5th game
In the decisive game Lee Changho, Wangwi, playing white defeted Yun Junsang, Kuksu by resignation and defended his last title.
Yun Junsang (Kuksu) - Lee Changho(Wangwi) - W+R
Lee Changho, Wangwi, 32 years old.
2007 year - 49 games, 29 wins, 20 losts, 20 place.
2006 year - 84 games, 60 wins, 24 losts, 5 place.
In 3rd game Kang Dongyun, 5 dan, playing black defeted Lee Changho, 9 dan by resignation. And took first national title in his career.
Kang Dongyun(5p) - Lee Changho(9p) - B+R
Prize for 1st place - 45 mln won ~ ($49,000)
Second place - 18 mln won ~ ($19,000)
Kang Dongyun, 5 dan, 18 years old.
52 games in 2007 year, 37 wins, 17 losts, 7 place.
69 games in 2006 year, 50 wins, 19 losts, 12 place.
This is one more example of manego. The Mirror Go, one player plays each move at a point that "mirrors" his opponent's previous move. Usually, the "mirror" is a 180-degree rotation about the tengen.
The theory behind Mirror Go is that a move that mirrors the opponent's move can't be worse off. Also, the player who mirrors the moves can abort the mirroring process when his opponent makes a bad move, giving him an advantage.
Usually the manego will finished when one player take the tengen. But even after that the mirror can continue.
This is example in game between Paek Hongsuk(5d), black, (Team Ulsan Dearche) and Park Seungcheol(5d), white, (Team GS KIXX) from 2007 Korean Baduk League.
We can see, in that game white successfully used this strategy. One interesting moment in this game, that score in match between these teams was 2:2. That game was impotant, Park Seungcheol, 5 dan, selected mirror statery and won the game.
Paek Hongsuk, (Team Ulsan Dearche)(5p) - Park Seungcheol, (Team GS KIXX)(5p) - W+R
This position from game between Rui Naiwei, 9р, and Choi Wonyong, 5p, from 3rd Prices Information Cup. The next sequence is classic tesuji from gandicap game.
After that moves black successfully outgoing in center.
After 17 move, black can connect two stones, but in real game Rui Naiwei select to attack white stones on left side. The main idea was - create territory on lower side and in centre.
Rui Naiwei(9p) - Choi Wonyong(5p) - W+4.5
1st game.
Lee Changho(Wangwi) - Yun Junsang(Kuksu) - W+R
Next game at June 14.
This position from game after 186 move between Song Taekon(8p), Team Hangame and Na Jonghoon(6p), Team Ulsan Diachae, in 2007 Korean Baduk League. Next move - tesuji black.
On left diagram after 7 move, white need "А". The next position is clear - white lost 6 stones. On right diagram, after 5 move became "ko".
But in that moment white lost is bigger if connect. If atari on selected stone, this variant white end in gote. In any case black must play this variant.
Song Taekon(8p), Team Hangame - Na Jonghoon(6p), Team Ulsan Diachae - B+10.5
Rules: The top players in the Korean rating list will take part in Korean League without passing qualification tournament. Other players have to qualify.
Each team has an official coach. The coaches decide the members of their teams. In addition, they can invite one master who did not qualify (wild card).
Each team consists of 6 players.
The first team (who won the right to decide the members first) invited Lee Sedol. The second team invited Lee Changho. Third one invited Choi Chelhan and so on.
The team selections produced some sensations:
1. Kim Yeonghwan, 8-dan, the coach of "Ulsan Diache" invited Paek Hongseok, 5-dan as the first member of his team.
2. Lee Hongyeol, 9-dan, the coach of "Chael Haje" team invited Pae Chunhe, 1-dan as the second member of his team although many top players were still available, including Yoo Changhyuk, Cho Hunhyun, Rui Naiwei and others. This was surprising!
3. Yun Kihyeon, 9-dan, invited Han Sanghoon, 1-dan as the second member of his team.
4. Chang Suyeong, 9-dan, the coach of "World Meridian" team gave a wild card to Park Chonhan, 1-dan, another unknown player, while it was still possible to invite Seo Bongsu, Choi Myeonghun or other top players, who failed to qualify initially.
In my opinion (Alexander Dinerchtein) the strongest team is "World Meridian", which consists of Choi Chelhan, Yoo Changhyuk, Yun Chunsang, Lee Jaeung, Cho Hyeyeon and Park Chonhan.
