American Go E-Journal » U.S./North America

As expected, the key game determining the 2018 Cotsen Open winner was Round 4 on Sunday morning, when defending champion Mark Lee 7d faced Andy Liu 1P, both 3-0. The two players wasted no time getting down to business, beginning playing while the room was still bustling with noisy players finding their seats. The opening played out very quickly, with Liu taking cash and Lee sketching out a large moyo. Liu’s AlphaGo-like move 45, adjacent to the center star point on the very edge of Lee’s right-side moyo, set the tone for the rest of the game, as Lee fiercely attacked Liu’s eyeless dragon and the fighting got ever more complicated as ladders and nets spiraled out across the board (see game record, below). As more than 130 viewers on KGS hotly debated whether Liu’s group would survive, the players moved into an extended and complex endgame battle for sente and the handful of points that would secure a victory, and the championship. In the end, Lee’s endgame tesujis prevailed and Liu resigned, a few points behind on the board, plus komi. “Andy’s very strong,” Lee said, “it was a tough game.” Liu returned the compliment, saying that Lee “played well; it was really a great game.” Lee went on to win the final round against Luan Bo 6d to complete his 5-0 sweep and collect his fourth consecutive Cotsen Open championship. “We may need to re-name this the Mark Lee title,” joked Eric Cotsen, who thanked all the players for turning out for the 29th annual tournament. “You’re what makes this event so special.”

Results
Open section: 1. Mark Lee 5 wins; 2. Andy Liu 4 wins; 3. Bowen Zhang 4 wins; 4. Yufei Jin 3 wins; 5. Bo Luan 3 wins; 6. Qi-Hao Zhou 3 wins
Division A: 1. Yuelun Yang 5 wins; 2. William He 5 wins; 3. King Bi 4 wins
Division B: 1. Josiah Frias 5 wins; 2. Ernest French 5 wins; 3. Kosuke Sato 4 wins
Division C: 1. Anthony Long 5 wins; 2. Han Chung 5 wins; 3. Michael Mei 4 wins
Division D: 1. Lev Marcus 5 wins; 2. Chris Kaynor 5 wins; 3. Luke Belyeu 4 wins
Division E: 1. Tony Yang 5 wins; 2. Kevin Yang 5 wins; 5. Lucia Moscola 5 wins

Club winner: Orange County Go Club

– report/photos by Chris Garlock; click here for the 2018 Cotsen Open album on Facebook

A surprise walk-in Saturday morning may be all that stands between Mark Lee 7d and his fourth consecutive Cotsen Open title. Andy Liu, the East Coast-based 1P, decided to make the trek to Los Angeles with some friends, and, like Lee (right, relaxing between rounds), was 3-0 at the end of a long day that started 90 minutes late due to delays following Friday night’s downpour and pairing issues. Neither top player had any trouble dispatching their opponents, however, and the clash of titans could occur as soon as Round 4 Sunday morning, set for 10:30, and, failing that, almost certainly the final round, unless one of the other strong players manages to pull off an upset.

Despite the delays and overcast skies, the 155-strong field was in good spirits, enjoying casual games and of course the free Korean tacos from the Kogi food truck as well as free shoulder massages throughout the day. Tournament founder Eric Cotsen personally greeted each player as they waited on line to register and explained his mysterious Cotsen Go Tournament poster.

Local go fans who are early risers can check out the pro-pro game Sunday morning starting at 8a at the Korean Cultural Center, featuring Yilun Yang 7P.

The day began with a visit by visiting Korean dignitaries (left), who welcomed the assembled go players to the Korean Cultural Center, which has hosted the annual Cotsen Open for a number of years now. On hand were Kim Wan-joon, Consul General of Korea in Los Angeles, Kim Nakjung, Director of the KCCLA, Oh Seung Keol, President of the Korean Education Center, Los Angeles, Sen Neung-uk 9P, Na Jong Hoon 8P and Ahn Dal Hoon 9P.

– report/photos by Chris Garlock