ＲＩＣＯＨＣＵＰ2001Ricoh Cup Quarterfinals and Semifinals

■Ricoh Cup Quarterfinals and Semifinals

The quarterfinals and semifinals of the Pro Pair Go Ricoh Cup 2001 were held on December 9, 2000 at the TFT Hall in Koto ward, Tokyo. And the pair of 7-dan Ms. Teruko Kusunoki and Meijin Mr. Norimoto Yoda and the pair of 2-dan Ms. Narumi Osawa and 9-dan Mr. Rin Kaiho have advanced to the finals. For all the four players, it is their first time to advance to the finals in the Ricoh Cup. On this day, more than 500 spectators breathlessly watched the games which were more fascinating than the first and second rounds.

Mr. Yoda Appeared in Kimono Again

Before the games started, participants appeared in the waiting room one by one. As a tournament proceeds, tension of the players usually increases. However, the participants still looked in a relaxed mood there. Meijin Mr. Yoda entered the waiting room. He was dressed in Kimono as he was in the first and second rounds. At that moment, 9-dan Mr. Hideo Otake said to Mr. Yoda,

"You are dressed up and look so earnest."

"No, I…..,"

Mr. Yoda stumbled, showing embarrassment. His wife Sachiko, who was behind Mr. Yoda, laughed and answered, "Yesterday, he attended the ceremony for awarding the Meijin title and was dressed in Kimono there. I thought it would be O.K. to have him dressed in Kimono again today." Such flexibility is unique to Mr. Yoda.

As the games began, the atmosphere completely changed. When 9-dan Mr. Norio Kudo, acting as the observer and large board commentator, announced the start of the quarterfinals by a gesture, the air of the hall got very tense. Nine-dan Mr. Otake whispered a staff member to give him a lap robe. As the blood concentrates in the brain during games, a lap robe is a necessity for Mr. Otake to keep his body temperature.