13th LG Cup

Everybody was waiting with enthusiasm the clash between two of the top 3 players in the world! Lee Sedol versus Gu Li in the 13th LG cup final.

Li (translates as strenght) having just lost to Lee in the 10th Nongshim Cup a few days ago, was more eager to fight and win a sweet revenge.

Both players have previously won the LG cup, twice Lee and once Li.

The first game was a fierce fight with groups all around the board (SGF file), while the second was a territory versus moyo game (SGF file). Li won both of them by resign, a $200,000 check and i'm sure, some great memories.

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10th Nongshim Cup

The first stage was played in october 2008 in Beijing and was dominated by the chinese player Tuo Jiaxi who beat Heo Yeongho, Yun Junsang (Korea), Yamashita Keigo, Kono Rin (Japan).

The second stage (november 2009) was Kang Dongyun's "moment". He said that he brought one suit for every day so he intends to wear them all. And so he did :) One after another, Tuo Jiaxi, Piao Wenyao, Qiu Jun (China), Yamada Kimio, Hane Naoki (Japan) lost to Kang. However, in the last round of the second stage, Takao Shinji from Japan managed to beat the young korean.

The third stage started in February 2009 in Shanghai. Chang Hao beat Takao by resign (SGF file).

Here's a video from their game: http://vimeo.com/3254467?pg=embed&sec=3254467. How can the pro's play with so many photographers around?!

Next, Chang Hao lost to Lee Sedol in a one sided game. Lee's "lately" good form is still at max. (SGF file)

The last round was won be Lee in a spectacular game against Gu Li from China. (SGF file)

The pro's analysing the game in real time were amused by Lee's opening :) http://media.cyberoro.com/photo/200902/090219-nong-03.jpg

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Memorial ING Cup 2009

The 20th edition of Memorial ING Cup tournament was held this year at EGCC (European Go Cultural Centre) in Amstelveen during february 26th-march 2nd.

Among the 24 european players invited there were 5 professional players: Catalin Taranu 5p, Guo Juan 5p, Fan Hui 3p, Alexandr Dinerchtein 3p and Diana Koszegi 1p competing for more than 8000 euro prize money.

The Ing Memorial tournament (formerly Ing Cup) takes place in memory of the late Ing Chang-Ki, who died in 1997. His 'Ing Chang-Ki Educational Foundation' actively organizes go projects all over the world to stimulate the promotion of go amongst childern. Ing Chang-Ki developed interesting rules for go that fill in gaps in the 'traditional' rules and are very suitable for teaching go to children.

The Ing Foundation has supported the European Go Federation with a sum of 100,000 US dollars on a yearly basis. The Ing Memorial is one of the projects that are funded with this money.

The tournament was MacMahon system with 6 rounds, 3 games each round were broadcasted live on eurogotv, IGS and KGS.

For 5th time in a row Fan Hui 3p won the tournament, this time his record was 6 wins, no losses.

2nd in the tournament was Guo Juan 5p with 5 wins and 1 loss, 6 players tied for 3rd place winning 4 games: Catalin Taranu 5p, Alexandre Dinerchtein 3p, Cristian Pop 7d, Ilya Shikshin 7d, Ondrej Silt 6d and Cornel Burzo 6d.

Most of the games of this high level competition were very exciting and some of them were even dramatic (e.q Cornel Vs Guo in the first round).

You can find some of the tournament games commented in our pages.

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Best Go, Baduk, WeiQi players in the world

Honinbo Sansa founder and first head of the house Honinbo.
Honinbo Dosaku fourth head of the house Honinbo. One of the greatest players of all time, and the first Kisei (go saint); an important influence on go theory.
Honinbo Jowa was dubbed Kisei (go sage), played the famous "Blood Vomiting Game" with Akaboshi Intetsu.
Honinbo Shusaku greatest player of the 19th century - the "golden age" of go.
Honinbo Shusai the last inheritor of "Honinbo" title, and founder of the Nihon-Kiin.
Kensaku Segoewas famous for bringing and teaching Go Seigen and Cho Hunhyun in Japan.
Go Seigen (Wu Qingyuan in Chinese), is considered the greatest player of the 20th century.
Kitani Minoru great friend and rival to Go Seigen. Go and Kitani were the vanguard of the Shin-fuseki or "New Opening", a great advance in go theory
Sakata Eio "Razor Sakata", the "Master of myoushu" (brilliant move) former longtime holder of most championship titles with 64.
Rin Kaiho was one of Go Seigen's students. Known for winning many titles at a young age.
Kato Masao Master of attack style.
Yoda Norimoto has one of the best track records in international tournaments for Japan
Ishida Yoshio youngest ever Honinbo winner and one of the strongest players of the 1970s. TV commentator.
Takemiya Masaki famous for his 'cosmic style', aiming for territory in the center of the board rather than the sides
Kobayashi Koichi third most titles in Japan with 55.
Cho Hunhyun was the second strongest player in the world in 2000, after his former pupil Lee Changho.
Cho Chikun (Cho Chihun in Korean) among the best players of the last century - passed Sakata in late 2002 for most titles with 66.
O Rissei one of the first Taiwanese Go players to become a professional in Japan.
O Meien famous for his "Meien-isms", a special way of opening a game.
Rui Naiwei first woman to attain rank of 9-dan
Michael Redmond first non-Asian (American) to attain rank of 9-dan. TV commentator.
Catalin Taranu highest pro rank amongst european players.
Naoki Hane in 2002, Hane broke the record for fastest promotion to 9 dan in Nihon Ki-in history.
Nie Weiping challenged for many top international titles in the late 1980s.
Ma Xiaochun top player in China during the 1990s.
Chang Hao second best player in China in 2009.
Gu Li best weiqi player in China in 2009.
Lee Changho is considered one of the strongest players in the world.
Yamashita Keigo
Cho U in 2003, Cho U broke the record for fastest promotion to 9 dan in Nihon Ki-in history.
Lee Sedol In 2003 "Yi Se-tol" became the youngest 9-dan pro in history. He is considered one of the top few players in the world in 2009.
Alexandre Dinerchtein the first russian player to become a pro.

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