Mukai Chiaki Rechallenge Xie Yimin

Despite her lost at the final round at the 23rd Female Meijin league, Mukai Chiaki (4 dan) won her ticket to play Xie Yimin for the title Female Meijin.


Mukai Chiaki

Mukai picked 4 victories and 2 losses. At the final round of the league, Mukai lost by a slim 0.5 point to Mannami Nao (2 dan), but her higher placement at the previous league won her the ticket to the best-of-3 title series.



Mannami Nao

The date of the first game is still unknown, but it is expected to be in March. Xie has a very positive 7-2 record against Mukai. This will be their third title series between the two. Previously, Xie beat Mukai 3-0 in Female Honinbo title match and 2-0 in last year Female Meijin.

Final placement of the league:
1. Mukai Chiaki (4 dan) 4-2
2. Suzuki Ayumi (5 dan) 4-2
3. Yoshida Mika (8 dan) 4-2
4. Okuda Aya (2 dan) 4-2
5. Mannami Nao (2 dan) 3-3 Demoted
6. Umezawa Yukari (5 dan) 1-5 Demoted
7. Koyama Terumi (6 dan( 1-5 Demoted

Mannami Nao (black) vs. Mukai Chiaki (white). Result: B+0.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[23rd Female Meijin, league]DT[2011-01-20]
PB[Mannami Kana]BR[2p]PW[Mukai Chiaki]WR[4p]KM[6.5]RE[B+0.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pp];W[dq];B[fc];W[cf];B[kc];W[qj];B[qn];W[qg];B[pi];W[qi];B[pf];W[re]
;B[pg];W[qe];B[pe];W[qh];B[pd];W[ic];B[fe];W[ie];B[db];W[ke];B[md];W[gd];B[fd];W[cc]
;B[fg];W[gc];B[dh];W[fb];B[eb];W[gb];B[cb];W[bc];B[de];W[ce];B[ed];W[dc];B[ec];W[bh]
;B[do];W[dl];B[eq];W[er];B[ep];W[fr];B[cq];W[cr];B[dp];W[dr];B[bq];W[iq];B[cm];W[cl]
;B[dm];W[eg];B[fh];W[eh];B[fi];W[ei];B[kq];W[jq];B[kp];W[lc];B[ld];W[kd];B[lb];W[jc]
;B[kb];W[ff];B[gf];W[ef];B[ge];W[hg];B[gg];W[hh];B[gj];W[ij];B[pq];W[rc];B[rd];W[sd]
;B[lg];W[lf];B[jg];W[mg];B[lh];W[ig];B[el];W[fk];B[gk];W[fl];B[ik];W[jk];B[il];W[jl]
;B[im];W[fj];B[hi];W[ii];B[jm];W[kj];B[mh];W[qb];B[pb];W[nf];B[ng];W[mf];B[qc];W[rb]
;B[lm];W[ql];B[ek];W[dj];B[kr];W[gp];B[em];W[ej];B[rm];W[nm];B[mn];W[ob];B[oa];W[nn]
;B[no];W[oo];B[np];W[bl];B[br];W[bn];B[bm];W[am];B[bo];W[jr];B[dk];W[ck];B[js];W[is]
;B[ks];W[io];B[hr];W[ir];B[rl];W[rk];B[pl];W[pk];B[pm];W[og];B[mj];W[oc];B[pc];W[nd]
;B[nb];W[ll];B[ml];W[km];B[kn];W[kl];B[gl];W[mm];B[ln];W[hj];B[gi];W[nl];B[mk];W[ok]
;B[ph];W[fm];B[jh];W[ih];B[jo];W[nh];B[ni];W[on];B[bb];W[ab];B[jb];W[ib];B[qf];W[rf]
;B[cn];W[oj];B[oi];W[ne];B[nc];W[od];B[an];W[al];B[ji];W[jj];B[cs];W[qa];B[pa];W[jf]
;B[fq];W[gq];B[gr];W[hq];B[ds];W[gs];B[ho];W[hs];B[es];W[bs];B[as];W[fs];B[bs];W[go]
;B[ip];W[hn];B[in];W[fn];B[ee];W[op];B[oq];W[po];B[qo];W[sl];B[sm];W[sk];B[df];W[dg]
;B[ki];W[kg];B[lj];W[qk];B[qm];W[kf];B[kh];W[mi];B[li];W[nj];B[he];W[hd];B[ia];W[ha]
;B[ja];W[ea];B[da];W[fa];B[hm];W[gn];B[en];W[lk];B[hf];W[if];B[hk];W[ba];B[ca];W[ac]
;B[aa];W[qp];B[rp];W[ba];B[cj];W[bj];B[aa];W[hp];B[io];W[ba];B[rg];W[rh];B[aa];W[nk]
;B[mi];W[ba];B[fp];W[fo];B[aa];W[qq];B[qr];W[ba];B[ci];W[bi];B[aa];W[rq];B[rr];W[ba]
;B[bk];W[ak];B[aa];W[ng];B[ba])

