Xie Yimin Advanced To NHK Cup's Quarterfinal

Xie Yimin the Female Triple Crowns (Female Honinbo, Female Meijin, Female Kisei) made an impressive victory at the 59th NHK Cup. She won the 3rd round against last year's NHK Winner, Yamada Kimio (9 dan) in a quick 109 moves.

Xie Yimin

Xie opened the game with a Mini-Chinese Fuseki and Yamada decided to enter Xie's influence sphere with white 20. A fight started with Xie kept on attacking white's invading stones and soon Yamada Kimio found himself in trouble. In the end, Xie killed the stones and won by resignation.

Yamada Kimio

Xie will face another tough opponent as she will play Hane Naoki Gosei at the next round.

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

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[59th NHK Cup, round 3]DT[22-01-2012]
PB[Xie Yimin]BR[5p]PW[Yamada Kimio]WR[9p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pp];W[dq];B[do];W[co];B[cn];W[cp];B[fc];W[cf];B[kc];W[qj];B[qi];W[pi]
;B[qh];W[pj];B[ph];W[qn];B[nq];W[od];B[pc];W[le];B[nh];W[jd];B[kd];W[ke];B[je];W[id]
;B[jf];W[mc];B[ib];W[he];B[hc];W[lg];B[jh];W[li];B[fe];W[hg];B[ii];W[hi];B[hj];W[gi]
;B[ij];W[fk];B[dg];W[df];B[eg];W[ef];B[ff];W[fg];B[dj];W[cg];B[ei];W[gj];B[dm];W[ci]
;B[gg];W[fh];B[gf];W[cj];B[mj];W[qe];B[re];W[pe];B[oc];W[rf];B[rd];W[oh];B[og];W[oi]
;B[pf];W[ng];B[nf];W[mg];B[ne];W[kb];B[jc];W[nd];B[qf];W[me];B[ni];W[lj];B[ml];W[hh]
;B[hf];W[lk];B[mk];W[rp];B[ql];W[pl];B[pk];W[qk];B[pm];W[rl];B[ol];W[qm];B[km];W[jl]
;B[hl];W[kl];B[jm];W[jj];B[il];W[fp];B[kf];W[kh];B[mh];W[lc];B[ld])

Yamada Kimio Won NHK Cup

It was perhaps one of the toughest day in Yamada Kimio's career. He reached the final of the NHK Cup for the first time, but faced with someone who has won the same championship 5 times, Yoda Norimoto.


Yamada Kimio

However, Yamada who is hungry for title (the last time he won a championship was Ryusei in 1999) went all out and pulled out a victory from Yoda. This is the 6th title Yamada won since he started his professional career in 1989.


Yoda Norimoto

With this victory, Yamada along with Yoda and Yuki Satoshi will represent Japan at the 23rd Asian TV Cup.

Here is the game record:
Yamada Kimio (black) vs. Yoda Norimoto (white). Result: B+6.5

