American Go E-Journal » Go News

by John Power, Japan correspondent for the E-Journal

New restrictions on players
As of Jan. 1, new rules came in effect at all three branches of the Nihon Ki-in limiting the freedom of players in order to insure no one resorts to help from AI programs. Players engaged in games are not allowed to leave the building even during lunch and dinners breaks. They are not allowed to use smoking corners during the game either. Each playing venue has a rest area. Just for the record, lunchtime is from 11:45 to 12:30, and the dinner break is from 5:30 to 6:15. The Kansai Ki-in has not followed suit because it doesn’t have enough space to provide rest areas.

Pro catches virus
On Jan. 8, the Nihon Ki-in announced that an unnamed professional had become ill with COVID-19 on Dec. 30. The Ki-in did extensive tracing of possible contacts at the Ki-in and concluded that there were no problems. The Ki-in also took medical advice to strengthen its preventive measures.

Iyama dominates Kisei but Kono survives first kadoban
This year Kono Rin made his second successive challenge to Iyama Yuta for the Kisei title. It is actually his fifth best-of-seven with Iyama, as he also challenged for the 39th Meijin title in 2014, the 41st Kisei title in 2017, and the 74th Honinbo title in 2019. The four matches above, including the 44th Kisei, were all won by Iyama 4-2.

The first game of the 45th Kisei was played at the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo on January 13 and 14. In the nigiri, Kono drew black. Iyama took the lead, but he made an attempt to capture a black group that threw the position into confusion, giving Kono a chance to take the lead. After a spectacular trade, however, Iyama just managed to hang on to his lead. Kono resigned after White 244.

The second game was played in the Shokoji Temple in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, on January 22 and 23. When the players and officials arrived for the game, they found that the city had just had its heaviest snowfall for 36 years. In some places, the snow was 120 centimeters deep. It was a little cold, but the players praised the refreshing clearness of the air. Playing black, Iyama built a lead in the opening, but Kono struck at a chink in his armor, leading to a large-scale life-and-death struggle. Iyama came out on top in the fighting, so Kono resigned after move 143. Already his challenge was in trouble.

The third game was played at the Olive Bay Hotel in Nishiumi City, Nagasaki Prefecture, on February 5 and 6. In the middle game, Iyama (white) played a fiendish move that none of the players following the game predicted. This move enabled him to take the initiative and secure the lead. Kono resigned after 186 moves. The pressure of his bad performance in this match seemed to be affecting his other games: as of mid-February he had yet to win a game this year and his score was 0-6.

The fourth game, which was a kadoban (a game that could lose a series) for Kono, was played at the Hotel Kagetsuen in the town of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Feb. 16 and 17. Taking white, Kono got off to the better start on the first day. Iyama went all out on the second day and seemed to catch up, but his aggressive play left some chinks in his armor that were exploited by Kono. Using the threat of an attack on a thin black group, he built up a large center. Iyama resigned after White 212.

Next: Korea wins Go Legends National Competition; Ing Cup

by John Power, Japan correspondent for the E-Journal

This reports focuses on the players with the best performances in various categories last year.

Most wins
Because of a multiple tie for 9th place, the top ten is actually the top eleven. Some other results of interest have been added. Note that three women players make the top eleven. The increase in tournaments for women gives them more playing opportunities and more prize money. It could be argued that this is a golden age for professional women’s go in Japan.
1. Ichiriki Ryo Tengen: 53-13
2. Iyama Yuta Kisei: 38-14
3. Kyo Kagen 8P: 36-23
4. Fujisawa Rina, Women’s Honinbo: 35-15; Shibano Toramaru Oza: 35-21 
6. Ueno Asami, Senko Cup-holder: 34-23 
7. Onishi Ryuhei 7P: 32-15
8. Yamashita Keigo 9P: 30-20
9. Seki Kotaro 3P: 29-8; Mutsuura Yuta 7P: 29-13; Nyu Eiko 3P: 29-16
15. Xie Yimin 6P: 26-19
17. Kono Rin 9P: 25-22
19. Mukai Chiaki 5P: 24-13
22. Suzuki Ayumi, Women’s Kisei: 23-14
27. Nakamura Sumire 1P: 21-17 (7th among women players)

Most consecutive wins
1. Chotoku Tesshi 3P: 14
2. Ichiriki: 11
3. Mutsuura: 10
4. Iyama, Ichiriki, Kyo Kagen, Kanazawa Hideo 8P, Motoki Katsuya 8P: 9

Best winning percentage (over a minimum of 24 games)
1. Ichiriki: 80.3
2. Seki: 78.38
3. Kanazawa: 76
4. Anzai Nobuaki 7P: 73.68 (28-10)
5. Hirata Tomoya 7P: 73.53 (25-9)
6. Iyama: 73.08
7. Onishi: 72.73
8. Mizokami Tomochika 9P, Takei Takashi 7P: 72.41 (both 21-8)
10. Ida Atsushi 8P: 71.05 (27-11)

