From now on, I would like to tell you about the exciting game from the commentary room with comments by the wonderful pair, 24th Honinbo Shuho (Ishida) and Tomoko Ogawa 6dan.

Ogawa said, "Both Shei san and Iyama san are 19 years old. Cute, aren't they? We used to be their age, too (audience laugh)."
Ishida said, "...Yes, we were (audience laugh)."

What made this year's commentary room more lively was a screen. Above the Go board on the screen, there were the 4 faces of the players which showed their expression live. Takemiya 9dan said, gIt's good!h and made the audience laugh many times by explaining the expression of each player.

By the way, there is a popular event at the commentary room. That is a big screen which shows 4 players. Even though the tournament room is far, you can see their expression directly. Last year, we saw Rin Kono Tengen (title at that time) with a poker face and Chikun 25th Honinbo who changed expression from worried face to surprised expression and biting his handkerchief or looking somewhere far... To his many expressions, the audience in the commentary room was laughing.
This year, Kato and Hane pair and Shei and Iyama pair were calm. At the difficult situation, when Hane Honinbo was thinking, Ishida said, "Please look at the screen. This is when Hane san is thinking." Ishida pointed at the screen, no changes in his expression, made the audience laugh.

On the Go board, from the beginning, Cho Judan's strict moves were remarkable. And that succeeded and the black were leading. But later, the white rolled back and then the black rolled backc The game went on to the half way without knowing who were leading.

By the way, the games Shei and Iyama pair played from 1st game to the final were all close games. They gained big area of stones of their enemies many times. In the final game, too, the white at the bottom was in danger. Ishida said, "Now, what will white do to defend?" In this situation, Hane Honinbo chose to play tenuki. Instead of defending, he decided to gain territory at a different area.
Ogawa said, "He chose tenuki! Hane san must trust Kato san (audience laughed)."
Ishida said, "Um~. Changing his attitude must be the secret to get the Honinbo title by 3 losses and 4 wins (audience laughed)."

The black was angry with tenuki. From their next move, the black started attacking white. But half way, a move which Ishida said, "This is strange." was played by black.
Ishida said, "I suppose Shei san played. But look at Iyama san. He is not angry at all. He looks calm."
Ogawa said, "Ishida sensei, that move was played by Iyama san."
Ishida said, "Ah, that's right. Shei san's expression is like `why did he play there?'."
Certainly, Shei Women's Honinbo looks a little angry. Audience in the commentary room laughed so much.

At the battle of the bottom area, ko was started by a Kato Women's Saikyo's move, "a courageous move (by Ishida)" After the battle in ko, there was a trade that the white at the bottom was alive but in return, the white on the top left was taken. To this result, Ishida commentator said, "For the white, they had a narrow escape. That was enough for them to be forgiven by the black."

At the half way point of the game, the situation unknown, Iyama 8dan played a piercing move which was carefully planned. To this move of black which is thought of a few moves ahead, Ishida commentator said with admiration, "I see!" As a result, the black was successful to avoid white gaining a big area on the left part. Now, the black started leading.

Then, news came in. Hane Honinbo made a wrong turn and had to pay 3 stones for penalty. After the game, Hane Honinbo said, "I was nervous!" but on the screen, from his cool look, we could not imagine that he was nervous.

Ishida commentator declared, "The black will win." But from then on, Kato and Hane pair showed tenacity. The white did not let black to play winning moves and kept following the black. Then, the white evaded black's provocation and conversely, the white surrounded the blacks in the middle area.
Ishida said, "The black is getting confused. 3 stones of penalty have disappeared and now, the game was fighting to get small areas."
Ogawa said, "The one who can attack the unguarded point will win."
Ishida said, "Ogawa san, you never show your unguarded point (audience laugh)."

So, at the end of the game, it was very close that they were fighting for a half stone. Also, both pairs spent all their thinking time so they have to make a move in 30 seconds. Each of them played moves with straining their nerves in the fierce game. Then, Ishida commentator moaned, "As I expected, this is a great game." And he said, "In this game, the one with luck will win."

The pair who was lucky was the Kato and Hane pair. As soon as the white won by a half stone, the winning pair looked at each other and broke into smile and the losing pair, both players, were biting their lips. That was the first time those 4 players showed their expression.