Han Sanghoon takes lead in LG cup

25 Feb

Han Sanghoon takes lead in LG cup

Category: LG Cup

Han Sanghoon won first game

LG final started today. This is the most interesting final in last few years. It can be compare to 7th LG Cup in 2003 when Lee Sedol 9p won the title by beating Lee Changho 9p. After 7th LG Cup, Lee Sedol break two record: the youngest 9p (21) and fastest 9p from 1p (8 years). After 4 years Korea “produce” next master: Han Sanghoon 2p.

Opposite to Lee Sedol, Han Sanghoon is not player who can find great tesuji or unexpected ideas, but thanks to his solid reading he can beat his opponent in middle game. He said he feel very comfortable when he enter chuban, but from other side some people said that Lee Sedol reading is the deepest in the whole world, so game should be very interesting.

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Opening was very common till white 24, when Han Sanghoon omit fuseki and start attack on black group in corner, but after some moves Lee Sedol return to normal fuseki. Black D12 is what white wants so tenuki is good choice.

Lee Sedol started to build moyo on right side, but Han Sanghoon play great reducing move. First fight started but nothing special happened. The real thing started with white 104. Han not only make some bad aji in black shape but also defend upper side from invasion.

After white 128 game was pretty even. Black 141 is very interesting move to stay in the game, but also very dangerous. Han Sanghoon start fights which end in big ko. Lee Sedol ignore ko threat to win the ko, but he doesn’t connect the ko!!! Black teritory was too small to simply connect ko. In the end Lee Sedol earn some points but hasn’t enough ko threat to win the ko and resign after 260 moves.

After this game I think after few days we can see new two records (fastest and youngest 9p). Han Sanghoon show he has deep reading like Lee Sedol and if he don’t make any mistake he can won LG Cup. Second game will be played after one day break at 27 February.