In the first game, Iyama 9p was ahead earlier on, but faltered towards the end.
Iyama 9p was present 15 minutes before the start of the second game.
courtesy of http://www.baduk.or.kr/news/news_view.asp?news_no=2471
Two minutes to the start, Xie 5p arrives.
courtesy of http://www.baduk.or.kr/news/news_view.asp?news_no=2471
And before one could tell, a complicated fighting match was underway (I was in no state to follow this kind of match at the time I was up and was becoming dizzier with each move)
At the very least Iyama sensei's sensei, who trained Iyama 9p on countless training games online, was present for the match.
(Murakawa Daisuke 8p?) with Ishii Kunio 9p, courtesy of http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/match_news/m ... t/222.html
They say the half point is in God's hands, and if anyone has been on losing side of half-point games on the international stage, it would be Iyama 9p, with at least one due to a slip from a lack of familiarity with play by chinese rules.
And it seems that either by being in Japan or having his teacher to watch, fortune has changed sides for Iyama 9p in what could only have been an unimaginably difficult match (you will never complain about
http://www.go4go.net/go/games/sgfview/71598
courtesy of http://www.go4go.net
We may never know if Xie Erhao received a reward for his wonderful performance at his first major international tournament six years ago, but I think we might be seeing him more often anyways, win or lose the third game is currently underway.
P.S. Even though Iyama 9p is in a position for a reverse swoop, I do think Xie is still slightly more likely to win...