The First and Second Rounds

The four pairs who had won two consecutive games advanced to the quarterfinals, while the four pairs who had lost two consecutive games were disqualified. And the eight pairs who had won one game and lost one game got ready to compete in the third games to win the right to advance to the quarterfinals. In the third games, the number of times to get the time to consider was reduced to five for each player in each game.

Matching of the games to win the right to advance to the quarterfinals

Ms. Kaori Chinen Female Honinbo: Mr. Rin covered for me. When I made a bad move, he showed some embarrassment with his gesture. I will do my best in the next game not to bother him. Mr. Kaiho Rin 9-dan: Thanks to Ms. Chinen, we have won the game. She covered for my poor moves. As we have been paired for the second straight year, I am beginning to understand her style of playing Go.

Ms. Chinen & Mr. Rin pair

Ms. Chinen & Mr. Rin pair VS Ms. Koyama & Mr. Yoda pair

Ms. Mitsuru Koyama 5-dan: As I have lost the game, it wasn't interesting. The second game was most interesting.

Ms. Yukari Umezawa 3-dan: Oh, I am tired. I want to do play better not to make Mr. Kataoka exhausted in the next game. Mr. Satoshi Kataoka 9-dan: Oh, every game was a tough match. The next game will be held next week? I had not imagined we could remain in this tournament today. I am completely satisfied.

Ms. Umezawa & Mr. Kataoka pair

Ms. Aoki & Mr. S. Kobayashi pair

Ms. Kikuyo Aoki Female Meijin: The principle for winning the championship did not hold true this year.

Ms. Mayu Hosaka 2-dan: Thanks to Mr. Yamada, we have won the game. I was able to play in a relaxed mood since Mr. Yamada is younger than I, though he is a great player. Mr. Kimio Yamada 7-dan: We have been just lucky. In the last game, Ms. Hosaka made a move aiming at a point which none of the other three players noticed. I hadn't thought we could win two games today. I want to keep this luck till next time.

Ms. Hosaka & Mr. Yamada pair

Ms. Inori & Mr. O pair was nominated by Mr. Otake 9-dan as the top favorite.

Ms. Yoko Inori 4-dan: I have been defeated although I was nominated as the top favorite again this year. Please don't nominate me any more.

Ms. Mika Yoshida 6-dan: I was somewhat tense during the game. As I exerted myself not to bother my partner, I felt much stress and had a fit in each game (laugh). Once I have a fit, I can feel relaxed. Whether I win or not depends on whether I can cover my poor moves later in the game. Mr. Hiroaki Tono 9-dan: We have been lucky. We would have resigned the last game if the opponent had made a move on the next line on the left side. I am glad that luck seems to be with Kansai Kiin players in pair Go games.

Ms. Yoshida & Mr. Tono pair

Ms. Osawa & Mr. Takemiya pair

Ms. Narumi Osawa Female Kakusei: Aside from the result, I really enjoyed the game. Mr. Masaki Takemiya 9-dan: I am sorry about our sudden death, but I enjoyed the game.

Thus, it was an exciting day with various dramas developing around the players. The eight pairs who won to remain in the tournament will compete in the quarterfinals and semifinals which will be held at the same place on December 18. The best dresser award, which is one of the features of this championship, was won by the pair of Ms. Umezawa and Mr. Kataoka with 77 votes out of 322 votes.

Ms. Umezawa & Mr. Kataoka pair won the best dresser award.

---- by Seiken Ko