Cho Hanseung (조한승) captured Kuksu (국수)

Cho Hanseung won the 55th Kuksu title. He challenged Choi Cheolhan for the title in a five game play-off.

Players	1st round 10-17	2nd round 10-25	3rd round 11-08	4th round 11-14	5th round 11-16
Choi Cheolhan (Kuksu)		B+R		B+R
Cho Hanseung (9 dan)	B+R		B+R		B+1.5

Here you can see the results of each played game with date.

The first match:
My first impression was that black played for territory - due to the opening but than turned into influence play. So he can varies his play individual....like every pro should do - I guess :P He gained more and more territory after more exchanges. In the end white resigned cause of less points.




The second match:

Choi Cheolhan had a better day. The opening was better and I felt like his is playing more aggressive this time. In an early stage of the game white lost a group by gaining a bit territory on the right side. But compared I think it was a lot less points worth. Black didn't stop to ut pressure on white and Cho Hanseung resigned after 177 moves.




The third game:

From the beginning the game was influenced by fighting. Black played the Chinese opening and white fighted back immediatly. After saving a white group by Choi Cheolhan, black could gain more and more points for a comfortable lead. Choi Cheolhan resigned 173 moves.



The forth game:

After this game the standing was 2-2. Choi Cheolhan killed few groups of Cho Hanseung and could win by resignation.




The diciding match:

Cho Hanseung (black) vs Choi Cheolhan (white). The last game in the 55th Kuksu tournament. A fearce battle has begun. Black killed some of white's groups but couldn't get the lead on the board. A pae fight was in the end of that game. That was a dicisive moment in the game. After almost 300 moves Cho Hanseung won the game by 1.5 points and captured the title!

This is the game:





Choi Cheolhan looks very diappointed after the result was offical.

Maybe he can recapture the title in the 56th edtion!

- a1r -

Choi Cheolhan vs Yi Sedol - KBL 2011

This game ended few minutes ago. It was very interesting and difficult to understand for weaker players, like me. Choi Cheolhan had a good start and was better in the opening I think. But in fighting Yi Sedol is very strong and beat Choi by 2.5 pts in the end.

Watch yourself!





- a1r -

Kido Cup 2011

The Kido Cup in Hamburg, Germany is coming again this year. Instead of the "Hamburger monkey jump" there will be a typical Korean style tournament! It's this weekend from 11th to 13th June 2011.

The sponsor Kido Industrial will sponser over 10.000€ prize money!!! What a huge amount for an European tournament.

Some European top-players will appear like Cristian Pop (7d), Ondrej Silt (6d), Mero Csaba (7d) or Pal Balogh (6d).

There are also over 5 professional players from Korea including Yeon Yeongseon 8p, Ko Juyeon 8p, Kim Youngsam 8p, Kim Sungrae 8p and Kwon Kapyong 7p. Mr. Kwon has a very famous Baduk school in Korea, he produced many pros like Yi Sedol, Choi Cheolhan or Yeon Yeongseon :)

That's NOT everything guys. A BadukTV-team will be there and WBaduk will send a representative to transmit the games on WBaduk. I guess it is the first time that a European tournament will be broadcast in Korea, very special :) Also there will be a broadcast on KGS.

If you are not registrated yet, please come to visit and play on the tournament.

For more information, pls visit the website: http://kidocup.com/en/

-a1r-

Korea wins!

Korea defended their title! They also won the last game by Choi Cheolhan (w) vs. China's Kong Jie (b).

From the beginning bith players played for territory, but Kong Jie couldn't handle the invasions by Cheolhan. He invaded three times in black's moyo and survived two times successful. In adition white killed a big black group in early middle game.

Here some photos of the closing ceremony:

This is the trophy

Choi Cheolhan with a four-game-winning streak

RESULT: W+Resignation




 - a1r -

3rd stage of the 12th Nongshim Cup

The 3rd stage of the 12th Nongshim Cup has started. A Korean player ended with a win in the 2nd stage and this was Choi Cheolhan.

The first game was against Zhou Ruiyang 5dan. In the opening they played a new variation which was better for white played by Choi Cheolhan.

The middle game was easy for white and Zhou resigned after 214 moves. Now only one Chinese and Japanese player is left! Korea has two players inclusive Choi in the tournament.

Cheolhan played the next game against Japan's Yuki Satoshi. Black (Choi Cheolhan) had an easy win against him. White made some mistakes, Kim Seongryong 9dan said that Yuki Satoshi played two bad moves in the opening, 44 and 46; that became a big baseless group. Fortunately, he saved the group, but Choi Chulhan was ahead in territory. Since Yuki was totally losing, he made his bid for victory by 112 to 116, taking a big risk. However, it failed, and another big group of Yuki was captured. That was the end of the game.

Next opponent of Choi is Kong Jie from China!

Yuki vs. Choi

First game: Choi Cheolhan (w) vs. Zhou Ruiyang (b) - W+R
Second game: Yuki Satoshi (w) vs. Choi Cheolhan (b) - B+R





- a1r -

Even

Hello guys...long time no see, but I am back!

