16th LG Cup, Round 1

The first round of the 16th LG Cup started today. 32 players from 4 countries started the race to become the 16th champion of LG Cup.


The contestants

The highlight game of round 1 was the battle between Gu Li and Lee Changho both are very experienced players that once dominated the go arena, however both players are also in a slump. Lee Changho even had to play from the open qualification to reach the main stage. Maybe Lee was motivated. He played well and won the game by resignation (it was a close game though)


Gu Li (left) vs. Lee Changho

Here is the game record:
Lee Changho (White) vs. Gu Li (black). Result: W+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[16th LG Cup, round 1]DT[2011-06-13]
PB[Gu Li]BR[9p]PW[Lee Changho]WR[9p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dp];B[fq];W[cn];B[lq];W[qf];B[qi];W[qc];B[qd];W[pc];B[od];W[rd]
;B[re];W[rc];B[qe];W[nc];B[po];W[oi];B[pk];W[of];B[rf];W[ip];B[nj];W[lf];B[me];W[mf]
;B[lo];W[pq];B[qq];W[eq];B[fp];W[jr];B[en];W[go];B[ho];W[gp];B[er];W[dr];B[gr];W[hp]
;B[do];W[co];B[cq];W[cr];B[dq];W[bq];B[ep];W[cp];B[kr];W[kp];B[jq];W[kq];B[ir];W[lp]
;B[js];W[ko];B[mq];W[mo];B[ml];W[fm];B[cf];W[ce];B[df];W[fd];B[di];W[ck];B[oc];W[ob]
;B[nb];W[mb];B[mc];W[na];B[nd];W[lc];B[nb];W[gg];B[dk];W[dj];B[cc];W[be];B[ej];W[cj]
;B[dl];W[ei];B[fj];W[nc];B[im];W[hn];B[nb];W[qg];B[rg];W[nc];B[fh];W[md];B[hm];W[ln]
;B[km];W[gm];B[cl];W[dh];B[fg];W[em];B[gk];W[ci];B[gf];W[ef];B[eg];W[ff];B[dg];W[ed]
;B[hg];W[qh];B[rh];W[bg];B[ld];W[pi];B[pj];W[mc];B[eb];W[fb];B[bf];W[af];B[ec];W[fc]
;B[bd];W[hj];B[bh];W[ch];B[cg];W[ag];B[gh];W[hk];B[hl];W[gj];B[fk];W[ji];B[dm];W[mm]
;B[nn];W[ll];B[lm];W[mn];B[kk];W[gl];B[ik];W[ii];B[dn];W[qj];B[ri];W[if];B[ig];W[jg]
;B[jf];W[kh];B[nl];W[ie];B[fi];W[jn];B[he];W[hd];B[gd];W[hc];B[je];W[id];B[ne];W[le]
;B[np];W[cd];B[bc];W[ea];B[db];W[jm];B[jl];W[nm];B[om];W[on];B[pm];W[dc];B[ca];W[lj]
;B[lk];W[ni];B[no];W[mj];B[eq];W[bm];B[bl];W[am];B[kj];W[ki];B[nf];W[ng];B[ai];W[aj]
;B[bj];W[bi];B[ak];W[nk];B[mk];W[oj];B[ok];W[gc];B[ge];W[in];B[il];W[el];B[ek];W[fo]
;B[eo];W[ae];B[bb];W[fa];B[da];W[eh];B[iq];W[br];B[nj];W[pg];B[ds];W[cs];B[es];W[hq]
;B[hr];W[se];B[sf];W[sd];B[jp];W[jo];B[fn];W[gn];B[ad];W[kn];B[kl];W[hi];B[ih];W[jh]
;B[cm];W[jj];B[nk];W[fe])

Last year's runner-up, Kong Jie, had a difficult time with his opponent, Park Jungsang (9 dan). Despite of his victory at Asian TV Cup, Kong stumbled and lost by resignation to Park.


