All the games are played on even (tagaisen). The Komi, that is our focal point, is 6.5 moku. From the first move, 30 seconds are given for each move and 10 times of one minute thinking time are allowed to each pair.

There were many spectators in the venue. Nearly 1,000 Go fans who had made prior applications thronged to attend this event.

This number was larger than that of any previous Ricoh Cup championships. Some even came from distant places, such as Kyushu and Kyoto. These fans said, "We can closely watch the games of our favorite pro players, cheer and even talk to them. This is the only Go event that gives us such pleasure."

In the venue, there was also a section where a commentary using a large board was given. Eight-dan Mr. Michael Redmond, who is popular for his clear explanations, acted as the commentator and 2-dan Ms. Kana Mannami, who became popular through the NHK Go program, acted as his assistant. There was a large audience in this section as well.