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])

Xie Leads Female Kisei

The first game of the 14th Female Kisei title match series started at January 27. Umezawa Yukari challenge Xie Yimin the title holder in a best-of-3 games.



Umezawa Yukari (left) and Xie Yimin (right) at the opening ceremony

At the first game, Umezawa played as black while Xie as white. The game was interesting with a lot of exchanges. The game was very close until Umezawa did a big mistake with black 151 which cost her more than 10 points.


Umezawa Yukari (left) vs. Xie Yimin

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

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[14th Female Kisei title match game 1]
DT[2011-01-28]PB[Umezawa Yukari]BR[5p]PW[Xie Yimin]WR[5p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+9.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dc];B[de];W[cg];B[cc];W[gc];B[dd];W[db];B[be];W[cj];B[cb];W[jc]
;B[fq];W[dn];B[dr];W[op];B[mq];W[no];B[pq];W[oq];B[qm];W[gq];B[gp];W[hq];B[hp];W[fr]
;B[eq];W[jq];B[ip];W[kr];B[mo];W[ko];B[mn];W[cq];B[hm];W[om];B[ml];W[ok];B[qk];W[qo]
;B[ro];W[po];B[rq];W[pr];B[lr];W[kq];B[lp];W[jo];B[fm];W[nr];B[jm];W[km];B[jl];W[kl]
;B[kk];W[jk];B[kj];W[ik];B[hl];W[kn];B[nl];W[ol];B[mj];W[ii];B[er];W[mr];B[lq];W[ls]
;B[cl];W[dl];B[dk];W[el];B[ck];W[gr];B[gj];W[fl];B[hk];W[fj];B[fi];W[ej];B[dj];W[ei]
;B[ci];W[ji];B[gh];W[fg];B[gg];W[jf];B[ff];W[cm];B[eh];W[oi];B[lh];W[hi];B[gi];W[oe]
;B[lf];W[od];B[pe];W[pc];B[qc];W[oc];B[pf];W[of];B[ig];W[di];B[bi];W[qb];B[rd];W[rc]
;B[qd];W[rb];B[qh];W[qi];B[ri];W[rh];B[rg];W[ph];B[sh];W[qg];B[rh];W[kh];B[jh];W[kg]
;B[ki];W[if];B[hg];W[lg];B[dh];W[pg];B[qf];W[cr];B[bm];W[bn];B[he];W[id];B[fb];W[fc]
;B[da];W[ec];B[ea];W[fe];B[ef];W[gn];B[hn];W[fn];B[fo];W[nn];B[mh];W[mm];B[lm];W[nm]
;B[ll];W[ln];B[mg];W[mf];B[nf];W[me];B[hb];W[jg];B[ih];W[gb];B[ga];W[ib];B[hc];W[hd]
;B[ge];W[ic];B[ha];W[gd];B[qr];W[pp];B[qq];W[nj];B[mi];W[io];B[ho];W[qj];B[rj];W[ql]
;B[rl];W[qn];B[rn];W[pk];B[pl];W[pm];B[bl];W[ql];B[jp];W[kp];B[pl];W[ia];B[fa];W[ql]
;B[rk];W[eo];B[gm];W[em];B[an];W[ao];B[am];W[bo];B[ps];W[or];B[iq];W[ir];B[cs];W[bs]
;B[ng];W[rm];B[sm];W[ne];B[es];W[fs];B[ie];W[je];B[nk];W[os];B[qs];W[ds];B[ni];W[oj]
;B[og];W[oh];B[lk];W[qm];B[cs];W[hf];B[gf];W[ds];B[kd];W[jd];B[cs];W[ca];B[ba];W[ds]
;B[pj];W[pi];B[cs];W[sn];B[so];W[ds];B[hs];W[hr];B[cs];W[ep];B[fp];W[ds];B[sc];W[sb]
;B[sd];W[in];B[im];W[cs];B[gk])

Umezawa Yukari Tried to Reclaim Female Kisei

Umezawa Yukari (5 dan), one of the most well known Japanese pro, is back for another title match. After a 2-0 loss to Xie Yimin in previous Female Kisei, she won the main tournament and challenge Xie Yimin, trying to reclaim her throne.


Umezawa Yukari

At the final game, Umezawa met Yoshida Mika (8 dan) who is the top female player of Kansai Kiin. The game opened with a fierce fight started at the left side of the board (which actually is a typical game for Umezawa Yukari).

Yoshida Mika had the lead for most part of the game, however she blew her victory away by playing the dangerous black 149. That move put them in a ko fight and Umezawa gladly sacrificed 5 stones to capture black's group at the left side. After the exchange, the game was easy for white and Umezawa won by 3.5 points.


Yoshida Mika

The first title match game between Xie Yimin and Umezawa Yukari was actually played on January 27, but it'll be broadcasted later in February 9.

Here is the game record:
Umezawa Yukari (white) vs. Yoshida Mika (black). Result: W+3.5

