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Yamada 9dan and Yumiko Okada 6dan pair, the winner last year, as the regulation they keep the same pairing. Will they win, two years in a row!? A microphone was faced to Yamada 9dan to hear his determination.
Yamada 9dan said, ‘(Since Okada 6dan was absent on this day) I feel lonely because my partner is not here (everyone laughed). Last year, I wasn’t taken notice of by everyone but I could win miraculously. This year, too, I think I won’t be taken notice of but I hope to make a miracle.’ He sounded modest but it was a declaration of winning in dignity. After this, one after another, there were strong minded declarations. |
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As for Imamura 9dan and Izumi Kobayashi 6dan pair’s comment,
Imamura 9dan said modestly, ‘I am honored to be a pair with Izumi san. Because Cho Gosei is her husband, I will try not to play shameful moves.’
Izumi 6dan said positively, ‘I want to absorb Imamura sensei’s Go, the thickest in the world, and will do my best.’ Also she said, ‘In Pair Go, I have won many games. I am confident in Pair Go.’ She encouraged Imamura 9dan. |
Sakai 7dan and Konishi 8dan pair’s comment was:
Sakai 7dan said, ‘Konishi 8dan is from the same Kansai Ki-in so I think I know her Go style and her habits completely. The number of examining Go records is decreased to two persons’ so there is less work for me (everyone laughed).
Konishi 8dan who was listening, seemed happy. According to his word, `knowing completely’, the pair seems strong. |
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By the way, Konishi 8dan said, ‘In fact, I won against Sakai san’s pair.’ 14 years ago, when Konishi 8dan’s pair won this championship, at that time, Sakai 7dan and Umezawa Woman’s Kisei pair won the amateur tournament. At that time, there was a game against the winners, professionals against amateurs. Konishi 8dan said, ‘I remembered what he said to me that as I expected, the winner of the championship is strong.’ The hall was filled with laughter. |
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Kono Tengen and Shei Woman’s Saikyo pair’s comment was:
Kono Tengen said, ‘Shei san is powerful and has good judgment. I hope to follow her without misjudging.’
Shei Woman’s Saikyo said, ‘It will be difficult to study 3 persons’ game records (everyone laughed) so I will study Rin san’s game record.’ |
Huang 7dan and Umezawa Woman’s Kisei pair’s comment was:
Huang 7dan said, ‘Since Umezawa san is my partner, I have a feeling we will win (everyone laughed) because her Go style seems to match with mine.’
Umezawa Woman’s Kisei said, ‘Recently, I was impressed by very strong Go which was Huang san’s Go. For the last few years, the percentage of winning is low in Pair Go but this year, my partner is Huang san, so with this opportunity, I will aim to increase the percentage of winning!’
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Those two, after their comment, they were saying to each other, ‘I will follow you.’ ‘I will follow you.’ But ‘matching their Go style’ is the strong point.
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I will introduce the comments of the professionals who attended this day.
Kato Woman’s Meijin who was paired with Keigo Yamashita Kisei said, ‘There was a time we studied at Ryokusei Gakuen School for 3 years and also our age is the same. As a professional player, Yamashita san is senior, but I will do my best without being nervous!’ |
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Akiko Tsukuda 5dan who was paired with Satoru Kobayashi 9dan said, ‘This year, I am happy to participate as a player. Satoru sensei was a likely winner last year and the year before but didn’t win the championship. I am sure with me, we will win (everyone laughed). I was saying exaggerating because Satoru sensei is not here today’ |
Narumi Osawa 3dan who was paired with Chikun Cho Judan said, ‘I feel bad to be his partner because if I play strange moves, I will make Cho sensei sad. But today, I heard from a professional who was a pair with Cho sensei that he is ‘’very kind’’, then, I was hoping to be a pair with Cho sensei so I am very happy.’
Suzuki 4dan who was paired with Koichi Kobayashi 9dan said, ‘When I was an insei, I used to study Koichi sensei’s and Cho sensei’s Go and I respect them. Koichi sensei started talking to me after he observed my game and I was impressed. I will try my best to not to drag him down.’ |
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