Suzuki Ayumi (black) vs. Umezawa Yukari (white). Result: B+R


Suzuki Ayumi

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[23rd Female Meijin, league]DT[2011-01-20]
PB[Suzuki Ayumi]BR[5p]PW[Umezawa Yukari]WR[5p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dd];B[fq];W[cn];B[lq];W[qj];B[qf];W[qm];B[pn];W[ro];B[rp];W[pm]
;B[om];W[on];B[qn];W[oo];B[rn];W[rm];B[op];W[np];B[oq];W[mo];B[ol];W[nq];B[jp];W[qh]
;B[ll];W[kn];B[oi];W[pg];B[fo];W[eq];B[fr];W[or];B[pr];W[qr];B[pq];W[kq];B[jq];W[kp]
;B[kr];W[jo];B[lp];W[ko];B[mr];W[nr];B[ps];W[ho];B[hq];W[il];B[pf];W[og];B[mh];W[rg]
;B[cf];W[ch];B[fd];W[df];B[dg];W[cg];B[dc];W[ce];B[cc];W[ef];B[en];W[fc];B[gc];W[ec]
;B[ed];W[gb];B[hc];W[db];B[hb];W[cb];B[cd];W[de];B[bb];W[eb];B[ga];W[ba];B[bc];W[ge]
;B[ff];W[fg];B[fe];W[gg];B[gf];W[hf];B[he];W[ie];B[be];W[fa];B[fb];W[hd];B[gd];W[gb]
;B[bf];W[dh];B[fb];W[ip];B[iq];W[gb];B[ha];W[ad];B[fb];W[ab];B[bd];W[gb];B[qk];W[rk]
;B[fb];W[pc];B[oc];W[gb];B[pj];W[ri];B[fb];W[od];B[qc];W[gb];B[ca];W[da];B[pb];W[bg]
;B[fb];W[lj];B[jk];W[ki];B[jl];W[im];B[ik];W[hk];B[hj];W[gk];B[mm];W[mn];B[mj];W[gb]
;B[cm];W[bm];B[bn];W[dn];B[bo];W[bl];B[dm];W[cp];B[gm];W[gl];B[fb];W[mi];B[ni];W[gb]
;B[ck];W[bk];B[fb];W[lh];B[li];W[gb];B[lg];W[af];B[fb];W[ae];B[hg];W[if];B[hh];W[ic]
;B[jb];W[jc];B[kb];W[kc];B[lc];W[ld];B[mc];W[mf];B[lf];W[me];B[cj];W[bj];B[dr];W[cr]
;B[br];W[bp];B[of];W[ng];B[mg];W[nf];B[gj];W[fm];B[em];W[fj];B[bq];W[cq];B[cs];W[ek]
;B[jg];W[cl];B[fi];W[ei];B[ea];W[ac];B[rf];W[sf];B[se];W[sg];B[re];W[ig];B[ih];W[gi]
;B[hi];W[gh];B[ql];W[rl];B[ep];W[aq];B[dq];W[bs];B[as];W[ap];B[fl];W[jf];B[kg];W[sn]
;B[qo];W[so];B[sm];W[sl];B[sp];W[sm];B[jm];W[in];B[ke])

I Am Legend

Moon Dowon has carved her name and put her portray at Jeongganjang Cup's Hall of Fame. She made a new record, 7 consecutive winning streaks, breaking previous record set by Song Ronghui of China who had 6 non-stop wins 2 years ago.

