For the game of the Ms. Kato & Mr. R. Oh pair vs. Ms. Okada & Mr. Takemiya pair, a lot of elementary school and junior high school students occupied the front row of the gallery seats. Both Mr. Oh and Mr. Takemiya shut his eyes to make a concentration. The game was launched quietly. In the commenting session, Mr. Redmond commented, “They are quite a contrast to each other. A man of thinking much of the “Ji” (territory) (i.e. Mr. Oh) and a man of thinking not so much of it (i.e. Mr. Takemiya). Rissei told me that he would play safely and steadily. Yes, he is practically acquiring the “Ji”. He seems to be playing from instinct.” There was a wave of laughing. The Ms. Kato & Mr. R. Oh pair slightly lead the game in the middle stage, and finally won the game by 6.5 Moku.

Ms. Keiko Kato 4-dan & Mr. Oh Rissei 10-dan, pair VS Ms. Yumiko Okada 6-dan & Mr. Masaki Takemiya 9-dan, pair

In the players’ common room after the game; Mr. Ohtake said, “Your discussion prior to the game must have been effective.” Mr. Oh replies with a smile, “Yes, that was our strategy.”

Mr. Oh Meien 9-dan who signs

It is a new fashion that a lot of elementary school and junior high school students occupy the gallery seats. They were collecting the top professional Go players’ autograph with their handmade autograph album. A 5-years-old boy stood in front of the large panel of record, and murmured, “How is Ms. Kana Mannami? Oh, she has lost the game! What about Mr. Keigo Yamashita? Oh, no! He has lost the game, too!” He was very discouraged. He seemed to be a fan of them.

The game of the Ms. Yukari Umezawa, the 5-Dan & Mr. Meien Oh, the 9-Dan pair vs. the Ms. Kazuko Konishi, the 8-Dan & Mr. Yoshio Ishida, the 9-Dan pair had an “Accident” after a hot battle. Regretfully, Mr. Ishida committed an infraction of “2 stones in a turn”, and was obliged to pay for the penalty of 3 Moku. As the result, the Ms. Umezawa & Mr. Oh pair won the game by 0.5 Moku. Ms. Umezawa said, “I couldn’t manage the game at all. I’m so sorry.” Mr. M. Oh said, “I couldn’t do it, too. This stone, I placed, was incorrect. Their conversation at reviewing was so serious that all the galleries did not know for a while which pair won the game.

Ms. Yukari Umezawa 5-dan & Mr. Oh Meien 9-dan, pair VS Ms. Kazuko Konishi 8-dan & Mr. Yoshio Ishida 9-dan, pair

The game of the Ms. Hyonjon Kim, the 3-Dan & Mr. Naoki Hane, the Kisei pair vs. the Ms. Kikuyo Aoki, the 8-Dan & Mr. Tomoyasu Mimura, the 9-Dan pair was a seesaw match. In a conversation after the game, Ms. Kim reviewed, “I thought I almost could go to Beijing.” On the other hand Ms. Aoki asked, “Which stone was incorrect?” Mr. Mimura replied, “I don’t know it, well.” These are good evidences that the game was practically a seesaw match. Finally, the Ms. Aoki & Mr. Mimura pair won the game. Mr. Mimura said, “I was surprised because you played very strongly while the battle was critical.” (Ms. Aoki placed a stone for ending the game during a local capturing race dominated by the number of liberties.) Ms. Aoki laughed. (Ms. Aoki has a cheerful personality.) The loosing pair, on the other hand; Ms. Kim said, “I didn’t know this stone was so weak. I’m so sorry.” Mr. Hane replied, “I didn’t know it, too.”

Ms. Kikuyo Aoki 8-dan & Mr. Tomoyasu Mimura 9-dan, pair VS Ms. Hyunjung Kim 3-dan & Mr. Naoki Hane Kisei, pair

Ms. Kim, the first entry to the tournament, commented a message before she left the hall, “I have never been so nervous. But, it was very exciting and enjoyable. I was very happy to meet a number of such famous Go players so closely. I will try to be here again.”