The National Individual Championship started in 1957 and used to be the most important domestic tournament in China. The biggest names in Chinese Weiqi scene like Chen Zude, Nie Weiping, Ma Xiaochun etc. all have won this tournament multiple times during their heydays. The winner of the tournament was deemed best player of the time during early editions. It wasn't until late 90's the importance of the tournament diminished due to emergence of many tournaments with much higher prize money and the A-League. Nowadays this tournament is considered battle ground for young pros and test bed for new pros. Top pros like Ke Jie, Mi Yuting, Lian Xiao do not participated in it (although Mi Yuting did win it in 2012 when he was 16 years old, 1 year before winning the M'Lily Cup). But most top female pros still play in this tournament, sometimes in the men's group. This year Yu Zhiying and Rui Naiwei did just that.

I am covering it this year because several new pros are playing and I want to see how they fare against more seasoned pros. I also want to see how many games can Yu and Rui win in men's group.

There are 120 players in Men's group and 58 players in Women's group. Tournament is scheduled so that Men's Group will play 13 rounds while Women's Group will play 9 rounds, but both groups will start and finish on the same day (from Sep 17th to Sep 30th). Because Women's group has more time they play with 2 hours main time while men's group play with 1 hour main time. On certain days Men's group need to play two games in one day.

Edit: The first National Individual Championship (NIC) was held in 1957 not 1954. By the way 2019 is the 53rd edition. There were a few interruptions during the Cultural Revolution.

Here are results for the names I am tracking:

Men's Group (played two rounds on 18th)

Round 1 (First number is board number. Black player name on the left. New pro color coded blue, female pro color coded pink)

5. Zhang Qi 2p > Hu Zhenpeng 1p
7. Li Xinchen 1p < Zhang Ziliang 4p
12. Zhao Yucai 3p < Wang Chunhui 1p
16. Lu Xunfeng 1p < Gao Yu 3p
17. Gu Ruize 3p > Rui Naiwei 9p
18. Lu Liyan 3p < Zhao Fei 1p
21. Qu Ming 1p < Kou Zhengyan 4p
24. Yang Ge 1p < Luo Yan 4p
27. Wang Pengfei 1p < Cai Jing 6p
33. Chen Tuli 1p < Tang Jingxuan 3p
40. Yu Zhiying 6p < Ji Xiang 4p
41. Wang Wenqi 1p < Chen Zhengxun 5p
47. Cai Lichen 1p < Ma Guangzi 5p
50. Wang Shuo 90 5p > Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
51. Su Guangyue 1p > Wang Yucheng 1p
52. Liu Yuhang 4p > Hua Chang 1p
54. Hu Yuhan 5p > Wang Mian 1p
56. Zhou Runmin 1p < Shu Yixiao 5p

Round 2

6. Li Yu'ang 2p > Su Guangyue 1p
24. Zhao Fei 1p > Zheng Zijian 1p
27. Wang Chunhui 1p > Zhang Qi 2p
32. Xue Hongzhe 1p < Zhou Runmin 1p
34. Wang Mian 1p < Yang Yi 4p
35. Hua Chang 1p > Cai Lichen 1p
36. Wang Yucheng < Liu Yuncheng 1p
37. Cheng Xiaoqing 1p < Wan Leqi 3p
38. Wang Shuo 00 1p > Wang Wenqi 1p
39. Li Zerui 2p < Yu Zhiying 6p
43. Wang Yinglingshui 2p > Chen Tuli 1p
48. Zhao Zhongxuan 3p > Wang Pengfei 1p
50. Rui Naiwei 9p > Yang Ge 1p
52. Chen Xudong 3p > Qu Ming 1p
55. Chen Hanqi 4p > Lu Xunfeng 1p
57. Hu Zhenpeng 1p < Zhao Yucai 3p
58. Yu Haoran 1p < Li Xinchen 1p

Round 3 will be played tomorrow. So far among new pros only Wang Chunhui and Zhao Fei won two in a row. Yu Zhiying 6p and Rui Naiwei 9p both had 1 win 1 loss.

Edit: Rank fix: Gu Ruize should be 3p, Ji Xiang should be 4p, Li Zerui should be 2p.

Women's Group

Round 1

2. Li Xuemeng 1p < Wang Xiangyun 3p
4. Wang Meicheng 1p < Lu Minquan 5p
5. Wu Yiming 1p < Zhou Hongyu 5p
6. Li Xiaoxi 00 1p < Wei Xintong 1p
10. Zhao Yifei 3p > Zhang Mengyao 1p
12. Li Sixuan 1p > Wen Zhaoyi 1p
15. Mao Yanxin 1p < Wang Jiaqi 1p
16. Chen Manqi 1p < Li Xiaoxi 90 3p
24. Xu Jingqi 1p < Chen Yiming 4p
29. Yu Jingying 1p < Huang Jiayi 1p

Li Sixuan is the only new pro that won against more seasoned pros in the first round. Li Xiaoxi 1p lost to another new pro Wei Xintong. Wu Yiming lost to Zhou Hongyu 5p again.

