Tuo Jiaxi – Chinese Hero
Every year Japan, Korea and China send their teams to Nongshim Cup. This tournament is very important, because it shows which country is the strongest. In this kind of tournament individual players aren’t so important. The key to win this tournament is to have players with very even level. you can ask why? Because everyone are making mistakes and leaving al responsibility on only one player are too much.
In my opinion this year China send the strongest team. Chang Hao 9p, Gu Li 9p, Qiu Jun 8p, Piao Wenyao 5p, Tuo Jiaxi 3p. Of course in first place I would change Tuo Jiaxi with Zhou Ruiyang, but after 1 round I see , that I was wrong :) Chinese team well balanced and even if strongest player would loss their games all other member can defend title for China team.
On other hand Japan choose very bad team, only Yamashita Keigo who by the way lost to Tuo Jiaxi in 2nd game. Other players are Kono Rin 9p (who also lost to Tuo Jiaxi 3p in 4th game), Yamada Kimo 9p, Takao Shinji 9p, Hane Naoki 9p. Of course they show some records in Japan but not including players like Cho U 9p or Yoda Norimoto 9p who had some success on international scene is in my opinion very big mistake.
In the end Korean team. Some people said before this edition that this year Korean have the strongest team ever. I don’t think so :( This because of Heo Yeongho 6p and Yun Junsang 7p. Of course they are great baduk masters, but their baduk level is something different from Lee Changho, Lee Sedol or Kang Dongyun. In past their had some success in national tournaments but overall their aren’t top players. I think it would much better to send Park Yeonghun 9p and Mok Jinseok 9p.
My guess about what could happen in 1 round was more or less right. The biggest surprise was only that Tuo Jiaxi beat all weaker baduk masters in this round. I thought that player killer should be Piao Wenyao 5p. Of course in next stages it can happen :)
The biggest effect of 1st round of Nongshim Cup is about Tuo Jiaxi career in China. Beating in straight way Heo Yeongho , Yamashita Keigo, Yun Junsang, Kono Rin is something :) Now he is national hero who will give his 3 cents to possible China win. In China be attractive to media is very hard so can said that this victory is important moment in his career.
At the end I want share with you about my thought of next stages of tournament. I think in 2nd stage of Nongshim Cup we will see good performance of Korean players. I’m sure that they will send Kang Dongyun 8p to fight against Tuo Jiaxi 3p. Kang Dongyun play very solid baduk so in my opinion his chances to win with him are greater. I looking forawrd 2nd stage, because the most interesting game are before us.
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