After these speeches, those present had dinner while talking with one another for a while in a sociable, pleasant atmosphere special to the lot-drawing meeting for the pair Go event.

Then, the lot drawing that should influence the tournament started.

Two large boxes, one for men and the other for women, were carried into the room.

Both boxes contained balls with an alphabet written on each.

Each participant player took out a ball.

For the players absent from this meeting because of title matches, etc., Ricoh Cup staff members drew lots by taking out balls for them.

First, a ball was taken out for the 25th Honinbo Chikun who was absent.

On the ball was written the letter "B".

Next, a ball was taken out for 9-dan Mr. Masao Kato who was also absent. On the ball, there was the letter "C".

Halfway, the box for men on the platform was replaced by the box for women, and balls were taken out one after another for female players who were absent.

For Women's Honinbo Izumi Kobayashi who was then in China to compete in a title match, "I" was drawn. For 8-dan Ms. Kikuyo Aoki, "D" was drawn. The room gradually became quiet.

The box for women was replaced by that for men again. Nine-dan Mr. Otake mounted the platform and forcibly took out a ball, on which was written the letter "D".

The woman who drew "D" was 8-dan Ms. Kikuyo Aoki.

"Oh, I did it! It's certain that we will become the champion pair!" cheerfully cried Mr. Otake.

The people in the room burst into laughter.

The lot drawing smoothly proceeded. At last, 5-dan Ms. Yoko Inori ascended the platform, drawing our attention.

The room became noisy with clamors, such as "Don't choose Chikun again!" and "If you draw Chikun, we won't forgive you!"

Indifferently to such noise, Ms. Inori smilingly inserted her arm into the box and took out a ball.

To everyone's surprise, the ball had the letter "B".

This caused a great stir among the people in the room.

"How will this be treated on earth?" asked Ms. Takanishi.

"As this is a result of the lot drawing, the two players are paired with each other," an organizing staff member answered.

Other players applauded.

"We have to approve this pair. It is a result of the drawing." Thus, the pair who won last year came into existence again.

Before the drawing, Ms. Inori had revealed her hope to be paired with Mr. Chikun Cho again this year. Someone in the room said, "Ms. Inori's inori (prayer) has come true!"

Next time the room got stirred was the moment the pair of Women's Honinbo Izumi Kobayashi and Kisei Keigo Yamashita was made.

"Oh, this pair is strong!"

"We don't want to play with them."

Such voices were heard.

While pairs were made one after another, players in the room exchanged their opinions, such as "Would be strong" and "They may dispay a good partnership."