Qiu Jun Advance to Samsung Cup Final
2-5 November semifinal of 14 Samsung Cup was held in Gwangju, Korea. 14th Samsung semifinal was played in system of three games match between Kong Jie 9p vs Gu Li 9p and Qiu Jun 8p vs Lee Changho 9p. Unexpectedly in both matches the biggest stars lost to the less known baduk masters.
First Day
In first day Kong Jie won against Gu Li by taking white stones after 222 moves. In opening both side build two big moyos without any fight, but this was only silence before the storm.
Game was very complex with a lot of fights and dead stones. There were many huge ko fights. In last ko fight in upper right corner, Gu Li ignore ko threat on bottom side, but this cost him greatly and after 222 moves he resigned.
Second game of the day was more peaceful. After opening Lee Changho (white) was ahead, but he started to play very questionable and give Qiu Jun chance to build huge moyo. After black invasion in upper left corner Lee Changho make exchange – territory for black iron wall – which was to black advantage.
When endgame started the result seems to be even or maybe black had small advantage. Unexpectedly Lee Changho made few mistakes in endgame and was forced to resign after 207 moves. First day of semifinal ended, before next games players get one day break.
Second Day
In second day of games in semifinal of the 14th Samsung Cup Kong Jie took black stones against Gu Li. Again black build moyo and fight was pretty intense. Both sides play very strong in upper right side of the board.
When opening ended, black was leading in territory, so Gu Li abandoned his weak group and play keima to extend his own moyo on top left side of the board. Of course Kong Jie grab opportunity to attack this group and build huge territory in center.
After white 140, they entered endgame phase. Endgame was long, but black was solid lead. There was one interesting thing – white 192. Can black connect or there is a loophole in black corner? Kong Jie made compromise and won the game by 2,5 points after 253 moves.
Kong Jie won the semifinal match against Gu Li with score 2-0 and advance to final of Samsung Cup.
On other board Lee Changho was playing against Qiu Jun. This time Lee Changho took black stones, but again show strength in opening by taking lead very early in the game. Qiu Jun tried to build moyo in center and things become complicated.
I don’t understand few Lee Changho moves, especially black 119. Is there some sort of tesuji for white if Lee Changho play tenuki? After few moves game become really close and it was hard to say who will win, but Qiu Jun made careless move.
Lee Changho fulfill this opportunity and start killing white group on the top. Qiu Jun resigned after 163 moves. With this result they tied in semifinal. 3rd game between them will decide who will advance to final of the 14th Samsung Cup.
Third Day
In last game Lee Changho took black stones and play territorial oriented opening. This game show how much important it was for both players. With black 25 normally black would jump to E7, but in the game Lee Changho tried to get extra profit by first peeping. Qiu Jun don’t tolerate and start intense fight.
After [goto move="92" label ="white 92" id="5"] situation was less complex. Lee Changho leave the fight and start to secure territory on bottom side, but made huge mistake, which cost him a game. Black should play N2 instead of M1. Qiu Jun play series of beautiful tesuji and take advantage on one stroke.
In endgame Lee Changho made exchange in upper left corner, but still the situation was bad for him. With white 182 Qiu Jun fire final blow. Few moves later Lee Changho resigned.
Final
Final of 14th Samsung Cup will be played between Kong Jie and Qiu Jun in 15-18 December. Who will win? For this event I prepare a poll. To vote you must sign in to Haengma community on the right side (you can use Google account, AOL, Yahoo or even OpenID). I hope you’ll enjoy this and future features which I plan to add to the website.
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