Park Jungsang

Here is the game record:
Park Jungsang (black) vs. Kong Jie (white). Result: B+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[16th LG Cup, round 1]DT[2011-06-13]
PB[Park Jungsang]BR[9p]PW[Kong Jie]WR[9p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[pp];B[dc];W[dp];B[cn];W[fq];B[ch];W[nc];B[lc];W[qc];B[pc];W[pd];B[qb];W[rc]
;B[od];W[pe];B[oc];W[rb];B[of];W[oe];B[ne];W[qe];B[nd];W[fc];B[ed];W[db];B[eb];W[ec]
;B[fb];W[dd];B[cc];W[fd];B[ee];W[cb];B[bb];W[bc];B[cd];W[ba];B[ab];W[ac];B[gc];W[bd]
;B[ce];W[be];B[cf];W[em];B[nq];W[kp];B[cp];W[cq];B[do];W[bp];B[bo];W[co];B[da];W[aa]
;B[cp];W[ep];B[eo];W[fo];B[fn];W[en];B[go];W[fp];B[bf];W[ae];B[bq];W[co];B[bb];W[dn]
;B[ca];W[oq];B[np];W[pn];B[lp];W[ko];B[kq];W[jq];B[jr];W[kr];B[lq];W[ir];B[ln];W[ip]
;B[mk];W[kk];B[ji];W[mm];B[mn];W[nm];B[lm];W[ll];B[ml];W[nn];B[qq];W[pq];B[jl];W[jk]
;B[lr];W[js];B[qr];W[pr];B[ik];W[ij];B[il];W[jj];B[hj];W[ii];B[kl];W[lk];B[mj];W[hm]
;B[gk];W[ki];B[ro];W[qp];B[rp];W[qm];B[qn];W[pl];B[mh];W[hi];B[gi];W[gh];B[fi];W[jf]
;B[rm];W[rl];B[qk];W[ql];B[rr];W[oj];B[oh];W[qi];B[qh];W[no];B[jn];W[gf];B[cm];W[bn]
;B[bm];W[dl];B[an];W[ap];B[ck];W[jd];B[ge];W[kc];B[ld];W[ff];B[fe];W[lg];B[pi];W[qj]
;B[pj];W[pk];B[ri];W[rj];B[rg];W[dk];B[dj];W[in];B[fh];W[hd];B[he];W[ie];B[re];W[rd]
;B[qf];W[se];B[rf];W[pb];B[ob];W[pa];B[sj];W[rk];B[hf];W[hg];B[ic];W[id];B[gd];W[cl]
;B[bl];W[lb];B[im];W[kn];B[km];W[hn];B[fl];W[hc];B[mb];W[hb];B[oa];W[qa];B[ig];W[if]
;B[fg];W[gg];B[ef];W[hh];B[ra];W[sa];B[ek];W[el];B[fk];W[fm];B[jo];W[io];B[pf];W[qd]
;B[kb];W[jb];B[la];W[ao];B[bn];W[sm];B[rn];W[mg];B[lh];W[kh];B[kd];W[oi];B[ph];W[ng]
;B[nh];W[jc];B[op];W[oo];B[nr];W[hl];B[hk];W[bk];B[cj])

Iyama Yuta is the only Japanese player to make it to the next round. He beat Yun Junsang (8 dan) by killing Yun's big group at the upper left corner. Thanks to the tesuji at A19, Yun only got one eye.


Iyama Yuta (left) vs. Yun Junsang (right)

Here is the game record:
Iyama Yuta (white) vs. Yun Junsang (black). Result: W+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]GN[Rated game]EV[16th LG Cup, round 1]
DT[2011-06-13]PB[Yun Junsang]BR[9p]PW[Iyama Yuta]WR[9p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[qk];W[mp];B[po];W[jp];B[nc];W[cn];B[fc];W[df];B[id];W[di]
;B[er];W[dq];B[hq];W[iq];B[hp];W[in];B[hn];W[im];B[hm];W[hl];B[gl];W[ho];B[go];W[io]
;B[fn];W[fp];B[gp];W[gk];B[fl];W[fq];B[ej];W[hk];B[dm];W[fk];B[ek];W[el];B[dl];W[gm]
;B[fm];W[gn];B[fo];W[ck];B[bm];W[bn];B[ei];W[dh];B[eh];W[fd];B[gd];W[fe];B[ec];W[gh]
;B[dg];W[cg];B[eg];W[bh];B[cj];W[bj];B[ef];W[de];B[gg];W[ge];B[hg];W[hd];B[gc];W[hc]
;B[he];W[fg];B[ff];W[ic];B[ie];W[kc];B[cc];W[gf];B[hh];W[hf];B[gi];W[if];B[qe];W[bb]
;B[cb];W[bc];B[bd];W[cd];B[be];W[dc];B[db];W[ca];B[fb];W[da];B[eb];W[bf];B[hb];W[je]
;B[no];W[ga];B[ke];W[jd];B[mo];W[qc];B[pc];W[pj];B[qj];W[pi];B[ni];W[pk];B[nk];W[ql]
;B[rl];W[rm];B[qm];W[pl];B[rn];W[nh];B[mi];W[qf];B[qg];W[pf];B[rf];W[rh];B[rg];W[rk]
;B[sm];W[rj];B[lp];W[oh];B[kq];W[kp];B[lo];W[lq];B[lr];W[hr];B[gr];W[mq];B[dr];W[cr]
;B[br];W[cq];B[ac];W[ad])