Translated from korean Alexandre Dinerchtein
Han Sanghoon played his first game in Korean professional tournaments less than 2 months ago. Now his score is 12-1 ( http://www.go4go.net/v2/modules/collection/byplayer2.php?pid=1086 ). We will ask him few questions.
- What is the secret of your recent performance?
- There are no secrets, no magic. The most important thing is to play seriously. There are many masters who answer the last move of their opponent without deep thinking. I try to think, even if the move seems obvious.
- We can say that you achieved pro status late (Han was 20 years old). How do you feel about it?
- Yes, quite late. I played in the main leagues (for best 10 candidates) for becoming professional 8 times and was always missing my chances. It's still hard to believe that I have now reached my goal! I quit the insei league because of my age (the age limit is 18) and that put a lot of pressure on me.
- When did you start playing Go?
- I was 8 years old when my parents found me a Go club not far from my home. My father loves Go very much! Later I entered the famous school of Kim Won, 6-dan ( http://www.go4go.net/v2/modules/collection/byplayer2.php?pid=637 ). I took part in some tournaments, won some prizes, and decided to study Go seriously.
- LG cup will be your first international tournament. Which players would you like to meet?
- Recently, the Chinese junior players have become very strong and I would like to meet them, Chen Yaoye and Zhou Ruiyang first of all. I played some top players on the Tygem server, who we know to be junior Chinese professionals. My score was about 50-50 and now I would like to meet them in real tournaments.
- How useful do you think it is it to play Go online?
- There are some extremely strong players among the Tygem 9-dans. Of course, we may learn a lot from them!
- What are your future plans?
- I would like to play Go like Lee Changho and become a regular participant in the final stages of pro tournaments!
- What are your first and second goals?
- I would like to take a title one day. I entered the Korean league this time and will try my best. My second goal would be to enter the final stages of international tournaments.
Translated from korean Alexandre Dinerchtein
4th Round.
Lee Chang Ho(9p) - Yun Junsang(4p) - W+R
Yun Junsang defeted Lee ChangHo with total score 3-1 and won the title.
Final. 2nd game.
Rui Naiwei(9p) - Cho Hyeyeon(7p) - B+R
Rui Naiwei won title with score 2-0.
- Congratulations! What can you tell us about the last game?
- I played badly and was losing the game. Luckily, Gu Li, 9-dan made a mistake when he was in byoyomi.
- Who is the hardest Chinese opponent for you?
- Young Chinese players and top masters are of course very strong. It’s always difficult to play them.
- You played both Chang Hao and Gu Li recently. You probably know that they will meet each other in the final match of the Chunlan Cup. Who do you think has the better chance of winning the cup?
- Personally I am on Chang Hao's side, because he is my friend, but actually Gu Li is
slightly stronger. There is another important thing: Chang Hao has more experience of playing important international tournaments, so it will be a good final. It’s hard to say who has the better chances of winning it.
P.S. Lee Changho's achievement is really outstanding. His total score in the Nongsim Cup (including preliminary competitions) is 37-1.
Game records of the tournament are available on
Go4Go.net
Translated from korean Alexandre Dinerchtein
Final. 3rd game.
Baek Hongsuk(5p) - Ahn Jo Young(9p) - W+R
Ahn Jo Young(9p) won the title with score 2-1.
Lee Changho, 9-dan, lost his No. 1 position in Korean Rating list.
The current list is:
1. Lee Sedol, 9-dan 20,466 (red line on chart)
2. Lee Changho, 9-dan 20,179 (blue line on chart)
3. Choi Chelhan, 9-dan 17,465
4. Park Yeunhun, 9-dan 16,176
5. Cho Hanseung, 9-dan 15,499
6. Park Cheongsang, 9-dan 15,396
7. Ko Gunte, 5-dan 13,832
8. An Joyoung, 9-dan 13,798
9. Weon Songjin, 7-dan 13,795
10. Lee Younkyu, 6-dan 13,686
The largest changes:
Yoo Changhyuk, 9-dan went 4 places down, from 15th to 19th place
Mok Chinseok, 9-dan improved his position from 18th to 15th place
Hong Minpyo, 5-dan also improved his standing a lot, from 24th to 21st place
Translated from korean Alexandre Dinerchtein
Semifinal.
Ahn Jo Young(9p) - Song Taekon(8p) - B+1.5
Best-of-3 final between Baek Hongsuk and Ahn Jo Young will begin february 9.
