 |
| Report of the Lot-Drawing Meeting |
|
The Ricoh Cup Professional Pair Go Championship 2007, the all star game in the Go world, will be held soon. `Pair Go’ has started to be very popular not only in Japan but also in Asia, Europe and the States. `The Ricoh Cup’ which is played by the top 32 male and female professionals, 16 pairs, is a dream event for Go fans. And of course, in Pair Go, it is the biggest tournament in the world. I wonder what dramas are waiting…The lottery to decide the pairing was held on the 17th of October at Hotel Metropolitan Edmont in Iidabashi, Tokyo. I will tell you how exciting it was. |
 |
| At first, the oldest participant, Yoshio Ishida 9-dan, arrived. Then, Koichi Kobayashi 9-dan and Naoki Hane 9-dan sailed into the hall. Gradually, the place started to be filled with tense atmosphere, and a new breeze was brought by a new participant, Rin Kono Tengen. Another new participant, Imin Shei 3-dan, arrived with her good friend, Narumi Osawa 3-dan, who Shei 3-dan admires like her older sister. Shei 3-dan looked nervous as if she was hiding behind Osawa 3-dan. Last year’s winner, Ayumi Suzuki 3-dan came in with Kana Mannami Women’s Kisei and Keiko Kato 5-dan. When the female professionals gathered, the place was filled with a warm atmosphere, typical of the Pair Go Tournament. |
| It was the same day that the Meijin Title Match was held so U Cho Meijin and Takao Honinbo were absent but Kimio Yamada 9-dan and Akino Izawa 3-dan from the Kansai branch of Nihon Ki-in and Toshiya Imamura 9-dan from Kansai Ki-in came from a long way. Finally, Norimoto Yoda 9-dan arrived in a kimono, his wining outfit, and the place was filled with not only a warm atmosphere but also spirited energy. |
|
|
The MC was Mika Takanishi, a TV announcer from Nihon TV. She said “Every year, at this lottery, we hear many interesting predictions. We will decide the pairings in front of all of you.”
At first, on behalf of the organizers, Mr. Masatake Matsuda, the chairman of Japan Pair Go Association stood up to make a speech. |
|
| Mr. Matsuda said, “This year is the 13th Ricoh Cup Professional Pair Go Championship. Since then, in the amateur world, Pair Go has quickly spread and Go players in Europe have started to be strong. Pair Go which is enjoyed equally by males and females has started to be a really fun game throughout the world. From now on, I am sure it will spread further all over the world. This year, too, I would like to enjoy and at the same time I hope to see many exciting games of the professionals.” |
|
|
|
|
| Next was a toast by Mr. Hiroshi Hamada, the supreme advisor of Ricoh Co. Ltd., the sponsor of the tournament, and a tournament executive committee member. |
|
| Mr. Hamada said, “When we started to hold this tournament, I was asked to provide support by Mr. Ichiro Yoshikuni, the chairman of Japan Pair Go Association at that time, and Mr. Taki, the president of Japan Pair Go Association, and I thought I would be embarrassed if the tournament lasted only for 3 or 5 years. But the popularity had been increasing and this year, we are holding the 13th tournament. This is the result of the lively participation of all the top professionals. Today, the pairing will be decided not in a secret room, like a new prime minister decides his new personnel, but in front of everyone. Every pairing will be surprising. Now, I wish good health to all of you in the tournament. Cheers!” |
|
|
|
|