(;
EV[58th NHK Cup final]
WR[9d]
PW[Yoda Norimoto]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
KM[6.5]
RE[B+6.5]
PB[Yamada Kimio]
DT[2011-03-07]
BR[9d]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dq];B[do];W[op];B[fp];W[qq];B[er];W[bo];B[cp]
;W[cl];B[lp];W[rp];B[qo];W[ro];B[pq];W[pp];B[qn];W[qr];B[pj];W[on]
;B[cf];W[ci];B[fc];W[df];B[dg];W[ef];B[ce];W[cd];B[eg];W[fd];B[ec]
;W[fg];B[di];W[dj];B[ei];W[ch];B[cg];W[ed];B[hc];W[jp];B[ln];W[gr]
;B[hq];W[gq];B[gp];W[hr];B[iq];W[ir];B[cq];W[eq];B[fq];W[jq];B[hp]
;W[fr];B[dr];W[lr];B[gi];W[gd];B[ic];W[gc];B[gb];W[cn];B[cb];W[hg]
;B[nd];W[ii];B[pl];W[qd];B[qc];W[qe];B[rc];W[pe];B[pg];W[od];B[pc]
;W[ne];B[oc];W[oe];B[md];W[ng];B[je];W[jg];B[lf];W[qi];B[pi];W[qh]
;B[qg];W[rg];B[ph];W[ri];B[qj];W[rj];B[rk];W[mg];B[rf];W[qf];B[sh]
;W[rh];B[sj];W[re];B[si];W[sf];B[mj];W[li];B[rn];W[db];B[dc];W[cc]
;B[eb];W[bb];B[el];W[mo];B[mp];W[nq];B[no];W[nn];B[mn];W[ca];B[mr]
;W[mq];B[lq];W[kr];B[oo];W[po];B[np];W[pn];B[oq];W[nr];B[rq];W[rr]
;B[nm];W[or];B[lj];W[ko];B[lo];W[dk];B[fk];W[hb];B[fb];W[id];B[jd]
;W[ib];B[jb];W[hd];B[jc];W[ea];B[ia];W[jm];B[kj];W[ni];B[mf];W[og]
;B[oh];W[mi];B[nf];W[of];B[so];W[sq];B[ji];W[jh];B[ij];W[ki];B[jj]
;W[kl];B[in];W[kn];B[im];W[il];B[hl];W[ml];B[mm];W[br];B[cr];W[fa]
;B[ha];W[dm];B[em];W[dn];B[en];W[io];B[ho];W[hk];B[ik];W[jl];B[hm]
;W[hi];B[hj];W[gh];B[fh];W[if];B[bp];W[ap];B[aq];W[ao];B[bq];W[nl]
;B[ll];W[lk];B[lm];W[mk];B[nj];W[kk];B[om];W[pr];B[pm];W[kf];B[jn]
;W[km];B[jo];W[kp];B[bh];W[bi];B[ag];W[ke];B[ld];W[rl];B[ql];W[sm]
;B[rm];W[kd];B[kc];W[be];B[bf];W[ad];B[ai];W[bj];B[ie];W[he];B[aj]
;W[ak];B[ah];W[bk];B[lg];W[sd];B[sc];W[ok];B[rd];W[oj];B[oi];W[kg]
;B[af];W[gj];B[fi];W[pk];B[qk];W[co];B[ae];W[bd];B[de];W[ee];B[fs]
;W[gs];B[es];W[ip];B[sl];W[dh];B[eh];W[sp];B[se];W[eo];B[dp];W[sd]
;B[ga];W[da];B[se];W[sn];B[so];W[sd];B[pq];W[oq];B[se];W[nk];B[gk]
;W[sd];B[ba];W[aa];B[se];W[sn];B[sd];W[jf];B[kq])

Cho U Defends Oza

Cho U Oza successfully defends his title for one more years. He won the third game by 3.5 points thus winning the title. This is the second time Yamada Kimio lost by 3-0 to Cho. Last year he also challenged Cho for the Oza, but also lost miserably by 3-0.


Yamada Kimio failed again.

Congratulations for Cho U!

Cho U

Here is the game record:
Cho U (black) vs. Yamada Kimio (White). Result:B+3.5

(;
EV[58th Oza title match 3]
KM[6.5]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
PW[Yamada Kimio]
WR[9d]
DT[2010-11-11]
BR[Oza]
RE[B+R]
PB[Cho U]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq];W[po];B[qm];W[qq];B[mq];W[pp];B[pr];W[np];B[lq]
;W[qn];B[pl];W[qr];B[dp];W[oc];B[md];W[ne];B[qg];W[jd];B[me];W[nf]
;B[mf];W[ng];B[lh];W[ni];B[rn];W[ro];B[pn];W[qo];B[lj];W[nk];B[pi]
;W[ll];B[ml];W[mk];B[lk];W[lm];B[nl];W[pj];B[qj];W[qi];B[ri];W[qk]
;B[rj];W[pk];B[rl];W[rk];B[sk];W[pf];B[re];W[jf];B[lc];W[pd];B[cf]
;W[jp];B[pc];W[pb];B[qc];W[nb];B[ok];W[oj];B[ol];W[mi];B[li];W[qf]
;B[rf];W[pg];B[mj];W[nj];B[ph];W[kb];B[dj];W[iq];B[lo];W[jm];B[ii]
;W[fd];B[mn];W[fq];B[dn];W[ch];B[dh];W[di];B[ei];W[ci];B[cj];W[dg]
;B[eh];W[cg];B[ej];W[eo];B[do];W[ij];B[ik];W[mg];B[lg];W[kf];B[lf]
;W[cc];B[lb];W[qb];B[hp];W[hq];B[eq];W[er];B[fp];W[ep];B[dq];W[gp]
;B[rb];W[rc];B[rd];W[ra];B[sc];W[nd];B[ff];W[df];B[mb];W[qe];B[na]
;W[oe];B[hc];W[id];B[jb];W[ib];B[kc];W[hb];B[fr];W[fo];B[gr];W[jj]
;B[jk];W[hi];B[hk];W[ko];B[hm];W[ln];B[mo];W[ih];B[ho];W[gq];B[jr]
;W[go];B[hn];W[jn];B[jq];W[ip];B[so];W[sp];B[sn];W[rq];B[ge];W[gh]
;B[fg];W[jc];B[ka];W[gd];B[hf];W[hd];B[hr];W[ir];B[is];W[fm];B[kl]
;W[gl];B[hl];W[km];B[io];W[jo];B[jh];W[ji];B[jg];W[ig];B[if];W[hj]
;B[bi];W[bh];B[bj];W[on];B[nn];W[mm];B[nm];W[ps];B[nr];W[ls];B[lr]
;W[ns];B[or];W[os];B[ee];W[de];B[ms];W[mr];B[ed];W[ec];B[ms];W[pm]
;B[ql];W[mr];B[mh];W[nh];B[ms];W[qs];B[hg];W[gk];B[fk];W[gj];B[fl]
;W[gm];B[em];W[mr];B[nq];W[ks];B[ms];W[jl];B[kk];W[mr];B[js];W[ma]
;B[hh];W[ii];B[ke];W[je];B[kd];W[oa];B[ms];W[ia];B[ja];W[mr];B[rp]
;W[qp];B[ms];W[sj];B[si];W[mr];B[sr];W[rr];B[ms];W[sm];B[rm];W[mr]
;B[sq];W[ss];B[ms];W[fh];B[eg];W[mr];B[sq];W[sr];B[ms];W[na];B[la]
;W[mr];B[gn];W[fn];B[ms];W[hs];B[gs];W[mr];B[op];W[no];B[ms])

