid corners, Xie Yimin tried to separate white's group at move 85. The plan was a success. Xie got some profits in the lower right due to the attack.

The endgame started after Aoki connected her weak group to her bottom's base. After 271 moves, Xie Yimin won the game by 2.5 points.

With this victory, Xie lead the title matches by 2-1. One more win and she'll defend her title.

Xie Defended Herself

The second game of the 28th Female Honinbo title matches was held at October 9.

Xie Yimin Female Honinbo played as white, while Aoki Kikuyo the challenger played as black.



The game started with Aoki opened the game by her favorite opening, the low Chinese fuseki. Up to move 46, both shared a tough poistion in the left side


Board position up to move 86

Xie won by resignation at move 208. Aoki was behind about 7 points.

Aoki's Good Start

The 28th Female Honinbo title matches has begun. The first match was played at October 1st.

Based on the nigiri, Xie Yimin (Female Honinbo, Female Meijin) started the series by playing black and Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan) the challenger played white.


Xie Yimin

The first game was won by Aoki Kikuyo after he killed black in the upper board.


Aoki Kikuyo

Aoki Kikuyo Concluded the First Stage

The last round of the first stage of the 8th Jeongganjang Cup has been played. This time, the match is between Wang Chenxin (2 dan) from China against Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan) from Japan.


Wang (left), Aoki (right)

The game is somewhat full of Chinese style. Aoki who played black opened the game with the low Chinese opening. Wang played the two spaces low approach to counter black's opening. The approach was invented by Yu Bin (9 dan) from China several years ago.


Aoki Kikuyo vs. Wang Chenxin board position up to move 89

Aoki Kikuyo played pincer in response of white's approach. Some say that the pincer is not good in this condition, since it gives white a big corner and suggest the hit shoulder at O4. However, the pincer seem to be Aoki's favorite move. She also played the same opening last year in her game against Song Ronghui (though she lost that game).

The first big trade was made early in the game. At move 68, Wang chose to capture black's stone in the center in return of her corner. However, white played a tesuji at L17 to capture black's group in the upper board, but it seems that black was ready to sacrifice the group.

Another big trade was made at move 123, where Aoki got the bottom left corner in exchange of her group in the left side. After the trade, black was ahead in territory.

The game looked close when the yose started, but later Wang made a blunder when she connected her stones with K12. It let Aoki played a tesuji at L14 and captured Wang's group. Wang should connect at K14 instead of K12 so the game would be very close.

Wang resigned at move 241. She was behind about 6 points including komi.


Wang Chenxing

With this victory, Aoki Kikuyo from Japan sealed the first stage and will open the second stage by playing one of South Korea's team member. Before that, Aoki will challenge Xie Yimin for her Female Honinbo title in the early October.


Aoki Kikuyo

Aoki Kikuyo to Challenge For the 28th Japanese Female Honinbo

Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan) got the right to challenge Xie Yimin, the current Female Honinbo title holder, by defeating
Ishii Akane (1 dan) in the final of the challenger decision match by resignation.


The game started by Ishii who played as black, opened the game by playing Lei fuseki. Early in the game (at move 61) black entered
white's bottom left corner and tried to survive inside. At the first glance, I think it was better to played A5 instead of blocking at B9,
however if white played A2, it will become a flower ko for white and at the same time, black put her left group in danger. So I think what black did
in the game was good, but the outcome was still favorable for white.


Board position up to move 88

After 230 moves, Aoki Kikuyo won the game by resignation.

Aoki Kikuyo is a veteran in go world. She already has many titles in the past. She won Female Saikyo in 2001, she held Female Meijin for 5 times (1990,1999-2000,2002,2006),
she is 4 times (1991-1992,1994,2000) Female Kakusei champion, and also she became runner-up in Shinjin-O tournament in 1997 losing to Yamada Kimio.

Aoki Kikuyo

Ishii Akane is a newcomer in pro world. She became shodan in August 2007. So far I think this is her best achievement.

Ishii Akane

This is Aoki's first time to be challenger for the Female Honinbo title. She will play Xie Yimin, one of the best female player in Japan at the moment.
Earlier this year, Xie beat Chinen Kaori, one of the go veteran to defend her Female Meijin title. I wonder if Aoki Kikuyo can beat Xie. The first game will be played in October 1st.