Second Meijin Title Match

The second round of Meijin title match has been played.

Like in the first round, Iyama Yuta, the Challenger, won again by half point.

The game was played in Otsu, Shiga at September 17,18.

The second game is more peaceful than the first game. Up to move 47, Iyama gained great thickness toward the center, while Cho gained big corner in the right and solid corner in the lower left.

Iyama Yuta (B) vs. Cho U (W), board position up to move 50

In this game, once again Cho U showed his skill in saving weak group. After Iyama splitted his group in two in the right, Cho managed to saved both.

The next game will be played in Takayama, Gifu at September 24,25

Let's Talk About: Gu Li

Gu Li is one of the strongest player in the world. As in September 5, 2008 he was at number 3 of world tournament's win-loss.

Gu Li was born in February 3, 1982. He became pro in 1995 and reached 9p status in April 2006 when he beat Chen Yaoye in final of 10th LG Cup and became the youngest Chinese player ever to win any international tournament.

His given name Li, literally meaning strength, is also a term in go which roughly translated "the ability of reading". Li also encompasses the meaning of the ability to discover strong moves and the ability to fight. Gu was nicknamed Gu Da Li. Da literally means large, big or huge. This refers to Gu's incredible ability at playing really strong moves that require sharp instinct as well immaculate reading.

Here is the list of his achievements:

In 1999, final four of 1st Ahan Tongshan Cup.

In 2001, won China 8th New Pro Wang champion, the challenger final of 8th Qiwang title and final four of 14th Mingren title.

In 2002, won champion of 2nd Liguang Cup and 2nd National Sports Mass Meeting, winner of China-Korea New Pro Wang dual meet, second place of 1st Bawang title and final four of 7th NEC Cup.

In 2003, won 17th Tianyuan Title and winner of 7th China-Korea Tengen confrontation, won 5th Ahan Tongshan Cup champion.

In 2004, won the champion of 9th NEC Cup and successfully defended his Tianyuan title.
In 2004, won 16th CCTV Cup champion and defeated Kato Masao in the 5th China-Japan Agon Cup Dual Meet, the winner of 8th China-Korea Tengen Dual Meet, and won 17th Mingren title by 3:0.

In 2005, won the champion of the 12th Xinren Wang, successfully defended his Tianyuan title, and won 7th Ahan Tongshan Cup.

In 2006, won 11th NEC Cup champion, successfully defended his Mingren title by defeating Yu Bin 9p in the final, and beat Iyama Yuta in the 7th China-Japan Agon Cup Dual Meet.
In 2006, won 10th LG Cup champion and successfully defended his Mingren Title again by defeating Zhou Ruiyang 3:0.

In 2007, won 6th Chunlan Cup champion.In 2007, achieved the 5th consecutive Tianyuan Title and the 4th consecutive Mingren Title.

Gu Li (W) vs. Ding Wei (B) at the 20th Chinese Mingren, Title Match #2, W+R

In 2008, won 13th NEC Cup champion, 4th Chang-ki Cup champion, successfully defended his Tianyuan title again and won the 21st Fujitsu Cup champion.

Gu Li is very well known for his agressive playing style and his good ability at invading.

In mid 2007, Gu was in his playing slump. Many believe this is due to his father's recent death. However, he soon back in shape and won many tournaments, domestically and internationally.

Gu Li (B) vs. Han Sanghoon (W) at the LG Cup's second round, W+R

Right now, he is at the final of Toyota&Denso cup. He will play against his countryman, Piao Wenyao, for the title.

Gu Li (B) vs. Cho U (W) in the semi-final of 4th Toyota&Denso Cup, B+R

33rd Meijin, First Title Match

The First match of the 33th Meijin title had been played in September 04-05 at Aomori, Aomori.

In this round, Iyama Yuta, the challanger, won from Cho U Meijin, by 5.5 points.

The game was a very well spirited game. The fighting has started since the beginning with a lot of unusual moves.

Board position, up to move 61

It's amazing for a teen to be able to play in a title match. This Meijin's title match is pretty interesting. I wonder who will win. Will Cho defend his title? Or will Iyama steal the title away?
Just wait and see :)

Iyama Yuta counting territory

Toyota&Denso Cup, China Rulez

The Semi-final of Toyota&Denso Cup has been played. This time, China will 100% get the title,

because both players in the final are Chinese.

Xie He from China was beaten by his country pal, Piao Wenyao

Cho U from Japan, who was runner-up last year, was beaten by Gu Li from China

I'm quite surprised to see Piao Wenyao in the final. Now I think he has a very big chance to win this tournament. He beat Ogata Masaki, Lee Changho, Mok Jinseok, and Xie He. A great achievement.

