Numbers of fans visited the hall. They can watch the top professional Go players at a very short distance, as closed as their breathing sound could be heard. This tournament must be the only opportunity. It is quite natural that the visiting fans have increased year by year. This year a large sized monitor of 80 inches was installed for the commenting session with a big board. It can be watched easily from a distance, since the screen is four times as large as the previous one. The number of the prepared chairs was not enough for the fans, unfortunately or fortunately; and additional chairs were carried in the commenting session room.

Final tournament table

Just before the opening ceremony, top professional Go players are coming to the professional Go players' common room one by one. The first pair was Mr. Shigeaki Yokota, the 9th Dan and Ms. Kaori Chinen, the women's Hon-in-bo. Ms. Chinen said, "I look to you for guidance." Mr. Yokota replied, "I really need your guidance. I will be just following you." Thus, a brief strategic meeting was closed. Mr. Koichi Kobayashi 9-Dan, seems to be enthusiastic since early in the morning. He is talking to Mr. Rissei Oh 10-Dan, actively. Mr. Kobayashi asked, "Have you got a championship in this tournament?" Mr. R. Oh replied, "No, not yet." Mr. Kobayashi asked, "Have ever you played the final game?" Mr. R. Oh replied, "No, absolutely." Mr. Masaki Takemiya 9-Dan and Mr. Meien Oh 9-Dan, are talking about the dressing. Mr. Takemiya said, "You have a nice neck tie!" Mr. M. Oho replied, "You have a conservative look." After a certain time period, Mr. Takemiya came to Ms. Yumiko Okada 6-Dan, who makes a pair with him. Ms. Okada said, "We coordinate the same color." (Maybe, they arranged the costume beforehand.) Mr. Takemiya said, "Everybody told me my dress is too quiet." Ms. Okada said, "Not at all. You look so nice!" Mr. Takemiya smiled, "Yes, that's true. Thank you." The strategy meeting at the beginning seemed to be relatively simple, like "I look to you for guidance" or "Please don't use so complicated strategy." As the time is close to the game, however, some pairs began their strategy meeting more in detail. Everyone is 'serious' after all. Ms. Okada asked, "How about San-ren-sei (place stones on three lined star-points) ?" Mr. Takemiya answered, "Well, we don't adopt San-ren-sei this time." Mr. M. Oh asked, "Moyo (widespread net where a player hopes to make territory) is not your favorite, is it?" Ms. Yukari Umezawa 5-Dan replied, "No, not in these days." Mr. R. Oh said, "Komoku tends to make a Joseki, so..." Ms. Keiko Kato was surprised, "What an unusual strategy meeting we have!" The Ms. Kikuyo Aoki 8-Dan & Mr. Mimura 9-Dan pair seems to select rather a simple strategy, whose conservative Go strategy is similar to each other. Ms. Aoki said, "We should be conservative. Because dying has no value, doesn't it." Mr. Mimura agreed, "That's right. We will play Go steadily. We can be as usual." Ms. Tomoko Kato 4-Dan said to Mr. Norimoto Yoda, the Kisei, who came to the hall just before the game starts, "Oh, I am happy! I was afraid if you wouldn't come."

An opening ceremony participating professional go player's