Results from September 19th

Men's Group Round 3

4 Wang Chunhui 1p < Fan Yunruo 8p
5 Chen Xian 7p > Zhao Fei 1p
18 He Yuhan 6p > Li Xinchen 1p
25 Rui Naiwei 9p > Wang Junxiao 1p
36 Wang Yinlingshui 2p > Yu Zhiying 6p
40 Huang Mingyu 3p > Su Guangyue 1p
41 Wang Shuo 00 1p > Hua Chang 1p
43 Huang Yiming 3p > Zhou Runmin 1p
46 Hu Zhenpeng 1p < Zeng Zhihao 3p
49 Lu Xunfeng 1p < Lu Liyan 3p
50 Yang Zongyu 1p < Qu Ming 1p
51 Yang Ge 1p < Zheng Xu 4p
52 Wang Pengfei 1p < Wang Zeyu 3p
54 Chen Tuli 1p > Hu Xiao 3p
55 Wang Wenqi 1p < Liu Qifeng 5p
57 Cai Lichen 1p < Li Zerui 2p
58 Cheng Xiaoqing 1p < Wang Yucheng 1p
59 Wang Mian 1p > Yao Xiaotong 2p

Rui Naiwei 9p won while Yu Zhiying lost. 2019 PQT 1st place winner Wang Chunhui 1p had won two in a row, but he ran into Fan Yunruo 8p in round 3 and lost. Fan 8p is the player with highest CWA rating in the field. He is 11th in the latest ranking. Wang 1p will play Rui 9p next.

Women's Group Round 2

Amateur color coded cyan (The National Individual used to be open to amateurs. Now the Men's Group does not allow amateurs anymore but the Women's group still carries this tradition and allows WBL teams send 1 to 2 amateurs to the National Individual provided that they do not have enough pros)

5 Chen Yiming 4p > Li Sixuan 1p
12 Pan Yang 3p > Wei Xintong 1p
15 Yan Ximo 5D > Yu Jingying 1p
19 Yuan Jie 1p < Xu Jingqi 1p
22 Zhang Mengyao 1p > Yan Yuying 6D
25 Gu Wanshan 1p > Chen Manqi 1p
26 Mao Yanxin 1p > Yang Qiqi 1p
27 Li Xiaoxi 00 1p > Wu Yiming 1p
28 Wang Meicheng 1p < Wang Siyin 2p
29 Li Xuemeng 1p < Wang Qianyu 1p

12 year old amateur Yan Ximo 5D won two in a row (she beat Wang Qianyu 1p in round 1). She will probably make pro next year. 05 born Li Xiaoxi beat 06 born Wu Yiming in a battle between two young pros.

Edit: Wang Siyin should be 2p.

Results from 20th

Men's Group Round 4

Wang Chunhui 1p beat Rui Naiwei 9p to get third win of the tournament. He has the best record among new pros. Yu Zhiying 6p lost to Jiao Shiwei 5p. There was a clock malfunction during their match and the referee had to reset the clock according to players' memory.

16 Zhao Fei 1p < Wang Xinghao 4p
28 Rui Naiwei 9p <Wang Chunhui 1p
32 Zhou Runmin 1p < Cheng Jiaye 2p
33 Hua Chang 1p < Wang Mian 1p
35 Wang Yucheng 1p < Chen Tuli 1p
36 Su Guangyue 1p > Jin Yuchen 2p
43 Yu Zhiying 6p < Jiao Shiwei 5p
50 Qu Ming 1p < Qin Yuexin 5p
52 Zheng Zijian 1p > Li Xinchen 1p
53 Zhang Qi 2p < Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
54 Xue Hongzhe 1p > Cai Lichen 1p
56 Hu Xiao 3p > Wang Wenqi 1p
57 Yang Wenkai 1p > Wang Pengfei 1p
58 Yang Ge 1p > Yang Zongyu 1p
59 Lu Xunfeng 1p < Yu Haoran 1p
60 Shi Ji 1p > Hu Zhenpeng 1p

The 2019 Natioanl Individual Championship (NIC) venue is Wu Xi Luxury Blue Horizon Hotel. In the front is Yu Zhiying 6p (right) playing Jiao Shiwei 5p.Huge score board outsideCai Jing 6p is one of 8 undefeated playersEdit: Wang Xinghao should be 4p, Jin Yuchen 2p.