One Victory for Defense

Cho U Oza only need one more victory to defend his title. He won the second game today (November 4) by 3.5 points.


Yamada Kimio (left) vs. Cho U (right)

NowYamada Kimio is in a high tense. He need 3 consecutive victory to steal the title from Cho. Will Yamada repeat his perfect lose like last year? Or will he hang on tight by winning the third game? Let's find out next week.

Here is the game record:
Cho U (white) vs. Yamada Kimio (black). Result: W+3.5

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[58th Oza title match game #2]DT[2010-11-04]
PB[Yamada Kimio]BR[9p]PW[Cho U]WR[9p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[W+3.5]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dp];B[pq];W[dc];B[oc];W[po];B[qo];W[qn];B[qp];W[rd];B[re];W[pm];B[nq];W[qi]
;B[qg];W[oi];B[ce];W[dh];B[cj];W[df];B[cn];W[fq];B[bp];W[cq];B[dl];W[ci];B[bj];W[de]
;B[jc];W[hc];B[cc];W[cd];B[bd];W[dd];B[hq];W[bq];B[nl];W[ok];B[on];W[pn];B[je];W[mo]
;B[no];W[mn];B[nn];W[np];B[op];W[mp];B[ol];W[pl];B[mq];W[kp];B[lq];W[ip];B[lp];W[kn]
;B[ko];W[jo];B[lo];W[ln];B[jn];W[jm];B[in];W[im];B[hn];W[hp];B[ll];W[kl];B[hm];W[kk]
;B[hk];W[hj];B[ij];W[ii];B[ik];W[lj];B[oo];W[kq];B[ji];W[lh];B[mi];W[li];B[ih];W[nk]
;B[bb];W[cb];B[bc];W[db];B[cf];W[cg];B[bg];W[bh];B[ag];W[qc];B[pd];W[pb];B[eg];W[dg]
;B[rc];W[rb];B[sd];W[ob];B[nb];W[nc];B[mc];W[nd];B[mb];W[pc];B[od];W[sb];B[gd];W[gc]
;B[ei];W[eh];B[fh];W[kr];B[lr];W[dj];B[fi];W[di];B[ng];W[lf];B[oa];W[qa];B[me];W[ro]
;B[rp];W[bl];B[cl];W[bn];B[bm];W[am];B[cm];W[bo];B[co];W[cp];B[rn];W[rm];B[so];W[ek]
;B[fo];W[el];B[em];W[fm];B[en];W[go];B[bk];W[gl];B[hl];W[ie];B[fp];W[gq];B[id];W[hd]
;B[he];W[if];B[hf];W[jf];B[fe];W[ke];B[fc];W[fb];B[ib];W[hg];B[gg];W[hh];B[hi];W[ig]
;B[fn];W[fd];B[ed];W[ec];B[gp];W[hr];B[rh];W[ri];B[ph];W[fd];B[ge];W[ff];B[gf];W[oh]
;B[og];W[mf];B[nf];W[ld];B[md];W[qh];B[jd];W[mh];B[rg];W[hb];B[sm];W[rl];B[mm];W[km]
;B[io];W[be];B[bf];W[ae];B[ad];W[ba];B[ab];W[kb];B[jb];W[lc];B[lb];W[gh];B[gi];W[kc]
;B[ka];W[kf];B[jp];W[jq];B[ho];W[iq];B[ep];W[eq];B[sl];W[sk];B[sn];W[ee];B[fg];W[pi]
;B[pg];W[jh];B[gm];W[gk];B[fl];W[fk];B[do];W[ii];B[gj];W[ap];B[al];W[sj];B[mk];W[mj]
;B[ih];W[lk];B[ml];W[ii];B[nh];W[ni];B[ih];W[sc];B[rd];W[ii];B[jj];W[ef];B[om];W[bi]
;B[dk];W[ej];B[ks];W[js];B[ls];W[fj];B[ih];W[la];B[ja];W[ii];B[hj];W[an];B[mg];W[lg]
;B[ki];W[kh];B[ha];W[ga];B[aj];W[sh];B[sg];W[pa];B[na];W[si];B[ia];W[ih];B[jo];W[fm]
;B[ma];W[fl])

