Lee Sedol Won Chunlan Cup

Lee Sedol shows that he is still one of the best in the world. After a poor performance at the LG cup, Lee took the Chunlan Cup from Xie He.


Xie He (left) vs. Lee Sedol (right)

At the first game, Lee played with black and won the game convincingly by resignation. Xie He sacrifice his big group with white 126 to attack black's group at the right side, but Lee defended his group properly and Xie resigned at move 169.

Here's the game record:

(;
KM[7.5]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
GK[1]
EV[7th Prices Information Cup block-D]
GM[1]
PB[Lee Sedol]
PW[Xie He]
BR[9d]
RE[B+R]
DT[2011-06-27]
WR[7d]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dd];B[op];W[qi];B[fq];W[dn];B[qk];W[qf];B[jp]
;W[nc];B[nd];W[md];B[ne];W[qc];B[oc];W[mc];B[qd];W[rd];B[nb];W[rb]
;B[mb];W[kd];B[pb];W[fc];B[cl];W[cj];B[el];W[cm];B[bl];W[ej];B[fn]
;W[fm];B[em];W[en];B[fl];W[gm];B[fo];W[gl];B[fk];W[ho];B[gk];W[il]
;B[hk];W[hq];B[dr];W[cq];B[cr];W[eq];B[ep];W[er];B[dq];W[fr];B[cp]
;W[do];B[bq];W[gp];B[cn];W[dm];B[bm];W[fp];B[dl];W[eo];B[co];W[ep]
;B[cf];W[df];B[dg];W[cg];B[ch];W[bg];B[bf];W[bh];B[dh];W[ce];B[ef]
;W[de];B[bi];W[be];B[fg];W[mq];B[or];W[mo];B[lp];W[mp];B[kn];W[pm]
;B[ok];W[nl];B[ll];W[nk];B[pi];W[qh];B[ni];W[nj];B[lj];W[mi];B[oi]
;W[mj];B[pg];W[qg];B[im];W[hl];B[jl];W[ik];B[nn];W[mn];B[mm];W[nm]
;B[on];W[kq];B[ij];W[jk];B[jj];W[kk];B[lk];W[pn];B[po];W[pl];B[kj]
;W[mg];B[kl];W[kp];B[ng];W[pj];B[gn];W[ro];B[rp];W[gf];B[gg];W[lb]
;B[id];W[me];B[mh];W[lh];B[mf];W[lg];B[lf];W[kf];B[gd];W[gc];B[hc]
;W[pf];B[kg];W[jf];B[kb];W[la];B[kh];W[nh];B[lc];W[kc];B[jb];W[if]
;B[hf];W[he];B[hg];W[ie];B[hd];W[ge];B[fd];W[ke];B[ma];W[ld];B[oa]
;W[ee];B[ec];W[qb];B[pc])

At the second game, Xie He played with black and took revenge from game 1. Lee started a strange joseki at the upper right corner which gave him territory at the top, but gave Xie big influence. Xie later turned it into territory and took a small lead. Lee resigned at move 195.

Here is the game record:

(;
KM[7.5]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
EV[8th Chunlan Cup final round 2]
GM[1]
PB[Xie He]
PW[Lee Sedol]
BR[7d]
RE[B+R]
DT[2011-06-29]
WR[9d]
;B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dd];B[nq];W[qf];B[nc];W[rd];B[qh];W[qc];B[qe]
;W[pe];B[pf];W[oe];B[rf];W[qd];B[qg];W[nd];B[oc];W[ld];B[mc];W[lc]
;B[md];W[me];B[le];W[mf];B[lb];W[kb];B[la];W[jc];B[pb];W[ke];B[qb]
;W[rb];B[sc];W[ce];B[dn];W[dl];B[ek];W[re];B[qf];W[na];B[lf];W[pc]
;B[od];W[ob];B[ne];W[mb];B[dk];W[qn];B[kf];W[je];B[jf];W[if];B[ie]
;W[jd];B[ig];W[hf];B[hg];W[gf];B[cc];W[gg];B[dc];W[fc];B[fb];W[eb]
;B[ec];W[gb];B[fd];W[gc];B[cg];W[bd];B[cp];W[cq];B[co];W[fq];B[bq]
;W[iq];B[pl];W[dg];B[dh];W[df];B[pp];W[nl];B[nm];W[ol];B[om];W[pk]
;B[pm];W[ml];B[qk];W[mg];B[of];W[nb];B[kh];W[mi];B[kj];W[mm];B[jm]
;W[kn];B[jn];W[kp];B[gh];W[fh];B[gi];W[kl];B[jl];W[ch];B[ci];W[bh]
;B[di];W[no];B[lq];W[qj];B[rl];W[rk];B[ql];W[oj];B[kq];W[dq];B[pi]
;W[kk];B[jk];W[pj];B[km];W[mn];B[mj];W[nj];B[mk];W[rj];B[pn];W[nk]
;B[ll];W[mp];B[se];W[pa];B[lp];W[mq];B[mr];W[nr];B[or];W[br];B[bg]
;W[fn];B[lo];W[qi];B[hp];W[fi];B[eg];W[ef];B[fg];W[eh];B[fj];W[ff]
;B[en];W[fo];B[oi];W[rh];B[ni];W[gj];B[fm];W[hi];B[hq];W[bp];B[bo]
;W[aq];B[ih];W[fl];B[el];W[gm];B[em];W[bf];B[bi];W[oq];B[ns];W[np]
;B[nr];W[gr];B[hh];W[hn];B[hr];W[op];B[pq];W[fk];B[ej];W[hk];B[sd]
;W[qa];B[ho];W[ao];B[bn];W[in];B[io];W[ln];B[ko])