But his opponent in the final is not easy. Gu Li is a very strong player. He beat Hikosaka Naoto, Park Yeonghun, Cho Hanseung, and Cho U during this tournament.
The best 3 matches will be played to decide who will be the winner

Toyota&Denso Cup, Down To 4

The third round of Toyota & Denso Cup has been played. Only 4 players left in the semi-final.

Xie He (W) from China beat Lee Sedol by 2.5 points

Piao Wenyao (B) from China beat Mok Jinseok by resignation

Cho U (B) from Japan beat Liu Xing from China by resignation

Gu Li (B) from China beat Cho Hanseung from Korea by 2,5 points

I'm quite surprised by Piao Wenyao's victory. I thought Mok Jinseok would won from him.
I actually thought that Lee Sedol would won, but I'm not surprised by Xie He's victory. Xie has a nice score in international tournament.

Cho U's game is the most impressive for me. He killed a group that I thought can't be killed. He is very good at Life & Death!

In the semi-final, Xie He will play against Piao Wenyao and Cho U will play against Gu Li

.It's very hard to predict who will win. Piao Wenyao is very good during this cup, but Xie He is a very good player. Gu Li is one of China's strongest player, but so is Cho U. Cho U is one of Japan's strongest player. Cho U is very good at invading and attacking, while Cho U is very good at Life & Death, especially at killing group. Cho U and Gu Li have met 2 times before, with the score 1-1.

The semi-final will be interesting.

4th Toyota & Denso Cup, Round 2

The second round of Toyota & Denso Cup has been played and the best 8 has been chosen.
Cho U (B) from Japan won against Alexander Dinerchtein from Europe by 23. 5 points (!)

Piao Wenyao (W) from China won against Lee Changho from Korea by resignation

Lee Sedol (B) from Korea won against Imamura Toshiya from Japan by 1.5 points

Liu Xing (B) from China won against Han Sanghoon from Korea by 6.5 points

Gu Li (W) from China beat Park Yeonghun from Korea by resignation

Cho Hanseung (W) from Korea won against Takao Shinji from Japan by resignation

Xie He (B) from China won against Park Chongsang from Korea by 4.5 points

Mok Jinseok (W) from Korea won against Zhou Junxun from Taiwan by resignation

Japan still has Cho U hanging on in the third round. China has 4 players in the third round, while Korea still has 3 players in the third round. Both representative from Europe and Taiwan have been eliminated.

Here is the pairing for the third round:
Xie He vs. Lee Sedol
Cho U vs. Liu Xing
Mok Jinseok vs. Piao Wenyao
Gu Li vs. Cho Hanseung

My prediction for the top 4:
1. Lee Sedol
2. Cho U
3. Mok Jinseok
4. Gu Li

I wonder whether Cho U will be in the final like last year or not. I’ll wait.

4th Toyota&Denso Cup

The first match of 4th Toyota & Denso Cup has been played. There were 16 matches at the first round.

Lee Sedol (W) from Korea won against Kono Rin from Japan by resignation

Imamura Toshiya (W) from Japan won against Christian Pop from Romania by resignation

Mok Jinseok (W) from China won against Hane Naoki from Japan by resignation

Zhou Junxun (B) from Taiwan won against Yoda Norimoto from Japan by 0.5 point

Piao Wenyao (W) from China won against Ogata Masaki from Japan by resignation

Lee Changho (B) from Korea won against Fernando Aguilar from S. America by resignation

Gu Li (B) from China won against Hikosaka Naoto from Japan by resignation

Park Yeonghun (W) from Korea won against Kim Sujun from Japan by 5.5 points

Cho U (W) from Japan won against Jiang Mingjiu from North America by 6.5 points

Alexander Dinerchtein (W) from Europe won against Li Jie from North America by resignation

Takao Shinji (W) from Japan won against Yang Shihai from Hongkong by 1.5 points

Cho Hanseung (W) from Korea won against Yamashita Keigo from Japan by 7.5 points

Xie He (W) from China won against Ilya Shikshin from Europe by resignation

Park Jungsang (B) from Korea won against Chang Hao from China by 4.5 points

Liu Xing (B) from China won against Hong Sungji from Korea by 1.5 points

Han Sanghoon (B) from Korea won against Yamada Kimio from Japan by 1.5 points

China sent 5 players, 4 players made it to the next round. Korea sent 8 players, 7 players made it to the next round. Japan sent 11 players and only 3 players made it to the next round. The only Taiwan player made it to the next round. Europe still has one player in the second round, while all American players have been eliminated.

I think the most interesting game was Alexander Dinerchtein's game.There was a big capturing race in the center and was won by him.