Category: 46th Kisei

  • Kadoban in the 46th Kisei

    Kadoban in the 46th Kisei

    The first game of the Kisei kadoban [When a player needs only one more game to win the title] was played last Thursday and Friday (March 3-4), as Iyama lost the previous two games the score was now 1-3 in favor of Ichiriki Ryo.

    This time, the game was played in Hotal Kagetsuen, located in Hakone, Kanagawa. Which lies 800m above sea level, and on a good day one might even be able to see Mount Fuji. The hotel has a history of hosting important Go (and Shogi) matches. This venue will also be where the next game will be played, in the coming week.

    The Game

    After the exchanges of 115 to 123 (of which the AI didn’t like a single move), Iyama took the lead and never gave it away. After an exciting fight that would involve the entire lower half of the board, Ichiriki resigned after move 213, being behind by almost 50 points.

    Iyama is now only 2-3 behind and still has a chance to win the Kisei for the 10th consecutive time.

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  • Did Iyama Yuta manage a 2-2 in his Kisei defense?

    Did Iyama Yuta manage a 2-2 in his Kisei defense?

    Iyama Yuta 9p, 2-1 behind after he lost the previous game in byo-yomi, was in damage control mode last Friday and Saturday (18th and 19th of February) in his Kisei title defense, while trying to do what no one has done before: holding on to the Kisei title for 10 consecutive years. Ichiriki Ryo 9p however proved to be the stronger player, and Iyama now trails 3-1.

    During the middle game, a series of questionable moves were made (moves 154-157 according to AI), but Iyama ended up leading. A couple of mistakes were made, but then Iyama made a crucial mistake with move 194, which evened the game, Iyama still had the smallest lead, however. In the endgame, he made a small mistake with move 230, and lost by a half-point. Iyama now faces yet another kadoban, but he is still in the race, as he managed to win the two kadobans he was in last year as well (both against Ichiriki Ryo). But those times he only needed to win 2 more games, while now he needs three victories.

    This was according to AI, an 11 point mistake, as black is now able to live, as he did in the game.
    AI variation in which white kills the black group.

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  • Ichiriki Ryo takes 2-1 lead in 46th Kisei + Game Commentary

    Ichiriki Ryo takes 2-1 lead in 46th Kisei + Game Commentary

    After Ichiriki Ryo won the first game and after losing the second one, all was even. Therefore the winner of this game would take the smallest lead possible.

    The Game was played in the Olive Bay Hotel, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture (photo left). Commentary was provided by Murakawa Daisuke 9p and Ohashi Naruya 7p (on the upper right photo, left and right respectively). The Hotel bought the Go board for the 2014 Honinbo Title match (right under). Which was played between Iyama Yuta and Ida Atsushi. The total playing set (including Hyuga clamshell stones) costs roughly 72.000 euros.

    At the end of the first day Iyama, playing with black took a small lead, and sealed his move at 17:42 Japanese time. However Iyama made a big mistake with move 189, which was a 24 point mistake. After which the game was still good for Iyama according to AI, but hard to judge. After move 199, which was another big mistake (Iyama went from 13 ahead to 6 behind) the game was Ichiriki’s to lose, which he didn’t. In the post game commentary Iyama said he didn’t play the best moves during the center Ko. Ichiriki told the press that, he still saw a possibility but it was extremely risky.

    Game Record with Commentary

    The commentary has been sourced from various commentaries found online, combined with AI. Commentary is not viewable on a mobile browser.

    Image Source Featured image

    Image source photo gallery

  • Kisei Game 2 – Did Iyama Yuta manage 1-1?

    Kisei Game 2 – Did Iyama Yuta manage 1-1?

    After Ichiriki Ryo 9p managed to win the first game, Iyama Yuta had a lot riding on the second game, after all, if he were to lose the second game he would be 2-0 behind and would need to win four out of the remaining five games.

    This game was played in the Katsuura Hotel Mikazuki in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture over the course of two days, (21th and 22nd of January), Which features stunning views of the Katsuura Bay.

    The playing venue; Katsuura Hotel Mizaki in Katsuura, with a beautiful view of Katsuura bay.

    Post Game Commentary

    Iyama Yuta: “It was though after move 76, which I played to shake up the upper right corner, but I was cut off, after which the game was adjourned. On the second day, I made some mistakes and thought it looked bad. After move 85, which I think was a mistake, I traded the three stones in the center for territory. It was hard to make a good judgment on how to handle black, but I was able to attack the left side, but it became very complex and hard to judge and read.”

    Ichiriki Ryo: “I wasn’t sure if move 76 was the best move, so with black 77 I decided to cut, and it became a trade. It was still a normal match, but after move 134, I couldn’t find the correct answer. I made many mistakes in the game on the second day, so that is something I’ll have to work on.”

    Game 2 (no commentary)

  • Iyama Yuta aims for 10th consecutive Kisei title

    Iyama Yuta aims for 10th consecutive Kisei title

    Iyama Yuta’s longevity in the Go world has been an inspiration for many a player. This Thursday and Friday he starts trying to further immortalise his name by attempting to do something that has never been done before, winning the Kisei (Go Saint or Go Sage) title for the 10th consecutive time. Iyama holds the title since 2013, when he seized the title from Cho U 9p (Zhang Xu) who held it for 3 consecutive years. This years challenger is Ichiriki Ryo 9p, who in 2018 also challenged for the same title, but was send packing after a 4-0 loss. 

    The first game is played in Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, which is famed for its beautiful gardens, which even features a “sea of clouds,” which is in essence a mist machine. 

    Ichiriki Ryo faced Iyama Yuta numerous times last year, but probably wants to start anew, as he lost his Gosei title, was unable to take the Meijin title, and then also didn’t manage to win the Oza challengers match, all to Iyama Yuta.

    Day One

    Day Two