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| ＜ Ricoh Cup First and Second Rounds ＞ |
A dream event in the Go world, ‘The Ricoh Cup Professional Pair Go Championship 2008’, has finally started. This championship, which is played by the top professionals, 32 male and female, 16 pairs, chosen from the title holders and top prize ranking and so on, is enjoying its 14th year. Literally, it is the all star game in the Go world. On the first day of the tournament, on the 8th of December, the first and second round and games to decide the pairs to proceed to the quarterfinals were held at Ebisu, The Garden Hall, and over 1500 fans gathered. |
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The weather was fine and half an hour before the door opened, over 50 fans had gathered. The age of the fans ranged widely from the elderly to children. There were many fans holding paperboards to get autographs from the professionals. |
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An hour before the game, the first one who arrived was Rin Kono Tengen who had just won a title two days before. He was congratulated by the professionals who arrived later and was replying calmly with a smile.
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Last year’s winner, Yumiko Okada 6-dan arrived in a bright red dress. She said, ‘Since I won last year, I thought I should stand out’. And her outfit showed how spirited she is this year.
Yukari Umezawa Women’s Kisei who was talking to Okada 6-dan for a while said, ‘What? I didn’t know I would be playing against you in the first round!’ And she seemed upset. In the waiting room, gradually, the atmosphere started to heat up.
Iso Ko 7-dan, who is participating in the tournament for the first time, seemed different. When some professionals in the room saw him, they could not believe their eyes and they all said to him, ‘What happened to your hair!’ For this event, he got his hair straightened. He, too, seemed spirited.
Satoru Kobayashi 9-dan said, ‘I lost other tournaments so I only have hope in this tournament’ Next to him, Rissei O 9-dan said, ‘Have you ever played in the final? I have, once’ He looked a little confident. |
| Kikuyo Aoki 8-dan was looking at a board showing the matching of the first round and said, ‘Interesting. All the pairs seem strong!’ She sounded as if she was not involved. Also, she was pointing out the pair of Izumi Kobayashi 6-dan, who has a strict Go style in ji (territory), and Toshiya Imamura 9-dan, who is known to have the thickest Go style in the world, and said, ‘Oh, what kind of game will it be? I love to see them playing!’ |
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Akiko Tsukuda 5-dan, who was the assistant of the commentator last year, is participating in the tournament as a player this year. When she went to say hello to her partner, Satoru Kobayashi 9-dan, he said, ‘Let’s aim to win, anyway. Whatever move we make, let’s enjoy ourselves and help each other.’
After this conversation, each pair had started their strategy meeting. |
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The pair who won last year, Yumiko Okada 6-dan and Kimio Yamada 9-dan, said, ‘Let’s win once and lose once and then play 9X9 Go board game. To win this tournament, we should lose once. (laugh) I am confident.’ Okada 6-dan said, ‘He is reliable.’ They seemed to be in high spirits.
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| Aya Okuda 2-dan and Chiaki Mukai 2-dan, who are participating for the first time, seemed a little nervous. Shinji Takao Honinbo and Rissei O 9-dan were talking to them and trying to make them relaxed. |
Kazuko Konishi 8-dan was paired with Hideyuki Sakai 7-dan, both from Kansai Ki-in, said, ‘I didn’t have time to practice.’ But he seemed confident.
Konishi 8-dan said, ‘I am told to play the way I like.’ They looked as if they were relaxed because they know each other well. |
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