Chen Shiyuan as the only Taiwan's representative succeed to advance to the second round. He won by a mere 0.5 point to Han Wonggyu (3dan).

Here is the game record:
Chen Shiyuan (white) vs. Han Wonggyu (black). Result: W+0.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]GN[Rated game]EV[16th LG Cup, round 1]
DT[2011-06-13]PB[Han Wonggyu]BR[3p]PW[Chen Shiyuan]WR[9p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+0.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq];W[oc];B[md];W[qk];B[od];W[qo];B[dp];W[fq];B[hp];W[pc];B[pd];W[mc]
;B[nc];W[nb];B[nd];W[lb];B[lc];W[mb];B[qi];W[op];B[oq];W[np];B[mq];W[nq];B[nr];W[mr]
;B[lr];W[mp];B[lq];W[or];B[ms];W[qq];B[pr];W[cq];B[dq];W[cp];B[do];W[dr];B[er];W[cr]
;B[eq];W[cn];B[pk];W[ql];B[kc];W[qc];B[qj];W[oj];B[pj];W[cf];B[pl];W[qr];B[pp];W[po]
;B[em];W[le];B[je];W[jg];B[lg];W[he];B[if];W[ki];B[ii];W[lh];B[jh];W[mg];B[kg];W[oh]
;B[mf];W[mh];B[rc];W[rb];B[nf];W[kk];B[cc];W[dc];B[db];W[eb];B[bb];W[da];B[ca];W[cb]
;B[qm];W[ba];B[rn];W[ro];B[on];W[oo];B[ko];W[ij];B[cm];W[bm];B[cl];W[dn];B[en];W[bl]
;B[cj];W[hj];B[hm];W[jm];B[jn];W[hf];B[hg];W[jd];B[jc];W[id];B[ke];W[gg];B[hb];W[rd]
;B[re];W[sc];B[bg];W[cg];B[bk];W[co];B[bf];W[bh];B[ch];W[dh];B[ci];W[be];B[bi];W[af]
;B[ah];W[hc];B[gc];W[gb];B[ic];W[hd];B[fb];W[fc];B[ga];W[gd];B[pg];W[se];B[rf];W[ei]
;B[gb];W[im];B[in];W[hl];B[gm];W[sf];B[sg];W[sd];B[rg];W[ph];B[qh];W[og];B[of];W[es]
;B[fs];W[ds];B[fr];W[kb];B[gl];W[jb];B[ib];W[gh];B[nk];W[ig];B[hh];W[jf];B[kf];W[ie]
;B[ih];W[if];B[kh];W[mj];B[fd];W[ec];B[nn];W[pm];B[rm];W[pn];B[ej];W[fj];B[fk];W[gj]
;B[gf];W[ff];B[kd];W[ge];B[di];W[eh];B[il];W[jl];B[hk];W[ek];B[dj];W[gk];B[fl];W[sn]
;B[ji];W[jj];B[li];W[kj];B[ng];W[nh];B[nj];W[rk];B[rj];W[sm];B[sk];W[qs];B[os];W[qp]
;B[oi];W[mi];B[ll];W[lp];B[kp];W[om];B[km];W[ol];B[mm];W[ps];B[or];W[ik];B[hl];W[dm]
;B[dl];W[pf];B[qg];W[ok];B[mk];W[kl];B[hi];W[nl];B[lo];W[mo];B[mn];W[pi];B[ni];W[lj]
;B[ml];W[bn];B[gi];W[fi];B[al];W[am];B[ak];W[ia];B[ag];W[ae];B[sl];W[so];B[ln];W[sr]
;B[rl];W[ja];B[fa])

The second round will be played at June 15th. Don't miss it.

Piao Wenyao Won LG Cup

It was an all China final at the 15th LG Cup. Kong Jie, whose career is rising fast in the last 2 years, met his country mate Piao Wenyao. Piao came to international attention when he reached the final of the 4th World Oza (Toyota Denzo cup) but lost to Gu Li.