Moon Dowon met Suzuki Ayumi (5 dan) of Japan. The game was somewhat very simple, less intense compared to the previous game (Moon vs. Song Ronghui's game). Suzuki who played black opened the game with Mini Chinese fuseki and white answered with the watari at the right side. Suzuki Ayumi captured a corner early in the game, but the corner has a ko problem and Moon Dowon used it to attack black at the bottom board.


Suzuki Ayumi (left) vs. Moon Dowon (right)

Suzuki Ayumi's first problem came from her separated group at the bottom board. Although she successfully saved it at move 127, white became very thick at the left side and captured a big frame of moyo. The game quickly entered yose and white finished it without a problem.

Well, well, what can we say. Moon Dowon showed a great quality at the first stage of the competition. Korea still has all 5 members on board, while China is down to Tang Yi (2 dan) and their ace, Rui Naiwei (9 dan). Meanwhile, Japan hit the hard spot with only 1 member left, Yoshida Mika (8 dan). Will Moon Dowon continue her winning streak at the second stage? We'll find out the answer in March when the tournament continues.


Moon's friends are also happy for her. The person in left seems to be Park Jiyeon (2 dan) also Korea's team member at this year Jeongganjang.

Here is the game record:
Moon Dowon (white) vs. Suzuki Ayumi (black). Result: W+3.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[9th Jeongganjang Cup, game 7]DT[2011-01-14]
PB[Suzuki Ayumi]BR[5p]PW[Moon Dowon]WR[2p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+3.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[fc];W[cf];B[kc];W[qk];B[qn];W[qh];B[qf];W[oh];B[db];W[fq]
;B[cc];W[ci];B[jq];W[oc];B[pc];W[pe];B[pd];W[qe];B[re];W[od];B[oe];W[pf];B[ne];W[rf]
;B[rd];W[ld];B[kd];W[le];B[nc];W[nd];B[md];W[ob];B[me];W[mc];B[mb];W[nb];B[lc];W[pb]
;B[qb];W[rb];B[ra];W[qq];B[pp];W[qp];B[nc];W[qo];B[po];W[pn];B[qr];W[rn];B[qm];W[pm]
;B[rq];W[ql];B[lf];W[lq];B[jo];W[lo];B[ro];W[rm];B[qn];W[qm];B[rp];W[jm];B[kn];W[mn]
;B[ln];W[no];B[mp];W[mo];B[ll];W[hn];B[bo];W[co];B[bp];W[bn];B[dq];W[cn];B[eq];W[ep]
;B[fr];W[cq];B[gq];W[fp];B[cr];W[gr];B[er];W[hq];B[cp];W[kj];B[kk];W[jk];B[lj];W[li]
;B[jl];W[jj];B[il];W[km];B[lm];W[kl];B[lk];W[im];B[mi];W[mh];B[lh];W[ki];B[nh];W[mj]
;B[mg];W[nj];B[hl];W[hj];B[ho];W[gn];B[ko];W[ip];B[lp];W[np];B[mq];W[nq];B[mr];W[nr]
;B[ir];W[fd];B[gg];W[ec];B[eb];W[gc];B[fb];W[fi];B[ff];W[ge];B[ig];W[hh];B[hg];W[cd]
;B[io];W[gp];B[go];W[fn];B[hd];W[gd];B[gi];W[gj];B[dg];W[bh];B[nl];W[nm];B[qg];W[pg]
;B[rg];W[rh];B[sf];W[qn];B[ps];W[he];B[bc];W[je];B[ke];W[ao];B[bq];W[bd];B[fo];W[eo]
;B[ad];W[ae];B[ac];W[rc];B[qc];W[ic];B[ih];W[eh];B[ee];W[ed];B[be];W[eg];B[af];W[ef]
;B[ii];W[ij];B[ol];W[ni];B[mh];W[jf];B[jg];W[jb];B[ap];W[an];B[oj];W[pj];B[gb];W[kb]
;B[lb];W[hr];B[ms];W[or];B[pr];W[hb];B[de];W[ce];B[fe];W[so];B[rs];W[df];B[ok];W[oi]
;B[ah];W[ai];B[sh];W[si];B[sg];W[mm];B[nk];W[kr];B[is];W[kq];B[ks];W[hp];B[jp];W[ag]
;B[ga];W[bf];B[ri];W[sj];B[ae];W[sn];B[sp];W[hi];B[gh];W[ha];B[kh];W[kf];B[jd];W[id]
;B[of];W[la];B[ma];W[ka];B[rj];W[sk];B[kg];W[oo];B[om];W[on];B[og];W[ph];B[fj];W[fk]
;B[fh];W[ei];B[pk];W[qj];B[in];W[hm];B[jr];W[fs];B[es];W[gs];B[ji];W[ie];B[mk];W[ml]
;B[dc];W[gf];B[fg];W[hf];B[iq];W[ns];B[os];W[jn];B[op];W[oq];B[hs];W[if];B[jc];W[pl])

