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| The Ricoh Cup Professional Pair Go Championship
2007, which is a dream event in the Go world, played by 32 male
and female professionals, 16 pairs, held its final which featured
several dramas. The final was played by Ayumi Suzuki 3dan and U
Cho Gosei pair against Yumiko Okada 6dan and Kimio Yamada 9dan pair.
Whether Suzuki and Cho pair would win again or Okada and Yamada
pair would win for the first time… I will tell you about the exciting
game at Ebisu, the Garden Hall on the 3rd of February. |
Before the door opened at 12:30, many Go fans
came to the hall. As soon as the door was opened, the 800 seats
were occupied in an instant. For the fans who could not fit in the
hall, there was a room next to it with a monitor, but this room,
too, was filled with fans quickly. At the hall, Yoshiteru Abe 9dan
who is Okada 6dan’s father was there, too.
In total, over 1200 fans came to observe the final game. Before
the game which I couldn’t wait for, I visited the waiting room. |
When I opened the door of Suzuki and Cho
pair’s waiting room, two of them were placing stones enthusiastically.
Suzuki 3dan said, “I made a strategy perfectly. Mainly, in
fuseki.”
I asked her what kind of fuseki. Then, Suzuki 3dan said, “Please
wait and see.” Cho Gosei said, “It is like she follows my
fuseki.” Later, it did not look like a strategy meeting but
it was |
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| like a study of fuseki. Anyway, they seemed
to be full of confidence since they never lost. |
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| In the next room, Okada and Yamada pair’s
waiting room had an open atmosphere. The door, too, was kept
open. When I told them, “Suzuki and Cho pair said their strategy
is perfect.” Okada 6dan screamed, “Really?” but Yamada 9dan
said, “Our strategy is perfect, too.” Okada 6dan added, “Yes,
That is to not do something difficult.” Later, Okada 6dan
was |
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| having problems with a difficult life-and-death
problem which was questioned by Yamada 9dan. Okada 6dan said,
“If I cannot solve this problem, Yamada san will start losing
confidence, more than I do (laugh).”
This pair had a relaxing atmosphere and Yamada 9dan’s comical
personality makes people laugh.
Yamada 9dan said, “We shouldn’t care about each other too much.”
Okada 6dan said, “I don’t care about you (laugh).”
Yamada 9dan said, “Oh, you don’t?” |
| I have a feeling that the final would be a great
and exciting game because both pairs have confidence in different
ways. |
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