Cho U Won First Game of Oza

Cho U started his Oza defense nicely. He beat Yamada Kimio the challenger by resignation and took the first game.


Cho U (left) vs. Yamada Kimio (right)

This is the third time for Yamada to challenge this title. The first was in 1997 where he beat Ryu Shikun and took the title and the second was last year where he can't obtain even a single victory from Cho. Will Yamada able to overcome Cho's dominance over him?

Here's the game record:
Cho U (black) vs. Yamada Kimio (white). Result: B+Resignation.

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]EV[58th Oza, title match #1]DT[2010-10-21]
PB[Cho U]BR[9p]PW[Yamada Kimio]WR[9p]KM[6.5]RE[B+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[op];W[dp];B[lc];W[qq];B[qo];W[oq];B[np];W[ro];B[qn];W[nq];B[mp];W[pp]
;B[po];W[rp];B[fc];W[df];B[db];W[pg];B[ch];W[pj];B[mq];W[od];B[oe];W[md];B[qf];W[qg]
;B[ld];W[ne];B[of];W[le];B[jd];W[nh];B[ke];W[lf];B[nb];W[dk];B[eh];W[di];B[dh];W[bf]
;B[ff];W[fd];B[gd];W[ec];B[fb];W[eb];B[ea];W[cc];B[fe];W[ed];B[hc];W[kf];B[fq];W[cn]
;B[dr];W[je];B[kd];W[ip];B[pk];W[ok];B[ol];W[rf];B[re];W[pf];B[pe];W[qe];B[bb];W[cb]
;B[ca];W[bc];B[qf];W[fp];B[gp];W[eq];B[fo];W[ep];B[er];W[gq];B[fr];W[hq];B[cq];W[go]
;B[qk];W[oj];B[nl];W[pc];B[qc];W[nc];B[pb];W[ob];B[oa];W[mb];B[oc];W[bp];B[bq];W[ob]
;B[gn];W[hp];B[oc];W[gh];B[bg];W[ce];B[ei];W[ob];B[ee];W[bd];B[oc];W[fj];B[pd];W[ej]
;B[cj];W[ck];B[bj];W[mc];B[ie];W[jm];B[ih];W[kh];B[og];W[oh];B[ji];W[hj];B[mj];W[lj]
;B[mg];W[ng];B[nf];W[mf];B[li];W[ki];B[mh];W[ni];B[mi];W[kj];B[mk];W[qj];B[rg];W[rh]
;B[sf];W[rk];B[rl];W[ql];B[pl];W[sl];B[rm];W[ri];B[jg];W[jf];B[if];W[jh];B[jo];W[ll]
;B[kg];W[lg];B[ig];W[lh];B[lk];W[kk];B[in];W[ml];B[nk];W[mn];B[lo];W[bk];B[hi];W[ij]
;B[im];W[gi];B[dj];W[gm];B[hn];W[gf];B[fg];W[gg];B[ge];W[fm];B[fn];W[en];B[mr];W[nr]
;B[cp];W[bo];B[ii];W[kp];B[ko];W[jl];B[eo];W[do];B[em];W[dn];B[sm];W[sk];B[rr];W[rq]
;B[pr];W[pq];B[qr];W[sr];B[sq];W[sp];B[fl];W[gl];B[gk])

Yamada Kimio Rechallenge Oza

Unsuccessfully challenging for Cho U's Oza title last year (losing 0-3), Yamada Kimio will take Cho U in another 5 games title match. Yamada Kimio won 58th Oza Final to become this year challenger.