Prize-money promotions 
The following players from 1- to 6-dan earned promotions based on prize money earned during the year. The top two from 1-dan to 5-dan are promoted a rank, but only one 6-dan is promoted. Players who earned promotions by other means during the year, that is, by cumulative wins or challenging for a title or winning a seat in a league, are excluded, so the players below are the “top” among the rest. Promotions are dated to January 1.
To 7-dan: Numadate Sakiya
To 6-dan: Koike Yoshihiro, Yanagisawa Satoshi
To 5-dan: Hirose Yuichi, Otake Yu
To 4-dan: Cho Zuiketsu, Ueno Asami
To 3-dan: Muramoto Wataru, Chotoku Tesshi
To 2-dan: Terada Shuta, Fukuoka Kotaro 

Most prize money won
For the 10th year in a row, Iyama topped the list of prize-money winners and once again reached the enviable bench mark of 100,000,000 yen (approx. $961,000 at $1 = 104 yen). Actually, the first time he came first was the only time he fell short of this mark, but, with 91,000,000, not very short. The most he has made is 172,000,000 in 2015 and the least is 106,000,000 (these figures are rounded off). Just for the record, only three other players have reached seven figures: Kobayashi Koichi (three times), Cho Chikun (four times), and Cho U (four times). Note the figures below include tournament prize money and game fees but not other income, such as for doing public commentaries or lectures, appearance money, teaching, book royalties, etc. 
1. Iyama Yuta: 128,519,441
2. Ichiriki Ryo: 48,609,332
3. Shibano Toramaru: 47,412,860
4. Fujisawa Rina: 27,410,030
5. Kono Rin: 26,927,300
6. Yamashita Keigo: 20,993,400
7. Kyo Kagen: 20,962,681
8. Ueno Asami: 17,545,862
9. Cho U: 11,969,400
10. Hane Naoki: 11,722,000

54th Kido Prizes  
The magazine Kido is defunct, but its prizes live on and were announced on February 10. They are open only to Nihon Ki-in players. This time they were dominated by Ichiriki Ryo, who won five of the seven prizes he was eligible for.
Most outstanding player: Iyama Yuta Kisei, Meijin & Honinbo.
Outstanding player: Ichiriki Ryo Tengen & Gosei
New star: Seki Kotaro, King of the New Stars
Women’s prize: Fujisawa Rina, Young Carp titleholder, Women’s Honinbo, Women’s Meijin, Women’s Hollyhock Cup holder, Hakata Kamachi Cup holder
International Prize: Ichiriki
Most wins: Ichiriki (53)
Best winning percentage: Ichiriki (80.3%)
Most consecutive wins: Chotoku Tesshi
Most games played: Ichiriki (66)

Kansai Ki-in prizes
The following prizes were announced on January 29. They were dominated by Yo Seiki, who matched Ichiriki in number of prizes won
Most outstanding player: Yo Seiki 8P (aged 25)
Most Wins: Yo (43)
Best winning percentage: Yo (86%)
Risen Prize (fighting spirit): Sada Atsushi 7P
Dogen Prize (special merit): Seto Taiki 8P
New star: Okawa Takuya 2P (aged 19)
Most successive wins: Yo (22)
Yamano Prize (for popularizing go): Tobita Saki 2P
Nagai Prize (outstanding player under 30): Nishi Takenobu 5P
Yoshida Prize (most wins against Nihon Ki-in players): Yo (24)
Taniguchi Prize (to encourage players under 26): Abe Yoshiki 3P (aged 24)

Kansai Ki-in prize-money promotions
The Kansai Ki-in has a more limited system than the Nihon Ki-in: the top three prize-money earners from 1- to 4-dan go up a rank on January 1. In order of earnings they are:
1. Hong Akiyoshi: to 4-dan
2. Nishi Takenobu: to 5-dan
3. Taniguchi Toru: to 5-dan

by John Power, Japan correspondent for the E-Journal

Sumire’s progress

First of all, some good news for Nakamura Sumire fans. On August 15, she scored a commendable win over Takao Shinji in a practice game played on the net. Takao was playing in his capacity of coach of the national team. Taking white, Sumire won by 1.5 points. It’s not an official result, of course, but pros take all their games quite seriously.

In the September 14 issue of Go Weekly, it was announced that Sumire would be transferring to the Tokyo headquarters of the Nihon Ki-in on January 1. The timing is right for her, as she had finished elementary school and will proceed to junior high in April. Sumire: “I thought that I wanted to study hard in Tokyo, where there would be many strong players and rivals. I will do my best to improve, even if only a little.” Her father, Nakamura Shinya 9P, commented: “Sumire has been saying that she wanted to test herself in Tokyo. . . . She won’t forget her feelings of gratitude to all the people who helped her in the Kansai. I hope she will do her best.”