At the third game, Lee who played white repeated the same joseki at the upper right corner with a deviation. The result is different this time. White got the right side, while black got a thickness at the right side and some points at the upper side. After 214 moves, Lee won the game by resignation.

Here is the game record:

(;FF[4]GM[1]SZ[19]CA[UTF-8]SO[gokifu.com]BC[cn]WC[kr]EV[8th Chunlan Cup]PB[Xie He]BR[7p]PW[Lee Sedol]WR[9p]KM[7.5]DT[2011-06-30]RE[W+R];B[pd];W[dp];B[qp];W[dd];B[nq];W[qf];B[nc];W[rd];B[qh];W[qc];B[qe];W[pe];B[pf];W[oe];B[rf];W[qd];B[qg];W[nd];B[oc];W[ld];B[mc];W[lc];B[lb];W[kb];B[md];W[me];B[le];W[mf];B[lg];W[re];B[lf];W[qf];B[jc];W[mb];B[la];W[kd];B[jd];W[ke];B[kc];W[je];B[ie];W[jf];B[jb];W[if];B[mg];W[of];B[og];W[pg];B[oh];W[he];B[fq];W[cn];B[mn];W[op];B[np];W[qo];B[ro];W[rn];B[qn];W[po];B[rp];W[rm];B[pn];W[on];B[ql];W[pl];B[qm];W[qk];B[rl];W[rk];B[sn];W[oj];B[mk];W[ph];B[pi];W[pf];B[oi];W[qi];B[om];W[hq];B[dr];W[fp];B[eq];W[gp];B[ep];W[eo];B[cp];W[cf];B[ri];W[qj];B[ol];W[ok];B[nk];W[sg];B[cl];W[do];B[bp];W[cj];B[fl];W[hl];B[fn];W[fo];B[dj];W[di];B[dk];W[ei];B[gn];W[kq];B[jo];W[ho];B[hn];W[in];B[io];W[im];B[fj];W[hj];B[fi];W[ll];B[kn];W[fr];B[dq];W[gq];B[ci];W[ch];B[bn];W[lr];B[kj];W[jj];B[ji];W[ii];B[jk];W[ij];B[eb];W[dc];B[gc];W[kk];B[lj];W[nr];B[or];W[mr];B[jq];W[jr];B[jl];W[km];B[kl];W[jn];B[ln];W[lp];B[ko];W[ki];B[li];W[oq];B[pr];W[no];B[db];W[bi];B[bk];W[cq];B[bq];W[cb];B[kh];W[gh];B[fh];W[fg];B[id];W[hd];B[hc];W[fd];B[ec];W[ed];B[eg];W[eh];B[ca];W[bb];B[mo];W[mp];B[nn];W[oo];B[pq];W[mq];B[gg];W[ff];B[hh];W[ih];B[gi];W[hg];B[gf];W[ge];B[pb];W[qb];B[iq];W[ir];B[od];W[ne];B[pj];W[pk];B[nj];W[rh];B[bj];W[co];B[cm];W[bo];B[ao];W[jm];B[lm];W[na];B[nb];W[pa];B[ma];W[oa];B[ob];W[qa];B[ka];W[bm])

This is the first Chunlan title for Lee Sedol and the fifteenth international title. Congratulations Lee Sedol!


Lee Sedol

Chunlan Cup's Official Website

Here is the link to Chunlan Cup's official website:
http://www.chunlan.com/igo/

I got all the photo from there :)

Chunlan Cup Round 3 Pairing

It seems that there is a re-pairing for all 8 players in the 8th Chunlan Cup.

Here is the result:
Gu Lingyi vs. Gu Li


Gu Lingyi


Gu Li

Lee Sedol vs. Wang Xi

Xie He vs. Cho Chikun


Cho Chikun


Xie He

Heo Yeongho vs. Kong Jie


Kong Jie


Heo Yeongho

The Old Tiger Still Has Fangs!

The second round of the 8th Chunlan Cup was played on Monday, March 29.