Yamada Kimio

Yamada who has a terrible year this year after losing his seats at both Meijin league (with 2-6 record) and Honinbo league (with 2-5 record also lost to Cho Sonjin at the first round of 66th Honinbo final preliminary), seize his last chance to prove himself this year at the top 7 titles.

Yamada beat Mochizuki Kenichi (7 dan) in a tense wrecking game. I don't understand white's final decision when he played F11 (move 206). I think connecting at J13 is the only answer. White will be connected that way!


Mochizuki Kenichi

Here is the game record:
Yamada Kimio (black) vs. Mochizuki Kenichi (white). Result: B+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]SZ[19]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]GN[Rating game]EV[58th Japanese Oza, final]
DT[2010-08-26]PB[Yamada Kimio]BR[9p]PW[Mochizuki Kenichi]WR[7p]KM[6.5]HA[0]RE[B+R!]
MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pp];W[dq];B[fc];W[hc];B[oc];W[ec];B[ck];W[fd];B[co];W[cm];B[eo];W[gq]
;B[dl];W[cp];B[bo];W[qj];B[dg];W[qn];B[nq];W[mc];B[qh];W[rp];B[ql];W[on];B[pk];W[qq]
;B[nn];W[nm];B[no];W[mm];B[pj];W[kp];B[lo];W[ei];B[ci];W[me];B[ip];W[iq];B[jq];W[jp]
;B[io];W[kq];B[hq];W[jr];B[ir];W[kn];B[pq];W[gp];B[qp];W[rr];B[qr];W[rq];B[gr];W[ep]
;B[jn];W[ko];B[do];W[fr];B[gn];W[jm];B[im];W[il];B[gd];W[gc];B[fe];W[ed];B[jl];W[km]
;B[jk];W[hm];B[in];W[hk];B[go];W[ii];B[kj];W[ki];B[li];W[kh];B[fg];W[qm];B[pm];W[ol]
;B[hj];W[oo];B[pn];W[pl];B[po];W[om];B[ro];W[qk];B[rl];W[rm];B[qo];W[rk];B[pr];W[ij]
;B[ik];W[hl];B[mj];W[gj];B[pi];W[hp];B[jq];W[pg];B[iq];W[qg];B[lh];W[lk];B[lj];W[ni]
;B[kg];W[ih];B[gh];W[hh];B[mf];W[nf];B[ng];W[lf];B[mg];W[le];B[of];W[ne];B[og];W[rh]
;B[lg];W[if];B[bq];W[pe];B[oe];W[pd];B[od];W[pc];B[pf];W[qf];B[gi];W[hi];B[pb];W[qb]
;B[qc];W[qe];B[rb];W[ob];B[qa];W[nb];B[ph];W[qi];B[ok];W[gs];B[hr];W[nk];B[nj];W[nh]
;B[mk];W[bp];B[cq];W[dp];B[ap];W[cr];B[br];W[bs];B[dr];W[ds];B[cs];W[ml];B[oh];W[cr]
;B[ri];W[rf];B[sh];W[rg];B[sf];W[rj];B[sj];W[si];B[cs];W[oi];B[ri];W[sl];B[mi];W[cr]
;B[re];W[si];B[cs];W[rd];B[fp];W[rc];B[ce];W[cd];B[bd];W[bc];B[ie];W[jf];B[ge];W[id]
;B[je];W[he];B[hd];W[jd];B[hf];W[ke];B[be];W[ek];B[jg];W[fi];B[ig];W[he];B[hg])

A Game To See (3)

Another day, another interesting game. This game came from the 62nd Japanese Honinbo league.

Black: Yamada Kimio (9 dan)
White: Kobayashi Satoru (9 dan)


White 10 The appropriate move. The ladder is unfavorable, so white must not attach at F17, since it allows black to get a strong position (10. W-F17,B-G17,W-G16,B-E17,W-F18,B-F15,W-E18,B-H16)

White 14 A strange move. Usually white play the suberi at F18. The outcome of the attachment only strenghtening black.

White 20 is an urgent move. It prevents black from creating a strong formation in the left side.



White 24 It is better to play R7 to settle the lone stone.

Black 29 is a good move. Punishing white's early mistake.

Black 39 The sequence from 32-39 is favorable for black. The position is hard for white now.

White 46 I wonder if the block at N12 is better.

Black 49 is a brave move. It's better to save the group completely by playing M13 or L12

White 56 is slow. I think it's better to leave the group and play tenuki

White 58 starts a fight, but the fight is not easy for white, due to black's thick position in the left.

White resigns at move 73. I think it's too fast to resign, perhaps white should defend with bamboo joint first at J13, then see what happen with the fight in the left.