Girls Fight

Let's take a look at a recently played game. This game came from the 23rd Female Meijin league. Black is Okuda Aya (2 dan) and white is Suzuki Ayumi (5 dan).


Okuda Aya

In this game, Okuda Aya who played black showed an excellent game. The game became complicated early when Suzuki Ayumi played a hit shoulder at move 10. Black struggled to come out and helped her group in the center.


Suzuki Ayumi

The game was decided when black cut white's stone at move 149. It seemed that white would win the capturing race. However, black played a tesuji with 179 to kill white. Black won the game by resignation.

Okuda Aya recently showed a very good result. She was the finalist of the 4th Daiwa Ladies Cup and notably, she beat Xie Yimin at the first round of the championship. She also started her Female Meijin league with a nice victory.

Here's the game record:

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[23rd Japanese Female Meijin, league]
DT[2010-07-29]PB[Okuda Aya]BR[2p]PW[Suzuki Ayumi]WR[5p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[fq];W[cn];B[qk];W[jp];B[lq];W[gp];B[fp];W[fo];B[eo];W[fn]
;B[ep];W[dq];B[en];W[fm];B[cm];W[bm];B[cl];W[el];B[co];W[bo];B[dn];W[bn];B[dl];W[lo]
;B[np];W[di];B[gq];W[hp];B[iq];W[jq];B[ir];W[jr];B[ip];W[io];B[jo];W[lp];B[jn];W[mq]
;B[ek];W[fk];B[ej];W[df];B[gl];W[in];B[jm];W[im];B[il];W[jl];B[hm];W[ik];B[hl];W[ho]
;B[ln];W[fl];B[lr];W[mr];B[mn];W[kr];B[hj];W[gj];B[jk];W[kl];B[jj];W[ei];B[cj];W[ci]
;B[er];W[dr];B[dj];W[gi];B[jd];W[qf];B[qe];W[pf];B[nd];W[ml];B[lk];W[pj];B[pk];W[qj]
;B[oj];W[rk];B[rl];W[rj];B[ko];W[kp];B[qm];W[op];B[oo];W[nn];B[ll];W[oq];B[pp];W[no]
;B[or];W[nq];B[oi];W[re];B[rd];W[rf];B[qh];W[rh];B[qi];W[ri];B[og];W[qc];B[qd];W[rc]
;B[sd];W[of];B[nf];W[ng];B[nh];W[sk];B[fc];W[ob];B[pc];W[pb];B[nc];W[ra];B[ee];W[de]
;B[db];W[ge];B[hd];W[ih];B[hf];W[mb];B[nb];W[na];B[lc];W[cc];B[ds];W[cs];B[es];W[br]
;B[gf];W[is];B[hr];W[bj];B[bk];W[bi];B[do];W[cp];B[hh];W[hi];B[ii];W[fj];B[bl];W[ji]
;B[ij];W[hg];B[gh];W[gg];B[fh];W[fg];B[ig];W[jh];B[eg];W[ff];B[ef];W[fe];B[eh];W[ed]
;B[jg];W[kg];B[kh];W[ki];B[li];W[lh];B[kj];W[kh];B[kf];W[lf];B[lg])

Xie Yimin Defend Her Title

Xie Yimin, the current Female Honinbo title holder, won the fourth game of 27th Female Honinbo, and keep her title for another year.

