Mukai Chiaki Challenge Xie Yimin Again

The 30th Female Honinbo finally down to the climax with Mukai Chiaki winning the preliminary's final, won over Ishii Akane (1 dan) to become Female Honinbo's challenger.


Mukai Chiaki (left)

This is the fourth time Mukai challenges Xie Yimin for Xie's title. Previously Mukai challenged for Female Meijin twice and last year's Female Honinbo, but failed to capture the title in those three attempts. Meanwhile, this is the second time Ishii Akane failed to be a title challenger. She reached the final of 28th Female Honinbo, but lost to Aoki Kikuyo.


Ishii Akane

Vote who do you think will become the 30th Female Honinbo

Who do you think will win the 30th Female Honinbo?
	Xie Yimin
	Mukai Chiaki
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Here is the game record:
Mukai Chiaki (white) vs. Ishii Akane (black). Result: W+R

(;CA[Windows-1252]GM[1]AP[MultiGo:4.4.4]SZ[19]FF[3]EV[30th Female Honinbo challenger decision match]
DT[2011-08-11]PB[Ishii Akane]BR[1p]PW[Mukai Chiaki]WR[4p]KM[6.5]RE[W+R]MULTIGOGM[1]
;B[pd];W[dd];B[qp];W[dq];B[oq];W[qj];B[do];W[co];B[cn];W[cp];B[fc];W[cf];B[qh];W[jd]
;B[pl];W[oj];B[qk];W[dc];B[dm];W[fq];B[ci];W[nc];B[pc];W[ne];B[oh];W[pf];B[of];W[oe]
;B[pe];W[og];B[qf];W[pg];B[ng];W[nf];B[ph];W[nh];B[mg];W[qg];B[rg];W[of];B[rh];W[ni]
;B[lh];W[lj];B[ji];W[lf];B[li];W[ol];B[kj];W[lk];B[om];W[nl];B[jl];W[pk];B[ql];W[mn]
;B[hc];W[ic];B[he];W[if];B[gg];W[cl];B[bm];W[dl];B[bl];W[gl];B[el];W[jm];B[km];W[im]
;B[il];W[hm];B[ep];W[hh];B[gj];W[gh];B[gk];W[kk];B[ij];W[fg];B[ff];W[eg];B[ib];W[jb]
;B[gb];W[ia];B[eb];W[gd];B[ha];W[hb];B[db];W[cb];B[ib];W[ek];B[ja];W[fl];B[jk];W[bk]
;B[bj];W[ck];B[em];W[fk];B[ak];W[eq];B[dj];W[dk];B[go];W[fn];B[fp];W[dp];B[eo];W[hl]
;B[hk];W[gp];B[hp];W[gq];B[gn];W[fm];B[cg];W[bg];B[bh];W[dg];B[dh];W[fo];B[cm];W[ch]
;B[bo];W[bp];B[cg];W[kn];B[lq];W[ch];B[en];W[ao];B[cg];W[qe];B[rf];W[ch];B[an];W[ap]
;B[cg];W[hd];B[bb];W[ch];B[ah];W[cj];B[cg];W[al];B[am];W[aj];B[ai];W[ch];B[fi];W[ei]
;B[cg];W[kh];B[fh];W[eh];B[ch];W[ki];B[kg];W[jj];B[ih];W[kj];B[hg];W[hi];B[ge];W[fd]
;B[ie];W[jf];B[je];W[kf];B[ee];W[ii];B[df];W[ef];B[de];W[fe];B[ed];W[gf];B[id];W[jc]
;B[ej];W[ff];B[di];W[fj];B[md];W[ld];B[lc];W[nd];B[ko];W[ln];B[jq];W[ec];B[ce];W[rj]
;B[nm];W[hf];B[kb];W[gc];B[fb];W[hb];B[ia];W[mp];B[mq];W[be];B[cd];W[cc];B[bd];W[ga]
;B[hc];W[bc];B[bf];W[op];B[pp];W[nq];B[nr];W[np];B[or];W[hb])

Aoki Kikuyo to Challenge For the 28th Japanese Female Honinbo

Aoki Kikuyo (8 dan) got the right to challenge Xie Yimin, the current Female Honinbo title holder, by defeating
Ishii Akane (1 dan) in the final of the challenger decision match by resignation.


The game started by Ishii who played as black, opened the game by playing Lei fuseki. Early in the game (at move 61) black entered
white's bottom left corner and tried to survive inside. At the first glance, I think it was better to played A5 instead of blocking at B9,
however if white played A2, it will become a flower ko for white and at the same time, black put her left group in danger. So I think what black did
in the game was good, but the outcome was still favorable for white.


Board position up to move 88

After 230 moves, Aoki Kikuyo won the game by resignation.

Aoki Kikuyo is a veteran in go world. She already has many titles in the past. She won Female Saikyo in 2001, she held Female Meijin for 5 times (1990,1999-2000,2002,2006),
she is 4 times (1991-1992,1994,2000) Female Kakusei champion, and also she became runner-up in Shinjin-O tournament in 1997 losing to Yamada Kimio.

Aoki Kikuyo

Ishii Akane is a newcomer in pro world. She became shodan in August 2007. So far I think this is her best achievement.

Ishii Akane

This is Aoki's first time to be challenger for the Female Honinbo title. She will play Xie Yimin, one of the best female player in Japan at the moment.
Earlier this year, Xie beat Chinen Kaori, one of the go veteran to defend her Female Meijin title. I wonder if Aoki Kikuyo can beat Xie. The first game will be played in October 1st.