RICOH CUP 2005
report

The commenting session with a big board started at the same time as the game started. The commentator was Mr. Hua Igang, the 8- Dan, and the partner was Ms. Zhang Xiang, the 8- Dan. Both of them are very popular through a television program for the Go in China. Mr. Chang Hao, the 9- Dan, was invited as a special guest, thus the Chinese Go fans should be satisfied with the best line of members there. Such a line of members is also a good evidence of being welcome warmly by China Go Association.

The commentator was Mr. Hua Igang, the 8- Dan,
and the partner was Ms. Zhang Xiang, the 8- Dan

In the commenting session with a big board, a bullet-like talk between Mr. Hua and Ms. Zhang was a surprising. Mr. So explained, "They are mostly chatting. It's true. I was surprised at too much chatting." Many visitors at the site were listening to the conversation with their faces beaming with a smile. Mr. Hua's speaking skill seemed to be an extra amusement for the visitors. Mr. Hua sometimes joked by doing an impression of counting by Ms. Yashiro, "JU-BYO (ten seconds in Japanese)."



During the commenting session, Mr. Kaiho Rin, Mr. Chen, Mr. Chang, Mr. Nie, and Ms. Shuw were called for the stage one by one, and joined with the commenting and chatting (!?). Ms. Shuw explained the story at the game for selecting the representative pair of China, "While we played with the Ms. Zhang Xiang, the 8- Dan, & Mr. Chang Hao, the 9- Dan pair, I always made mistakes. Mr. Nie leaned back every time of my mistake, and I was depressed very much." Although her story was quite serious, all the visitors were laughing loudly. It must be due to her excellent speaking skill.

Mr.Rin, joined the commentary

Mr. Nie Wei ping's comment also warmed up the visitors at the site. Immediately later he left from the stage after surely forecasting, "The white stone (the Ms. Aoki & Mr. Mimura pair) is far ahead"; the game situation changed, and then Mr. Hua Igang commented, "When I asked Mr. Nie about the situation, it always results in reverse." There was a wave of laughing again.
The black stone was ahead of the game and seemed to keep the advantage until the finish; however, the white stone stuck to the game and the situation became very complicated.
Mr. Hua called for the visitors, "Now, the players make the game very hot for all the visitors here. Why don't you clap your hands, please?" At that time, it is just to determine which pair win the game, and there was a clamor of "Ooh" for every step of placing a stone. Furthermore, a roaring applause arose for a strong step of the white stone.


Nie Wei ping, joined the commentary

Thus, a hottest game finished in an epoch-making upset winning of the white stone, while involving all the visitors.