She won the fourth game against Suzuki Ayumi, the challenger, by 0.5 point.

Up to move 6, the opening was the same with this year Ryusei's final (Cho U (B) vs. Kono Rin (W), W+R). Move 7 in that game was played at 'A' by Cho U, but Suzuki Ayumi played an enclosure in the top right.

Move 10 is rarely seen. I don't know the joseki after Suzuki Ayumi's niken biraki answer. If you know, please tell me.

Xie Yimin (W) vs. Suzuki Ayumi (B), W+0.5

I think the game was very well played. After 309 moves, Xie Yimin won the game along with the title.

I think Xie Yimin is the strongest female player right now in Japan, considering that she is only 18 years old, it's incredible to see number of titles she has won.
I wonder why she didn't play for Japan in the Jeongganjang cup for Japan. Is it due to the fact that she is not Japanese?

Congratulation for Xie Yimin. I hope she can improve more and become the first woman to win an open tournament in Japan (so far I know, no woman ever won an open tournament yet. The closest were Aoki Kikuyo became runner-up in Shinjin-O cup and Xie Yimin as 3rd Nakano Cup runner-up, losing to Iyama Yuta).

Xie Yimin Took the Lead

The third title match of 27th Female Honinbo has been played.Xie Yimin, the title holder won against Suzuki Ayumi, the challenger by 1.5 points.

The game was peaceful. No big fight or semeai on the board. I think Xie Yimin won the game in the yose. He played a probe at move 159, which then allowed her to split Suzuki Ayumi's group (eventhough she lost sente as the result).

Xie Yimin (B) vs. Suzuki Ayumi (W), B+1.5, up to move 53

It seems that Xie Yimin is back to her shape. After lost to Suzuki Ayumi in the first title match, she won the last 2 matches. Recently she won a gold medal with her partner, Zhou Junxun, in the 1st World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) for C.Taipei in the Mixed Pair division.

Suzuki Ayumi, along with Aoki Kikuyo and Koyama Terumi also won a medal for Japan in that tournament. They won bronze medal in Teams Women division.
The fourth game will be played in November, 5.

Xie Yimin - Suzuki Ayumi, 1-1

Xie Yimin, Female Honinbo, able to draw the position in the 27th Female Honinbo title match.

The game was played in October 8, 2008. At Chiyoda, Tokyo

Playing as white, Xie Yimin was able to forced Suzuki Ayumi, the challenger to resign in 128 moves.

I admit that Xie Yimin played a very impressive game this time. The gap was very big.

I found that her move 18, was pretty good. It forced Suzuki Ayumi to play R14 which is a mistake in direction, since it made Xie naturally played R7. Because the extension is far from black's enclosure, it made black thin while it didn't put any pressure to white's stones

Xie Yimin (W) vs. Suzuki Ayumi (B), up to move 52

27th Female Honinbo, Title Match #1

This year title match for the Female Honinbo title had been played.

Xie Yimin, Female Honinbo, is challanged by Suzuki Ayumi 4 dan.

The first match was played at October first, in Hanamaki, Iwate.

Suzuki Ayumi won the first match by resignation.

The game was peaceful. There were no big fight in this game. I don't understand Suzuki Ayumi's choice of playing B 15 when Xie played C 17. It seems that she wanted to keep the group separated, but it seems (for me) that taking the corner is bigger. Anyone kind enough to tell me the reason?

Until October 3, Suzuki Ayumi was ranked 11 in Japanese most won record, with 24 win and 9 loss with impressive 73% winning rate, while Xie Yimin was ranked 16 with 21 win and 13 loss with 62% winning rate.

Suzuki Ayumi

Xie Yimin doesn't do very well until now. Last year, she was ranked third with 40 win and16loss with 71% winning rate. AtOctober 3, she was ranked 15 with 22 win and 14 loss with 61% winning rate

Xie Yimin

But it is still October. We should see the end result in December.