The second game for the 54th Kuksu was played on 14th January and like the title says Choi Cheolhan won. Cheolhan playing as white had to face the chinese opening, played by Yi Changho. Btw, this is the only title, which Changho is helding.

 My impression of this game was Yi played for moyang(moyo) but couldn't handle white well. White could invade always in black's moyang and lived or connected his groups. I think it was hard for both and Yi Changho resigned after 166 moves and he has to win the next games to defend his only title.

RESULT: W+Resignation



 - a1r -

54th Kuksu - first game

Another message. The 54th Kuksu started yesterday on 12th January 2011. The titleholder Yi Changho had to face Choi Cheolhan - good friend of Yun Yeongseon and also they were in the same Baduk school.

 

The game just finished after 136 moves, which Cheolhan resigned. Cheolhan (b) played for influence it seems and built up a wall but he couldn't use it useful.

In the middle game black had some problems and had to run for his group. Changho played well and could kill a big group through ko. After palying some ko threats black resigned, as of the bad position.

The next game will be played tomorrow, 14th January 2011. You can watch it on WBaduk and BadukTV live here on this blog - at 10:00 o'clock (Korean Standard Time - 02:00am CET): http://beginningpath.blogspot.com/p/baduk-tv_04.html

 

   Reviewing with some pros like Yi Sedol and Blackie ;)

RESULT: W+ Resignation




 - a1r -

Korean Baduk League 2010


The KBL is going into the final stage.

The teams are:

• Team Hite Jinro

   Choi Cheolhan, team captain

• Team Shinan Chunil Salt

   Yi Sedol, team captain

• Team Chungbuk & Konkuk Milk

   Heo Yeongho, team captain

• Team Hangame

   Kang Dongyun, team captain

Players	1st round	Semifinal	Final
Team Hite Jinro(9-7,44P)	01-08,09	01-15,16	1st round 2nd round 3rd round
Team Shinan Chunil Salt(10-6,46P)
Team Chungbuk & Konkuk Milk(11-5,43P)
Team Hangame(12-4,47P)

In the first round of the final stage is between Team Hite Jinro and Team Shinan Chunil Salt.

Only the first game was won by Won Sungji for Team Hite Jinro.


In the second match of this round, it became a battle of captains! Yi Sedol (w) vs. Choi Cheolhan (b).


Here you can see the game:

(;
KM[6.5]
FF[3]
SZ[19]
EV[2010 Korean Baduk League post season (Team Shinan Chunil Salt vs Team Hite Jinro)]
GM[1]
PB[Choi Cheolhan]
PW[Lee Sedol]
BR[9d]
RE[W+R]
DT[2011-01-08]
WR[9d]
;B[qd];W[dc];B[pq];W[dq];B[do];W[ce];B[cq];W[oc];B[po];W[qh];B[pc]
;W[od];B[qf];W[og];B[dr];W[dj];B[jd];W[hc];B[md];W[pe];B[qe];W[ob]
;B[qj];W[lc];B[ld];W[kc];B[kd];W[kg];B[jc];W[jb];B[mg];W[mh];B[lh]
;W[mf];B[nh];W[mi];B[lg];W[lf];B[ng];W[nf];B[hd];W[ib];B[hg];W[kh]
;B[li];W[oh];B[oi];W[eq];B[cp];W[jf];B[jp];W[gi];B[df];W[cf];B[dh]
;W[fh];B[fj];W[gj];B[ki];W[ji];B[jj];W[ii];B[fk];W[hl];B[ei];W[fm]
;B[de];W[dd];B[gl];W[gm];B[hm];W[il];B[im];W[el];B[hk];W[jl];B[jm]
;W[kl];B[gk];W[ij];B[ek];W[dk];B[dl];W[dm];B[cl];W[cm];B[bk];W[bj]
;B[bm];W[bn];B[en];W[em];B[ik];W[jk];B[kj];W[km];B[kn];W[ln];B[ko]
;W[mm];B[fg];W[cg];B[dg];W[ff];B[gh];W[fi];B[cd];W[ci];B[gf];W[ej]
;B[fe];W[pi];B[di];W[cj])

The  next two game were won by Shinan Chunil Salt, too.

Date	Team Shinan Chunil Salt	3-1	Team Hite Jinro
01-08	Lee Hobum(2d)	W+R	Won Sungjin(GS)
01-08	Lee Sedol(9d)	W+R	Choi Cheolhan(9d)
01-08	Lee Chungyu(3d)	B+4.5	An Sungjoon(2d)
01-09	Han Sanghoon(5d)	W+R	Kim Hyeongwoo(4d)
01-09	An Kukhyun(2d)		Lee Wonyoung(2d)

* The last game wasn't played, as of the result 3-1.

They will face Team Chungbuk & Konkuk Milk in the second round on 15./16. January 2011.

- a1r -