Piao Wenyao (left) vs. Kong Jie (right)

At the first game, Piao who played black didn't get any trouble. He used the aji of his stone at C15 well. He made it alive when Kong decided to connect the end the ko fight at move 114 and practically made Kong short of territory. Kong resigned at move 123.

Here is the game record:
Piao Wenyao (black) vs. Kong Jie (white. Result: B+R

(;
KM[6.5]
EV[15th LG Cup final round 1]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
PW[Kong Jie]
WR[9d]
DT[2011-02-21]
BR[9d]
RE[B+R]
PB[Piao Wenyao]
;B[qd];W[dc];B[dp];W[pp];B[ce];W[ed];B[nc];W[ch];B[cn];W[df];B[qn]
;W[nq];B[rp];W[qq];B[qk];W[jc];B[lq];W[rq];B[eq];W[cf];B[nr];W[or]
;B[pi];W[cl];B[lc];W[je];B[dl];W[dk];B[el];W[cm];B[dn];W[kp];B[np]
;W[oq];B[lp];W[kn];B[ko];W[jo];B[lo];W[im];B[ek];W[dj];B[km];W[jm]
;B[ln];W[kl];B[jn];W[in];B[ej];W[jk];B[di];W[ci];B[kj];W[lm];B[kn]
;W[oe];B[pd];W[lf];B[mj];W[li];B[mi];W[lh];B[lj];W[ii];B[jb];W[ib]
;B[kb];W[hc];B[ng];W[me];B[pf];W[hq];B[ll];W[pn];B[pm];W[qo];B[rn]
;W[fi];B[ei];W[fh];B[ki];W[bn];B[bo];W[bm];B[ck];W[cj];B[an];W[jh]
;B[bk];W[bj];B[kh];W[ro];B[on];W[sn];B[sm];W[so];B[qm];W[kg];B[am]
;W[ak];B[dg];W[eg];B[dm];W[bl];B[hp];W[iq];B[jp];W[ip];B[io];W[ho]
;B[gp];W[jo];B[cc];W[jq];B[bd];W[db];B[bb];W[ac];B[bf];W[bg];B[af]
;W[od];B[oc])

At the second game, Kong who played black was behind since the opening thanks to black 23 and 25. However, white later overplayed and gave black a chance. Black later tried to invade the bottom area, but white successfully killed it. Kong resigned at move 140.

Here is the game record:
Piao Wenyao (white) vs. Kong Jie (black). Result: W+R

(;
KM[6.5]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
EV[15th LG Cup final round 2]
GM[1]
PB[Kong Jie]
PW[Piao Wenyao]
BR[9d]
RE[W+R]
DT[2011-02-23]
WR[9d]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dq];B[qk];W[mq];B[po];W[jp];B[cn];W[cp];B[ck]
;W[ci];B[ek];W[cf];B[mc];W[en];B[qe];W[gk];B[fm];W[fn];B[gm];W[dl]
;B[dm];W[cl];B[em];W[dk];B[gn];W[gp];B[fk];W[ok];B[mo];W[pi];B[ni]
;W[pk];B[qj];W[oi];B[qm];W[nh];B[mh];W[ng];B[mi];W[mg];B[lg];W[lf]
;B[kf];W[le];B[kg];W[ne];B[oc];W[mk];B[lk];W[ml];B[lj];W[op];B[oo]
;W[fh];B[pg];W[qg];B[pf];W[ph];B[jd];W[km];B[ll];W[pm];B[lm];W[qn]
;B[pl];W[ol];B[ql];W[pn];B[om];W[on];B[nm];W[nn];B[mm];W[ri];B[rj]
;W[qi];B[no];W[lc];B[qo];W[md];B[mb];W[rf];B[fi];W[ei];B[gh];W[fg]
;B[ej];W[di];B[hq];W[hp];B[jq];W[kq];B[ip];W[io];B[iq];W[kr];B[jo]
;W[kp];B[ho];W[in];B[gq];W[fp];B[er];W[fq];B[fr];W[jr];B[dr];W[cr]
;B[gs];W[es];B[bq];W[cq];B[ko];W[im];B[il];W[lo];B[ln];W[ir];B[hm]
;W[hr];B[gr];W[jm];B[jl];W[eq];B[db];W[gi];B[fj];W[dc];B[eb];W[cb]
;B[gc];W[hd];B[gg];W[gf];B[bb];W[ca];B[hf];W[he])

With his victory, Piao Wenyao not only got 250 Million Won (about $ 223,934), but also a promotion to 9 dan and the honor to become the youngest international title winner. Congratulations to Piao Wenyao!.

