Haengma » Yamashita Keigo

Cho-Yamashita Judan Clash

Tomasz Slazok — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:19:29 +0000

4 March, in Nigata Japan, Cho U 9p and Yamashita Keigo 9p play first match of 48th Judan final. This is next clash between them in this year. Dozens days ago they just end their clash in the Kisei.

Yamashita Revenge

Yamashita Keigo was Kisei title holder for several years, but this year Cho U defeat him with very good result 4-1. This was very bitter experience for him. Yamashita Keigo is one of the strongest Japanese baduk master is left with only one title – Tengen.

To recover his position in Japan he need to win another title. The 48th Judan final is great oppurtunity not only get back to the top, but also get some revenge on Cho U by taking from him Judan title

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Cho U Aggressive Style

In the game Cho U took black stones and from beginning start with very severe attack on white group on bottom side. Cho U secure huge territory on the right side and white situation wasn’t optimistic.

Yamashita Keigo made a miracle by creating huge moyo on left side and later turning it into territory. This miracle cost him a important sente. Cho U use it to made a life in upper left corner. After this Yamashita Keigo was looking for a place to concede defeat. After 141 moves Yamashita Keigo resigned.

First Game isn’t Conclusive

Judan final is played in the system best of five, so there’s change for Yamashita Keigo to won this title. On other hand Cho U won’t give up this title easily. Next game will be played 25 March in Chiyado, Tokyo.

Cho U – 34th Kisei

Tomasz Slazok — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:20:15 +0000

25-26 February, Cho U 9p and Yamashita Keigo 9p Kisei play 5th game of the 34th Kisei final. Before the this game overall score was 3-1 to Cho U favor. Cho U need only one more victory to capture title from Yamashita Keigo.

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Cho U Fast Opening Development

In the game Yamashita Keigo took black stones, so Cho U couldn’t play his favorite Micro-Chinese Opening, but he also didn’t play his trademark as white(third move as approach to 3-4 opponent move). He must prepare opening for this game, because when 4 corner was occupied he choose very rare but very interesting speedy development.

Yamashita Keigo counter attack

After opening Cho U tried to defend his defect in the group on the upper side in sente. Of course Yamashita Keigo couldn’t tolerate and play counter attack with black 27.

Long game

Both sides invade into opponents territorial framework and turn the game into fight between small groups and small territory. The outcome of the game was decided in the endgame.

Endgame Tesuji

Game was close and victory goes to play who play more flawless endgame. Cho U show two really nice tesuji in this part of the game. First is the the sacrifice on the upper side and second is white 184. In the end Cho U won the game by one and half a point.

Cho U – 34th Kisei

With the victory Cho U capture 34th Kisei title from Yamashita Keigo. This is his first time when he capture Kisei. With the title, now he capture all major titles in Japan. Great achievement, but what next? Recently Cho U is fighting in another final – 48 Judan.

Yamashita Keigo Fights Back

Tomasz Slazok — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:19:34 +0000

18,19 February Yamashita Keigo and Cho U played in 4th game of the 34th Kisei final. Before the game Cho U was leading 3-0 in the final. Kisei final is played in format best of 7 games, so Cho U need only one more game to capture title from Yamashita Keigo. Of course Yamashita don’t want do give up and won 4th game, leaving some room for speculations.

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Yamashita Keigo very interesting opening started with white 8. Both sides fights like a hell in center. The key point of the game was the peep in upper side and Cho U unique answer.

This give white a lot of territory but Cho U get chance to attack white. Yamashita Keigo was need to fight in many small fights on the whole board, but with perfect timing he manage to win the game. Perfect victory for him

Yamashita Keigo won the game and survive to the 5th game of 34th Kisei final. To defend title he need to won next 3 games. Would he do that?

Kadoban in 34th Kisei

Tomasz Slazok — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:14:54 +0000

3-4 February, Cho U 9p and Yamashita Keigo played in 3rd game of the 34th Kisei final. Cho U won this game by eight and half a point and take a solid lead in the final 3-0.

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In the game Cho U from the start show great fighting spirit. With white 16 Cho U attack black on the big scale. Some times latter he start big ko fight in bottom right corner. Maybe he play this way because he won previous two games and fell more freedom than his opponent.

On other hand Yamashita Keigo play very weird, so many territorial moves. It’s not his style, where are his genius middle fighting oriented moves? Of course Yamashita Keigo take a lot of territory but the key point of the game was ko in bottom left corner. Cho U won this three step ko and take solid lead. After 303 moves Cho U won by 8,5 points.