A surprising result came from Cho Chikun of Japan. He beat Qiu Jun of China by resignation. Qiu Jun recently managed to the final of 14th Samsung Cup, but lost to Kong Jie by 2-0.



After all, it seems that the old tiger Cho Chikun still has his fangs.



You can download the game between Cho Chikun and Qiu Jun here

Here is the result of the second round:
Heo Yeongho (7 dan) of China beat Chang Hao (9 dan) of China by 0.5 points.
Kong Jie (9 dan) of China beat Choi Cheolhan (9 dan) of Korea by resignation.
Lee Sedol (9 dan) of Korea beat Sun Tengyu (4 dan) of China by resignation.
Wang Xi (9 dan) of China beat Yuki Satoshi (9 dan) of Japan by resignation.
Xie He (7 dan) of China beat Iyama Yuta (9 dan) of Japan by resignation.
Cho Chikun (9 dan) of Japan beat Qiu Jun (8 dan) of China by resignation.
Gu Li (9 dan) of China beat Yamashita Keigo (9 dan) of China by resignation.
Gu Lingyi (5 dan) of China beat Lee Changho (9 dan) of Korea by resignation.

8th Chunlan Cup

The 8th series of the international tournament hosted by China was started in March 27. 24 players from China, South Korea, Japan, Europe, and America compete to be number one.


Press conference


Chunlan company's Vice President


Zhongguo Qiyuan's president.


Here is the result of the first round:
Heo Yeongho (7 dan) of Korea beat Yoda Norimoto (9 dan) of Japan by 6.5 points.
Choi Cheolhan (9 dan) of Korea beat Hu Yaoyu (8 dan) of China by 0.5 points
Lee Sedol (9 dan) of Korea beat Zhou Junxun (9 dan) of Taiwan by resignation.
Yuki Satoshi (9 dan) of Japan beat Lin Zhihan (8 dan) of Taiwan by resignation.
Iyama Yuta(9 dan) of Japan beat Csaba Mero (6 dan amateur) of Europe by resignation.
Cho Chikun (9 dan) of Japan beat Kang Dongyun (9 dan) of Korea by resignation.
Yamashita Keigo (9 dan) of Japan beat Chen Yaoye (9 dan) of China by resignation.
Gu Lingyi (5 dan) of China beat Jiang Mingjiu (7 dan) of North America by resignation.

Japan did pretty well in round one, as 4 from 5 representatives managed to the second round. I'm very surprised by Cho Chikun's result, since Cho didn't show good performance recently in domestic tournaments.

The game between Iyama and Csaba was hard for Csaba. I don't think Csaba stood a chance in the game.

The game between Lee Sedol and Zhou Junxun is also interesting. Lee showed quite a skill in that game.

7th Chunlan Cup

Bad news for Japan’s go world from the 7th Chunlan Cup.

All of Japan’s representatives in the cup lose.

After hard first match for Japan, (all of the representatives lose, except Takao Shinji), the one and only representative lose to Kong Jie at the second round.

Here is the first round list:

1. Wang Yao 6p (B) vs. Kono Rin 9p (W) Result: B+R
2. Jimmy Cha 4p (B) vs. Imamura Toshiya 9p (W) Result: B+R
3. Won Sungjin 9p (B) vs. Pop Christian 7d (W) Result: B+R
4. Kobayashi Satoru 9p (B) vs. Chen Yaoye 9p (W) Result: W+R
5. Chen Shiyuan 7p (B) vs. Wang Xi 9p (W) Result: W+R
6. Ding Wei 9p (B) vs. Yoda Norimoto 9p (W) Result: B+R
7. Zhang Li 4p (B) vs. Takao Shinji 9p (W) Result: W+R
8. Zhou Junxun 9p (B) vs. Mok Jinseok 9p (W) Result :W+5.5

Here is the second round list:

1. Lee Changho 9p (B) vs. Chen Yaoye 9p (W) Result: B+3.5
2. Lee Sedol 9p (B) vs. Ding Wei 9p (W) Result: W+R
3. Gu Li 9p (B) vs. Weon Seongjin 9p (W) Result: B+R
4. Mok Jinseok 9p (B) vs. Zhou Heyang 9p (W) Result: W+R
5. Jimmy Cha 4p (B) vs. Huang Yizhong 6p (W) Result: W+5.5
6. Xie He 7p (B) vs. Wang Xi 9p (W) Result: B+R
7. Chang Hao 9p (B) vs. Wang Yao 6p (W) Result: B+R
8. Takao Shinji 9p (B) vs. Kong Jie 7p (W) Result: W+5.5



Takao Shinji vs. Kong Jie, first 31 moves

But Japan is luckier than Taiwan. Japan made it to second round, while all Taiwan players ( Chen Shiyuan and Zhou Junxun ) didn't manage to the second round.

Korea also in trouble. Only Lee Changho left, after other players defeated by China.
It seems that China will win this tournament. But we must wait ‘til the end to know the result.