LG Cup Preliminary

The LG Cup is back. The big event hosted by Lucky Goldstar company along with Chosun Ilbo is back with its 15th edition. Players from South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan gathered for a one week prelim in Korea.



So far the prelim already entered semi-final. There are lot of surprises this year.
Three amateur players made it to the semi-final and 5 female players made it through so far. Quite an unusual number.

Kang Seungmin is the first ama in the semi-final. He beat Ryu Shikun (9 dan and ex-title holder) from Japan in the second round, he he beat Kim Donghee (2 dan) of Korea to made his way.

In Sangyoun is the second ama. He won from 3 pro players to won his semi-final seat. Honestly, I don't know many about the pros he beat, so I can't compare Kang and him.

The last ama is Kim Namhoon. He beat Kim Younghwan (9 dan) of Korea and Tan Xiao (3 dan) of China.

Many low dan (1-3 dan) players also made it to the semi-final.

Cai Jing (2 dan) of China is one of them. He'll play Han Sanghoon (4 dan) of Korea in the semi-final. Han is more famous than Cai, so perhaps many people will rooting to him.

Kim Kiwon (1 dan) of Korea will face Shuto Shun (7 dan) of Japan.

Lee Wondo (3 dan) who beat Diana Koszegi in the first round will play Jiang Weijie (5 dan) of China in the semi-final.


Lee Wondo (right)

Two low dan players will play each other in the semi final. Lee Hyeonho (2 dan) of Korea and Lin Yuxiang (3 dan) of Taiwan. It'l be nice for Yuxiang to win. Taiwan's go need some boosts in international area.

Fujita Akihiko (2 dan) of Japan will play Kang Changbae(1 dan) in the semi final.


Fujita Akihiko

Wang Tao (3 dan) of China will play Cho Kyungho (2 dan) of Korea.

Hirata Tomoya who just became pro in 2009 will play one of top China's female player Lu Jia (2 dan). I'm interested in the result.


Hirata Tomoya

There are still many low dan players in the semi-final. Good luck for them :)


Break time!!

The semi final will be played at April 22 and the final games in the next day.

You can read the list of female players who managed to the semi-final here.

14th LG Cup Final

Two players have claimed their seats as the finalist in the 14th LG Cup by winning the semi-final in November 9.

The first player in the final is the world champion Lee Changho from Korea. He beat Piao Wenyao from China in the semi-final to win his seat. An interesting fact about Lee this time, is the fact that he managed to the semi-final by beating Qiu Jun who beat him the previous 4 days in the smi-final of 14th Samsung Cup.


Lee Changho (left), Pio Wenyao (right)

Lee played as white and Piao played as black. The opening was territory oriented. Lee chose to play for territory in the right side, instead of playing for moyo in the bottom by playing nadare.

At move 99, black tried to get some territories in the middle, by attacking white's stone. Black did get about 14 points (9 points + 5 captured white stones), but in exchange for some of his territories in the left side, so the trade is about equal.


Lee Changho (white) vs. Piao Wenyao (black), board position up to move 84.

The endgame was close for both players, but it seems that Piao was in time trouble, while Lee was calmer. Piao resigned the game at move 246. He was behind about 2-3 points including komi.

The second player to claim his seat was Kong Jie from China.

Kong Jie (who played black) met Park Yeonghun from Korea. While Lee vs. Piao game was calm, the game between these two players was very agressive.


Kong Jie

Up to move 22 the game was still calm, black's move at 23 was natural, but it led to a complicated fight. A diificult semeai started and it took about 40 moves to finish, with both managed to live. But no rest for both of them, because another violence fight started after that. Black tried to use the weakness in white's formation in the center.

Kong Jie played a beautiful tesuji at move 99. White can not captured the stone directly, since it was exactly what black wanted. If white played white 100 at 1 (diagram below) black will counter with the following sequence and will get the upper hand.



White could also connect with 1 (below), but I think the outcome is still better for black.



White resigned at move 149. The position was hopeless for him.

The final will be played in February 20, 22, and 23. Kong Jie is in super shape at the moment. After his promotion to 9 dan this year, he managed to the final of LG and Samsung Cup consecutively. I wonder if Kong can seize the momentum and make himself as a world champ.