< Round 2 >

(Black)Nao Mannami 2-dan & Naoki Hane 9-dan vs. (White) Kazuko Konishi 8-dan & Wang Ming Wan 9-dan
During the middle game, Ishida commented: 'White is in pieces: it's no contest.' However, surprising complications developed. In the end, Konishi and Wan took the honours in a difficult game. Ishida: 'I thought the game was really hopeless for them. They did well to turn it around.' Whether he was expressing admiration or disgust was hard to tell.

When Wan heard that their opponents in the semifinal would be the Hsieh/Kobayashi pair, he exchanged looks with his partner Konishi and smiled wryly. 'Well, I'll do my best,' he said as he left the Go board.

(Black) Hsieh Yi MIn, Women's Triple Crown & Satoru Kobayashi 9-dan vs. (White) Miori Shimosaka 2-dan & Chang Hsu Kisei
In this game, too, the side that was doing badly staged an upset. Ishida 9-dan put it delicately in his commentary: 'I can no longer say that Hsieh's team has lost.' 'That's a complicated way to put it,' said Ogawa 6-dan, looking dubiously at him. In the end, Hsieh and Kobayashi wrapped up the game.

Shimosaka looked really crestfallen, so Chang tried to console her. 'Hsieh is too strong. I'd have no confidence even if I played her one on one,' he said, getting her to smile at last. Away from the board, Chang is full of consideration.

(White) Akane Ishii 2-dan & Hiroshi Yamashiro 9-dan vs. (Black) Ayumi Suzuki 6-dan & Kobayashi Koichi, Honorary Triple Crown
Ishii and Yamashiro had played splendidly in the opening round, but this game did not go well. Suzuki and Kobayashi kept the pressure up right until the end and scored a convincing win to secure a semifinal place.

(Black) Mika Yoshida 8-dan & Keigo Yamashita Meijin vs. (White) Narumi Osawa 4-dan & Mizokami Tomochika 8-dan
Osawa and Mizokami seemed to slip up in the middle game, but the coordination between Yoshida and Yamashita became erratic, plunging the game into confusion. Ishida 9-dan commented ruefully: 'Usually Osawa and Mizokami would lose, but there have been so many upsets today.' The audience liked this comment. Sure enough, Osawa and Mizokami won a semifinal place.

Yoshida apologised to her partner: 'I'm sorry. There's no excuse.' Yamashita consoled her: 'Last year I lost in the first round. At least this year I won a game, so I'm satisfied.' Yoshida looked relieved: 'Thanks. You always back me up.'

After games finish, spectators surround the players and it becomes autograph time. Being able to have close-up contact with top players whose faces are well-known is one of the charms of this tournament. The players happily waited around until everyone who wanted a photo or an autograph was satisfied. It was a very nice scene.

< The semifinals >

（Black）Kazuko Konishi 8-dan & Wang Ming Wan 9-dan vs. (White) Hsieh Yi MIn, Women's Triple Crown & Satoru Kobayashi 9-dan
This was a clash between favourites. Hsieh and Kobayashi took an initial lead in territory. Konishi and Wan attacked fiercely but without success. 'You can't win if your attack backfires. Hsieh will go to the final,' Ishida declared. And that's how it turned out.

Kobayashi looked relieved: he'd accomplished all that could be asked of him. But Hsieh was not satisfied. 'The first time I played in this tournament, I was paired with Satoru Sensei and we lost in the semifinals. This time I'm aiming higher.' Hsieh was putting it on the line. 'I'll just tag along with her,' said Kobayashi modestly. It was not clear if he was serious or joking.

(Black) Ayumi Suzuki 6-dan & Koichi Kobayashi, Honorary Triple Crown vs. (White) Narumi Osawa 4-dan & Tomochika Mizokami 8-dan
The game got tough along the way for the Osawa/Mizokami pair, but they didn't lie down. Ishida 9-dan commented: 'There's no safe lead in Pair Go.' A big trade took place, and the lead became unclear. Ishida said the game was close and counted a number of times, but the lead kept fluctuating, so he couldn't reach a conclusion. In the end, Osawa and Mizokami eked out a narrow win and earned a place in the final.

Osawa: 'I've been playing with Mizokami since I was a child, and we were paired last year too, so this is fate.' Mizokami, as always, was modest. 'I'm glad we won. I've never played in the final, but, thanks to Osawa, we have come this far. I can't beat Satoru by myself, but together with Osawa I may be able to handle him.'

< Conclusion >

The teams that had qualified for the final were introduced on the stage. A large number of fans had waited until the end to offer their support.

In the neighbouring room, Wang and Konishi started to review their game on a Go board, whereupon Yuki joined them. More players gathered: Yamashita, Takao, Kono, Kobayashi Koichi. Top professionals are really enthusiastic. It's not surprising that they can play profound games that make the fans happy.

The final between the two winning pairs will be telecast in a special program on the Go & Shogi Channel on Sunday, 31 March.