< The First Round Pairings: Drawing Lots >

Let’s hear what some of the competing professionals had to say before the tournament began.

According to tournament regulations, last year’s winning pair, Keiko Kato 6-dan and Naoki Hane Honinbo, formed the same pair again this year. Smiling, Hane declared his intent to win again. ‘I was very happy that I was able to please Ms. Kato when we won last year,’ he said. ‘I hope to make her happy again this year.’ His comment caused a stir in the audience.

Akino Izawa 4-dan, who had drawn Keigo Yamashita Kisei as partner, said: ‘This is the first time I’ve played in this tournament for a few years. I’m really happy. In the train on the way here, I was wondering who would be my partner, and the first player to come into my head was Yamashita Kisei. This may be a “one-sided love”, but I will do my best.’

The debutante Akane Ishii 1-dan was paired with her fellow Kansai Ki-in player Hideyuki Sakai 7-dan. ‘I’m really happy to be able to play in a tournament like this,’ she said. ‘Since we’re both from the Kansai Ki-in, it would be nice if we could practice. I’ll do my best not to be a drag on my partner.’
The studious Sakai said that he always studies his opponent’s games before a match. ‘Before a Pair Go game, we can study the games of three players,’ he said to Ishii. ‘Really?’ she replied. ‘I’m happy I’ll be able to do a lot of study in the guise of practice.’

Satoru Kobayashi 9-dan: ‘I’m no good by myself. I’m staking everything on this tournament. Hane was saying that he wanted to make his partner happy, but I want to make myself happy. Kana, please help me.’

Chien Cho, the other debutante and also the youngest player, was paired with Norimoto Yoda 9-dan, whom, she said, she respected tremendously. The moment the pairing was decided, her face showed a mixture of tenseness and joy. ‘I’m a little uneasy, as I have no experience of Pair Go, but I’m looking forward to the tournament,’ she said on the stage. Instinctively, she turned to Yoda and, bowing deeply, said: ‘Please treat me kindly.’ Her unsophisticated manner created a warm glow in the hall. Yoda also seemed a little tense. ‘I intend to prepare by playing through Cho’s games before the tournament,’ he said.

‘The Meijin title match will have ended by the day of the tournament, so I’m relieved, as I needn’t worry about bothering my partner,’ said Narumi Osawa 4-dan with a broad smile on her face. Her partner was Yuta Iyama, who soon after the day of this draw became the youngest Meijin in history.

Satoshi Kataoka 9-dan drew Kaori Chinen 4-dan as partner. ‘It’s a while since I’ve played in this tournament,’ he said. ‘Maybe around ten years. I hear you can go to a training camp if you win, so I’m looking forward to it. Ah-sounds like I’m already counting on winning [laughter].’

Chiaki Mukai 3-dan: ‘I was able to play in this tournament the year before last, but I ended up not winning even one game. I’ll be happy if I can pick up a win this year. Please help me out, partner.’ In response, her partner, Rin Kono 9-dan, said; ‘I’m very glad to be able to play in this fun tournament again this year. Don’t say “one win” - I’m planning to go to the training camp.’

Aya Okuda 2-dan was paired with Yokoku So 8-dan. ‘I’m looking forward to playing on such a brilliant stage for the first time in two years. I couldn’t win a game either, so I’m going to do my best to make up for that this year.’

Iso Ko 7-dan, who had drawn Mika Yoshida 8-dan as partner, was unable to come out with anything on the stage. He looked tense and apologised: ‘I’m sorry for making a spectacle . . . I’ve got stage fright.’ Even so, he did come up with a clear declaration of intent, namely: ‘I’ll be visualizing the scene at the training camp as I play.’

Ayumi Suzuki 4-dan, who has posted outstanding results in this tournament, was paired with Kimio Yamada 9-dan. Suzuki: ‘Kimio Sensei is an interesting talker. Sometimes we all have dinner together, and I laugh so much I split my sides. He’s strong at Go, too. I always hold my partner back in this tournament, but please guide me, without giving up on me.’ Yamada responded: ‘I was worried Ayumi wouldn’t praise my Go. By becoming a partner with her, at one stroke our team has become the favourite, so I feel some pressure.’ This greeting by the ‘skilful talker’ Yamada caused a buzz in the audience.

After finishing the draw, with its tension and excitement, the regular ‘forecast of the winners’ was made by Yoshio Ishida, 24th Honinbo, and Tomoko Ogawa 6-dan, who conduct the public commentary on the day of the tournament.

Ishida: ‘Our predictions are usually wrong every year [laughs].’
Ogawa: ‘This year again there are many interesting games, starting with the youthful Cho.’
Ishida: ‘Last year we predicted that the team of Yi Min Hsieh and Yuta Iyama would win, but in the final they suffered an upset loss when Naoki Hane made an irresponsibly defiant move.’ [Laughter]
Ogawa: ‘I remember how much you admired Hane, saying you had seen the secret of his strength - he had made a miraculous comeback in the Honinbo title, winning four games straight after losing the first three.’

Scratching his head, Ishida said: ‘This year the tournament pairings will be decided automatically from the start, so predicting the winning pair is tougher.’ Finally, he came up with the following predictions: the favourite in the A block was the pair of Ayumi Suzuki and Kimio Yamada, with the main threat to be the winner of the game between Narumi Osawa/Yuta Iyama and Chiaki Mukai/Rin Kono; the favourite in the B block would be the winner of the game between Keiko Kato/Naoki Hane and Chien Cho/Norimoto Yoda, with the main threat the team of Akino Izawa and Keigo Yamashita.

Well, would the tournament proceed along the lines predicted by Ishida? Or would it diverge this year, too?
The long-awaited dream festival, the Professional Pair Go Championship, would get under way at the Nihon Ki-in in Ichigaya on 5 December 2009. The winners would be decided in one glorious day of Go.

Writer : Ryoko Takami