After the game Yamashita Keigo is in very bad situation in the Kisei final. He can’t single game in next four final matches. Yamashita Keigo is Kisei champion from many years and in that time never be in hard position. Will he be able to defend his title? Next game will be played 18-19 February.

Cho U Second Win in 34th Kisei

Tomasz Slazok — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:20:43 +0000

27, 28 January Cho U 9p and Yamashita Keigo 9p played in second game of the 34th Kisei final. Cho U won this game by 6,5 points. Game was very interesting.

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Cho U took black stones and build nice moyo in opening. Yamashita Keigo on other hand goes for thickness. Joseki in upper right corner is very interesting. In the game players fight in numerous kos. Cho U won the most important kos and give Yamashita Keigo dozens of stones to capture.

The most questionable move is white 242. Why he didn’t tolerate and play atari from other side? This way Black 243 don’t work. Of course endgame was long and difficult, so it was hard to choose proper way to win the game, but six and half point is a lot.

Cho U won the game after 342 moves by 6,5 points and take a lead in the final of 34th Kisei. 3rd game will be played 3-4 February. Who will win next game? Who will win 34th Kisei title?

Cho U won 1st game in 34th Kisei

Tomasz Slazok — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:39:04 +0000

14-15 January Cho U and Yamashita Keigo play with each other in first game of 34th Kisei final. Some time ago Yamashita Keigo take Tengen title from Cho U, so now Cho U wants to make revange and take Kisei title from Yamashita Keigo.

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Game started without a lot of fight like they previous games. For amateur perspective it’s worth to known that white 26 become standard instead of san-san. The main fight started in upper side, but the outcome of game was decided on left side in the ko fight. Cho U won the ko and won the game by resignation after 234 moves.

Second game will be played 27-28 January. Who will win this time and who will win the title?

Yamashita Keigo – 35th Tengen

Tomasz Slazok — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:03:49 +0000

22 December, Yamashita Keigo beat Cho U in 5th game of the 35th Tengen final. Yamashita Keigo become new title holder for next year.

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In the game Cho U play his two trademarks: White 4 and White 20. Game very quickly become very chaotic and turned into kill-or-die game. In the end it was Yamashita Keigo who kill big group and win the game after 185 moves.

Cho U lost another title, but his fight with Yamashita Keigo didn’t end. He will play with him in Kisei final. Will he get revenge in Kisei final? Please share your thought in comments section.

Cho U facing Kadoban in 35th Tengen

Tomasz Slazok — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:40:16 +0000

3 December, Yamashita Keigo and Cho U played in 3rd game of 35th Tengen final. Cho U – titleholder – in this game took white stones. In the game both sides show their unique styles, but it was Yamashita Keigo who won the game.

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Cho U play his favorite joseki in bottom left corner. Yamashita answer it with new move and they formed new shape after white 14. In late opening stage Yamashita Keigo show his unique style with black 29.

In middle game Cho U made overplay. Yamashita Keigo punish him very severe by killing him corner. After 131 moves Cho U resigned. Yamashita Keigo take a lead in the final and need only one more victory to take the title. Next game will be played 10 December. Will Cho U win next 2 games and defend title?

Cho U even score in 35th Tengen

Tomasz Slazok — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:26:12 +0000

19 November Cho U and Yamashita Keigo play second game of 35th Tengen final. This time game was more common than first match (very aggressive one). Cho U took black stones and play his favorite opening.

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Cho U build nice moyo on right side, Yamashita Keigo invade very deeply. Black 135 is bold move but typical for Cho U. After complication capturing race Cho U kill invader and won the game after 165 moves. With this victory overall situation in Tengen final is 1-1. Third game of the final will be played in 3 December.

Yamashita Keigo Fights for Tengen

Tomasz Slazok — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:34:43 +0000

12 November, 1st game of final of 35th Tengen was played between Cho U titleholder and Yamashita Keigo challenger. Yamashita Keigo was trying to capture this title several times in the past(when Kono Rin was a titleholder), but without success. Maybe when Cho U took title from Kono Rin, Yamashita Keigo would be more lucky.

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Joseki ???

Game started very uncommon. Cho U tried new pattern in bottom right corner. In the past, white 10 was recognized as bad move. The sequence itself is the one of “don’t try it at home”. Complicated fight start in the corner and spread over the whole board.

Cho U sacrifice his groups few times for the sente. When they entered endgame, the situation was close, but Yamashita Keigo made ko of the game. Cho U was lacking in ko threats, so after 281 moves he resigned. Yamashita Keigo won first match, second will be played 19 November.