Iyama Yuta Leads Judan by 2-1

The 50th Judan serves us a clash between 2 top Japanese players, Iyama Yuta, the title holder, and his challenger, Cho U. Iyama won the first game and took an early lead.

Iyama then won the second game on March 19 and got his game point. Iyama who played black kept the balance at the center well and after he converted the left side to his area, Cho U resigned.

Here is the game record:
Iyama Yuta (black) vs. Cho U (white). Result: B+R

(;
KM[6.5]
EV[50th Judan title match 2]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
PW[Cho U]
WR[Kisei]
DT[2012-03-19]
BR[Judan]
RE[B+R]
PB[Iyama Yuta]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dc];B[op];W[ci];B[fq];W[dn];B[cq];W[dq];B[dr]
;W[er];B[cr];W[eq];B[bo];W[jq];B[cm];W[dm];B[cl];W[dl];B[jd];W[qf]
;B[nc];W[pj];B[ql];W[mq];B[ph];W[pl];B[pm];W[qk];B[ol];W[pk];B[qm]
;W[qh];B[fr];W[ds];B[co];W[do];B[ck];W[io];B[de];W[ce];B[cf];W[cd]
;B[df];W[ej];B[dj];W[fc];B[di];W[or];B[gn];W[gp];B[fp];W[go];B[fo]
;W[fn];B[fm];W[en];B[hn];W[in];B[lq];W[lr];B[mr];W[nr];B[kr];W[ms]
;B[ip];W[iq];B[jp];W[kq];B[ho];W[hq];B[ek];W[fl];B[el];W[gm];B[hp]
;W[gq];B[em];W[hm];B[ko];W[hk];B[dk];W[ln];B[lo];W[mo];B[im];W[il]
;B[jm];W[kl];B[mn];W[nn];B[km];W[mm];B[ll];W[kk];B[lm];W[lj];B[ml]
;W[nj];B[mi];W[mj];B[ij];W[jl];B[cs];W[es];B[nm];W[of];B[qe];W[rf]
;B[dd];W[cc];B[gr];W[hr];B[fs];W[hs];B[ne];W[ic];B[jc];W[nf];B[mf]
;W[oe];B[me];W[od];B[oc];W[jb];B[kb];W[ib];B[re];W[lb];B[ka];W[on]
;B[om];W[nk];B[mn];W[pc];B[qc];W[mm];B[nl];W[pb];B[lc];W[qb];B[pe]
;W[rc];B[pf];W[oh];B[pg];W[pi];B[rd];W[sc];B[qg];W[rh];B[rg];W[og]
;B[sd];W[sf];B[rb];W[qd];B[qi];W[ri];B[qc];W[kp];B[jo];W[qd];B[rj]
;W[rk];B[qc];W[qo];B[sb];W[po];B[mn];W[rn];B[mp];W[mm];B[gl];W[hl]
;B[mn];W[nd];B[pp];W[mm];B[oo];W[pn];B[lp];W[rp];B[nq];W[jr];B[mr]
;W[ks];B[qq];W[rq];B[rr];W[pr];B[qr];W[rm];B[sr];W[mc];B[mb];W[md]
;B[nb];W[ld];B[kc];W[bf];B[bg];W[be];B[ch];W[kf];B[gj];W[gs];B[cp]
;W[eo];B[rl];W[sl];B[gk];W[jh];B[ke];W[le];B[ih];W[ig];B[hg];W[ii]
;B[hh];W[ji];B[gd];W[fd];B[fe];W[hi];B[gc];W[gb];B[fb];W[eb];B[gi]
;W[gf];B[if];W[hf];B[jg];W[ge];B[kg];W[lg];B[ed];W[ec];B[gg];W[ff]
;B[fg])

The third game was played on April 5. Cho U faced a must win situation as he was behind by 0-2. If he lost the third game, his chance to claim Judan would be 0. Fortunately, he won this game and the match went to its 4th game. Cho got a nice attacking game this time. He threw 11 stones away at the upper left corner to capture Iyama's group at the center. Cho solidified his center and Iyama resigned soon afterward.

Iyama Yuta (left) vs. Cho U (right)

Here is the game record:
Cho U (black) vs. Iyama Yuta (white). Result: B+R

(;
KM[6.5]
EV[50th Judan title match 3]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GM[1]
PB[Cho U]
DT[2012-04-05]
BR[Kisei]
RE[B+R]
PW[Iyama Yuta]
WR[Judan]
;B[qd];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[fc];W[cf];B[kc];W[po];B[qm];W[qq];B[mq]
;W[pp];B[pr];W[np];B[lq];W[qn];B[pl];W[qr];B[iq];W[qf];B[pe];W[rd]
;B[re];W[qe];B[rf];W[pd];B[qc];W[pf];B[oe];W[rc];B[rb];W[of];B[ne]
;W[nf];B[mf];W[me];B[oc];W[pc];B[qb];W[rg];B[sc];W[mg];B[lf];W[pj]
;B[lg];W[mh];B[lh];W[mi];B[qh];W[sf];B[sd];W[qg];B[qj];W[pi];B[rn]
;W[ro];B[pn];W[qo];B[qk];W[kd];B[jd];W[ke];B[id];W[md];B[nc];W[jf]
;B[li];W[ig];B[mj];W[nj];B[ii];W[lj];B[mk];W[kj];B[jh];W[nk];B[ml]
;W[nl];B[mm];W[nm];B[rl];W[sn];B[rh];W[jk];B[hj];W[rm];B[ph];W[oh]
;B[sh];W[sg];B[pk];W[on];B[pm];W[ge];B[ln];W[gc];B[gd];W[hd];B[fd]
;W[hc];B[he];W[fb];B[eb];W[gb];B[hf];W[fe];B[ee];W[ff];B[dc];W[cc]
;B[cd];W[de];B[cb];W[bc];B[ec];W[bb];B[ef];W[fg];B[ed];W[ie];B[cg]
;W[ce];B[eg];W[fh];B[hg];W[hh];B[ih];W[gi];B[hi];W[dh];B[ib];W[gg]
;B[gh];W[nd];B[fi];W[eh];B[gj];W[dg];B[od];W[ea];B[fp];W[dn];B[fn]
;W[fq];B[gq];W[eq];B[gr];W[mn];B[mo];W[mp];B[lp];W[no];B[nn];W[ki]
;B[kh];W[mn];B[km])

The 4th game will be played on April 18. Iyama will play for his title, while Cho U will face another must win game. Who will come out as the winner?

The happy Cho U survived the 3rd game.