(;
RE[W+3.5]
WR[5d]
EV[14th Female Kisei challenger decision match]
BR[8d]
PB[Yoshida Mika]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
PW[Umezawa Yukari]
KM[6.5]
DT[2010-12-23]
;B[qd];W[dc];B[dq];W[pp];B[ce];W[do];B[cm];W[cq];B[gq];W[dp];B[dr]
;W[bo];B[cr];W[ck];B[em];W[bm];B[oc];W[ch];B[dh];W[cg];B[ee];W[fd]
;B[ci];W[dg];B[di];W[eg];B[fe];W[gd];B[ge];W[hd];B[cn];W[bn];B[dk]
;W[gg];B[he];W[id];B[hg];W[hh];B[ig];W[gh];B[bk];W[ih];B[ie];W[jd]
;B[kg];W[ki];B[bq];W[fp];B[fq];W[gp];B[hp];W[gn];B[ho];W[en];B[cl]
;W[bp];B[fm];W[gm];B[gk];W[im];B[mh];W[ik];B[mj];W[qn];B[qj];W[nd]
;B[nc];W[md];B[mc];W[ld];B[jj];W[kj];B[ke];W[lc];B[jk];W[kh];B[lg]
;W[hk];B[jm];W[in];B[gj];W[lk];B[kn];W[hj];B[jp];W[mk];B[nk];W[nl]
;B[ol];W[nm];B[pq];W[oq];B[or];W[pr];B[qq];W[qr];B[ok];W[ko];B[jo]
;W[jn];B[op];W[nq];B[qp];W[po];B[nr];W[mq];B[rr];W[mr];B[qs];W[om]
;B[lp];W[ns];B[ps];W[lo];B[mo];W[ln];B[lq];W[mp];B[lr];W[oo];B[pf]
;W[ng];B[cc];W[dd];B[cd];W[de];B[og];W[cb];B[bb];W[db];B[ba];W[bf]
;B[be];W[qk];B[pj];W[rj];B[ri];W[rk];B[lb];W[kb];B[qh];W[kp];B[cp]
;W[co];B[kq];W[ls];B[mn];W[lm];B[ks];W[jq];B[ms];W[nh];B[nf];W[ls]
;B[fn];W[go];B[ms];W[mf];B[mg];W[ls];B[ep];W[eo];B[eq];W[fo];B[ms]
;W[fl];B[np];W[el];B[bh];W[bg];B[eh];W[ej];B[ek];W[bi];B[bj];W[ah]
;B[fh];W[fk];B[fg];W[ff];B[ed];W[ef];B[mb];W[ka];B[ec];W[fb];B[fc]
;W[gb];B[ro];W[rn];B[ql];W[rl];B[pl];W[ae];B[ad];W[af];B[bc];W[hn]
;B[hq];W[lf];B[gc];W[hc];B[eb];W[ea];B[ca];W[da];B[kf];W[cq];B[aq]
;W[ap];B[od];W[br];B[cp];W[ne];B[of];W[cq];B[fj];W[dl];B[cp];W[io]
;B[ip];W[cq];B[cj];W[bl];B[cp];W[qo];B[rp];W[cq];B[gi];W[ei];B[cp]
;W[lj];B[mi];W[cq];B[kd];W[kc];B[cp];W[ac];B[ab];W[cq];B[ai];W[aj]
;B[cp];W[oe];B[pe];W[cq];B[hb];W[ib];B[cp];W[si];B[sh];W[cq];B[dm]
;W[gl];B[cp];W[sj];B[cq];W[la];B[mm];W[ml];B[le];W[me];B[cf];W[df]
;B[pm];W[no];B[qm];W[rm];B[ha];W[ia];B[ma];W[so];B[sp];W[sn];B[jh]
;W[ji];B[jg];W[je];B[nn];W[on];B[mp];W[gf];B[pk])

Xie Yimin the New Female Kisei

The Japanese strongest female player, Xie Yimin won her third big female title, Female Kisei.

Xie beat Umezawa Yukari, the three times consecutive winner, by 2-1 in the title match series.



Congratulations for Xie Yimin!

Umezawa Yukari Defend Female Kisei

After lost the second game, Umezawa Yukari, Female Kisei, won the third game along with the title.

The third game is fiercer than the second game. In the early stage, Umezawa's weak group was attacked. Umezawa Yukari made an eye shape with sacrificing three stones at move 77. But the group wasn't yet alive. The battle continued with a ko fight started at move 110. This ko fight was very important for Umezawa. She must won this ko, or she'll lost two groups of stones.
At move 120, Umezawa finally can save one of her group. winning the ko by capturing 2 stones with J19. But one of her cluster is not yet alive. At the same time, the game was not easy for Kato Keiko. Letting Umezawa to save one group, she chased the big cluster by putting her group into danger and fight for the second ko at L19. A kill or killed ko.



board position up to move 105



Fifty two moves later, Umezawa won the ko and killed Kato's group. Kato Keiko resigned at move 286. White's leading was obvious. Umezawa Yukari was leading about 10 points on he board.

With this victory, Umezawa Yukari already hold the title for the last 3 years. She took the title 3 years ago from Mannami Kana. Female Kisei is the only title Umezawa Yukari ever has and the only big title where she was ever become the challenger.

Kato Keiko Closed the Gap

Kato Keiko, the challenger of the 12th Female Kisei sen, won the second match by the same margin as her lost in first match. Kato won by 2.5 points.
The game was quite well spirited. A fight started in early stage. Kato Keiko chose to attack Umezawa's weak group in the right. Umezawa's cut at move 32 was brave, since her attacked group was not yet settle. The fight spreaded to center.


Umezawa Yukari (W) vs. Kato Keiko (B), game up to move 70

I think the outcome of the battle was favourable for black, since she gained sente at the beginning of the yose stage.

Umezawa Yukari Took the Lead At Female Kisei sen

Umezawa Yukari (5 dan), the current Female Kisei title holder is challenged by Kato Keiko the Female Saikyo title holder for the 12th Female Kisei title.

Umezawa Yukari who played black in the first game, won the game by 2.5 points.

The game was quite well balance and rather close. I think Umezawa Yukari won the game because she was able to control the center after the exchange at 119-132.

Umezawa Yukari (B) vs. Kato Keiko (W), game up to move 78

Umezawa Yukari whose fame was risen due to "Go Go Igo", a go program which was aired after Hikaru no Go for several minutes, has been this title holder for the last two years.