After 20 minutes from starting the game, the commenting session with a big board opened. The commentator was Mr. Michel Redmond 9- Dan, and the partner was Ms. Konyu Han 1-Dan.

Monitor description by Michael Redmond 9-dan. A hearer is Konyu Han 1-dan.

Mr. Redmond forecasted that the Ms. Izumi Kobayashi, the women's Meijin and the JAL women, & Mr. Keigo Yamashita, the Tengen, pair would be in the best position for the winner, "Both of them are especially strong. They should win the game without any problem at least in the middle or later stage." He also supported the Ms. Kana Mannami, the women's Kisei, & Mr. Shinji Takao, the 8th Dan pair, "Both of them have strength and energy."

However, these 2 pairs lost the game in the first round. It is an upset.

The Ms. T. Kato & Mr. Yoda pair grinned broadly. Mr. Yoda returned to the players' common room with good cheer, "We played a good game." "That stone was terrible. This stone has broken the game", so depressed Mr. Takao, while pointing the stones he placed. On the side, the Ms. Umezawa & Mr. M. Oh pair did not stop being excited, who defeated the Ms. Mannami & Mr. Takao pair. Ms. Umezawa said, "We have played for a long time. I was not aware of it, at all." (In fact, this game finished lastly.) Mr. M. Oh replied, "I didn't know it at all, too. You played much better than my idea! We would have lost the game if you selected my idea." Ms. Umezawa said, "Is that true? I was thinking we were behind." Mr. M. Oh said, "So did I. Both of us are not good at intermediate territory counting." Their conversation did not last for a while, until a staff urged them to say, "The second round game will start soon. Please take your seat."

Mr. Yoda Meijin who signs Mr. Chikun Honinbo the 25th who signs

Ms. Ogawa 6-dan who signs Ms. Kobayashi Meijin and the JAL women who signs

A pair who lost the game in the first round still seemed to be easy, because they thought that single losing would not be the matter but second straight losing. The Ms. H. Kato & Mr. R. Oh pair, who lost the game by 0.5 Moku against the Ms. Narumi Osawa 3-Dan & Mr. Toshiya Imamura 9-Dan pair, took their seats saying, "Let's open an Evaluation Meeting." Mr. Oh said, "I was thinking that we were ahead." Ms. Kato is still energetic, "So did I. But we enjoyed it very much." This is quite natural because their Go strategies are so similar to each other as Mr. Redmond commented, "It seems that Mr. R. Oh is as if solely playing the game." Each pair finished the individual "Evaluation Meeting", and the second round games started.

The victory-or-defeat table after the 1st game finishes