Incidentally, the magazine also mentioned that a fan with an anime-style portrait of Sumire on it had gone on sale.

Results since my previous report are given below.

(Sept. 7) Sumire (W) beat Tsukuda Akiko 5P by 6.5 points (Prelim. A, 24th Women’s Kisei tournament). This win earned Sumire a seat in the main tournament for the second year in a row.

(Sept. 14) In the preliminary tournament for the 15th Hiroshima Aluminum Cup Young Carp Tournament, Sumire won three games in one day and qualified for the main tournament. This tournament is open to players under 31 and under 8-dan. The time allowance is 30 seconds per move with ten minutes of thinking time to be used in one-minute units (the NHK Cup format). She beat three woman players: Honda Mariko 1P, Miyamoto Chiharu 1P, and Omori Ran 1P.

(Sept. 17) Sumire beat Ishida Atsushi 9P (Preliminary C, Oza tournament). Go Weekly noted that her record since the resumption of professional play in June was now 8-2.

(Oct. 1) Sumire (W) lost to Takahashi Masahiro 7P by resig. (Prelim. B, 69th Oza tournament).

(Oct. 8) Sumire (W) beat Ueno Risa 1P by 6.5 points (main tournament, 24th Women’s Kisei). With Sumire being 11 and Ueno 14, this was a game between the two youngest players at the Nihon Ki-in, for which the combined age of 25 was probably a record. They became pros at the same time, but this was the first official game between them. Sumire also played in the main tournament last year, but on more favorable terms, as she had to play only one game in the qualifying tournament. This is her first win in the main section of a tournament.

(Oct 26) Sumire (B) lost to Aoki Kikuyo 8P by 8.5 points (24th Women’s Kisei).
(Oct. 29) Sumire (W) beat Kori Toshio 9P (Prelim. C, 77th Honinbo). This was her fourth win over a 9-dan in 11 encounters.
(Nov. 16) Sumire (B) lost to Tsuji Hana 1P (46th King of the New Stars preliminary).
(Nov. 19) Sumire (B) beat Taguchi Misei 1P by resig. (Prelim. B, 32nd Women’s Meijin).
(Nov. 21) Sumire (W) lost to Ueno Asami, Women’s Honinbo, by resig. (round 1, main tournament, 15th Young Carp).
(Dec. 3) Sumire (B) lost to Iwamaru Taira 7P by 7.5 points (Prelim. C, 77th Honinbo).
(Dec. 10) Sumire (B) beat Nakajo Chihiro 1P by resig.; Sumire (W) beat Mizuno Hiromi 5P by resig. (both in Prelim. B, 32nd Women’s Meijin)
(Dec. 17) Sumire (W) beat Miyamoto Chiharu 1P by 32.5 points (8th Women’s Hollyhock Cup prelim.)

Sumire’s results for the year were 21 wins to 17 losses

Ida wins Crown title for 5th straight year

This year, the 19-year-old Otake Yu 4P challenged Ida Atsushi 8P (aged 26) for the 61st Crown title. The game was played at the Nagoya headquarters of the Nihon Ki-in on November 26; taking black, Ida won by resignation after 181 moves. He won the Crown title for the fifth year in a row. First prize is 1,700,000 yen (about $16,300).

Promotions

To 2-dan: (Ms.) Moro Arisa (30 wins; as of Sept. 4); (Ms.) Kato Chie (30 wins, as of Oct. 30)

To 4-dan: Fujimura Yosuke (50 wins; as of Sept. 8); Kazama Jun (50 wins; as of Nov. 13)

Retirement

Inoue Kunio 9P retired as if October 5. Born in Tokyo on January 19, 1948, he became a disciple of Suzuki Goro 9P in 1955, then switched to the Kitani school in 1966. He made 1-dan in 1968 and reached 8-dan in 1988. After his retirement, he was promoted to 9-dan.

Obituaries

Sakai Masanori 5P died on September 15. Born in Hiroshima Prefecture on October 12, 1929, he became a disciple of Iyomoto Momoichi Hon. 8P. He became 1-dan in 1950 and reached 4-dan in 1974. He retired in 1996 and was promoted to 5-dan.

Kosugi Kiyoshi 9P died on September 27. Born on February 2, 1939, he was taught by his father Kosugi Chokufu 7P. He became 1-dan in 1957 and reached 8-dan in 1991. He was promoted to 9-dan after his retirement in 2004. With James Davies, he was the author of 38 Basic Joseki in the ISHI press Elementary Go Series. The late Kosugi Masaru 9P was his younger brother.

Asano Hideaki 8P died of a cerebral hemorrhage on Nov. 10. Born on January 14, 1945, he entered the Kitani school. He made 1-dan in 1966 and reached 7-dan in 1997. He retired in 2011 and was promoted to 8-dan.