 |
| ＜ Ricoh Cup First and Second Rounds ＞ |
| The Ricoh Cup Professional Pair Go Championship
2007 has started. The event which brightens up the end of this year
of the Go world is counted as the 13th time. This year, too, I would
like to tell you about the exciting games played by the top male
and female professionals, 32 professionals, 16 pairs, from the prize
ranking and so on. On the 2nd of December, it was the first day
of the Championship. The 1st, 2nd round and a game to decide the
pairs to proceed to the quarterfinals were held. |
The first person who arrived at Ebisu, The Garden
Hall in Tokyo where the Championship was held was Rin Kono Tengen
who participated for the first time. He said nervously, “I thought
I’d better not get lost on the way. Am I too early?” and he sat
down in the waiting room and immediately, he opened the “Pair Go
Rule Book” to confirm the rules.
After 11am, participants started to arrive. When I listened to the
conversation in the waiting room… |
| |
Satoru Kobayashi 9dan said, “When this
game starts, I feel as if the year is finished.”
Norimoto Yoda 9dan said, “Yes.”
Satoru Kobayashi 9dan said, “It will be the game that I don’t
want to lose. Because, if we lose, I would feel sorry for
my partner.”
Toshiya Imamura 9dan said, “Satoru sensei, you are the prospective
winner. Do you feel pressure?” |
|
| Kobayashi said, “I do feel a lot of pressure!
So far, I know that it will be a severe game. (His partner, Imin
Shei 3dan, has an attacking Go style.) It depends when she starts
attacking.” |
Shinji Takao Meijin/Honinbo said, “Yamashita
san, have you won in this Championship?”
Keigo Yamashita Kisei said, “Yes, I have won many times in Pair
Go.”
Takao said, “I have never won. I don’t know how to win…” |
Yukari Umezawa 5dan said, “Rin kun (Rin Kono
Tengen), please try not to do difficult things!”
Rin Kono Tengen was smiling.
Yukari Umezawa 5dan said, “Your style matches Inorin’s (Yoko Inori
5dan) more than mine.”
Kono said, “I paired with Inori san in a charity game, before.”
Yoko Inori 5dan said, “Yes. At that time, we won.”
Kono was smiling.
Umezawa said, “Then, I will try to act like Inorin.” |
After 11:30am, many pairs started to have strategy
meetings.
Meien O 9dan and Terumi Koyama 5dan pair said, “When it comes to
the situation of facing komoku, and if I make an approaching move
and then the opponent makes a diagonal move, do you prefer a corner
enclosure or an extension?” “When I did an extension before, it
didn’t work.” They were making sure which fuseki they like.
Kimio Yamada 9dan and Yumiko Okada 6dan pair said, “Do you like
to get thickness or to gain territories?” “I am confused.” Kimio
Yamada 9dan concluded the meeting, “Then, you are confused.”
Mika Yoshida 8dan just said one sentence, “Please play the game
to win!” To this, Takao Meijin/Honinbo answered, “Ye… Yes.” |
I saw some professionals who seemed relaxed
as if they are saying there is no need to have a strategy meeting
and see how it goes.
Masaki Takemiya 9dan said, “I and Aoki san have the same Go style.”
His eyes were shining and looked very spirited. Kikuyo Aoki Women’s
Meijin said, “It is the first time to be a pair with Takemiya
sensei so I am very excited. I wonder what will happen. (laugh)
I have a feeling that I would enjoy playing more than trying to
win.”
To Imin Shei 3dan who is participating in the Championship for
the first time, Kumiko Yashiro Women’s Honinbo was telling her
strange strategy.
Yashiro said, “You should nod when Satoru sensei plays each move.
Then, he will relax.”
Imin Shei said, “Yes. I see. I will nod.”
Then, at 12:00, it was a time for the opening ceremony.
|
|
|
