■The final game

The final game of the Pro Pair Go Ricoh Cup 2002 was held on Sunday, January 27, 2002 at "Ebisu The Garden Hall" in Ebisu, Tokyo, and the pair of 5-dan Ms. Yoko Inori and Oza Chikun Cho defeated the pair of 7-dan Ms. Teruko Kusunoki and Meijin Mr. Norimoto Yoda by 2.5 moku on senban.

When the game ended and the winning pair was clear, Oza Mr. Cho raised his fist in triumph. At the moment he firmly shook hands with 5-dan Ms. Inori next to him, a large applause arose from the spectators in the venue. The following is a report of the final game.

Before the game began, the pair of Ms. Kusunoki and Mr. Yoda had a strategy meeting in the waiting room with the door tightly shut. I knocked the door hesitantly because it seemed as if they wanted "No Visitors" because the door was tightly shut. As I was let in the room, I found the two players reviewing some games with records which I thought to be the games played by their opposing pair, Ms. Inori and Mr. Cho.

―――― Are you discussing what strategy to use? Mr. Yoda "Not exactly. We are just preparing for various possible situations." ―――― How are your conditions today? Mr. Yoda "As we have won eight straight games from the previous championship, we don't feel like losing today's game at all." Ms. Kusunoki "I can play without any worry when paired with Mr. Yoda. I am almost always defeated in solo Go but successful in pair Go. I owe it to you, Mr. Yoda." Mr. Yoda "To tell the truth, Ms. Kusunoki somewhat reminds me of my mother. That is probably why I can play with her in a relaxed mood. And her style of playing is orthodox and reliable."

As I looked into another waiting room ----- the room of the pair of Ms. Inori and Mr. Cho ----- I found nobody there. They seemed to feel embarrassed about just the two of them being in the same room. I asked them to enter the room to take pictures.

―――― At this moment, your opponent is having a strategy meeting in the next room. Mr. Cho "Oh, is that so? But it doesn't matter to us. We are perfect. I can rely on Ms. Inori." Ms. Inori "I'll be careful not to play too aggressively. I am really happy just because I can play with Mr. Cho."

In the beginning, they looked somewhat restless in the room. However, while they were placing stones on the board for pictures at my request, they began to play a game against each other. They were silently absorbed in making moves. During the game, both players showed serious expressions on their faces as pro players.