Following the opening ceremony, chief referee 9-dan Mr. Michael Redmond announced the start of the games.

The hall was already crowded with fans. In the monitor room next to the game room, a commentary started with 9-dan Mr. Redmond as the commentator and 4-dan Ms. Akiko Tsukuda as his assistant.

They smoothly commentated the four games. Their witty talk attracted so many spectators that some had to listen to them standing.