Women's Round 3

I will start to track Yan Ximo 5D from now on. She won two in a row so played Wang Shuang 4p at board 1! This will be valuable experience for her to be playing at board 1 in the NIC even though she lost.

Zhou Hongyu 5p lost to Lu Minquan 5p in round 2 so she played (and beat) Li Xiaoxi 1p in round 3.

After 3 round 8 players are undefeated, including Li He 5p, Wang Chenxing 5p and Chen Yiming 4p. Wu Yiming got her first win.

1 Yan Ximo 1p < Wang Shuang 4p
10 Zhou Hongyu 5p > Li Xiaoxi 00 1p
11 Wei Xintong 1p < Jia Ganglu 2p
14 Zhang Mengyao 1p < Zhao Guanru 2p
15 Zhang Zihan 3p > Li Sixuan 1p
16 Wen Zhaoyi 1p > Mao Yanxin 1p
19 Hang Xiaotong 1p < Xu Jingqi 1p
22 Chu Ke'er 2p < Li Xuemeng 1p
23 Wu Yiming 1p > Wang Meicheng 1p
25 Yang Qiqi 1p < Chen Manqi 1p
29 Zhang Xinyue 1p < Yu Jingying 1p

Women's Group (first row facing cameras from left to right: Pan Yang 3p, Wang Yubo 2p, Wang Shuang 4p; second row: Gao Xing 4p, Tang Jiawen 1p, Tao Ran 2p)

After one day rest, play resumed on 22nd.

Men's Group

2 rounds were played on the 22nd. Rui Naiwei 9p lost two in a row while Yu Zhiying 6p won two in a row. PQT medalist Wang Chunhui 1p lost to Yan Huan 6p but beat Ying Yitao 4p to go 4-2 in first 6 rounds which is quite impressive for a new pro. Another new pro Zhao Fei 1p did well by beating former A-League player Qin Yuexin 5p. Also 2018 new pro Wang Shuo 00 1p met his namesake Wang Shuo 90 5p in round 5 at board 17. The youngster was able to outlast his elder and improved to 4-1 after 5 rounds.

At the top highest ranked player Fan Yunruo 8p lost to Chen Xian 7p in the 5th round. After 6 rounds only Cai Jing 6p and Chen Xian 7p remain undefeated. They play each other in round 7.

Round 5

7 Wang Chunhui 1p < Yan Huan 6p
26 Lu Liyan 3p > Rui Naiwei 9p
27 Qin Yuexin 5p < Zhao Fei 1p
32 Chen Tuli 1p < Wang Ziang 4p
37 Li Zerui 2p < Su Guangyue 1p
39 Wang Mian 1p < Cao Xiaoyang 5p
44 Li Xinchen 1p > Cai Wenxin 2p
47 Qu Ming 1p < Jin Yuchen 2p
48 Li Huasong 4p > Yang Ge 1p
52 Fan Bingxu 2p < Yu Zhiying 6p
54 Cheng Xiaoqing 1p < Hua Chang 1p
55 Wang Yucheng 1p > Zhou Runmin 1p
57 Hu Zhenpeng 1p > Xue Hongzhe 1p
58 Yang Zongyue 1p < Lu Xunfeng 1p
59 Wang Pengfei 1p < Wang Wenqi 1p
60 Hu Zihao 2p > Cai Lichen 1p

Round 6

15 Su Guangyue 1p < Huang Chunqi 3p
26 Ying Yitao 4p < Wang Chunhui 1p
27 Zhao Fei 1p < Jiang Qirun 5p
31 Shi Yulai 2p > Wang Mian 1p
33 Hua Chang 1p > Wang Yucheng 1p
36 Yu Zhiying 6p > Liu Qifeng 5p
37 Chen Yusen 5p > Chen Tuli 1p
42 Kou Zhengyan 4p > Rui Naiwei 9p
47 Li Xinchen 1p < Yin Songtao 3p
50 Jiang Jidou 2p < Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
51 Zhou Runmin 1p > Han Zhuoran 1p
52 Wang Wenqi 1p < Hu Zihao 2p
54 Han Enyi 2p > Yang Ge 1p
55 Zhang Haowei 1p < Qu Ming 1p
56 Wang Junxiao 2p < Lu Xunfeng 1p
57 Cai Wenxin 2p > Hu Zhenpeng 1p
59 Zhang Mingkang 1p > Wang Pengfei 1p
60 Cai Lichen 1p < Yang Zongyu 1p

Rui Naiwei 9p (CWA rank 105) vs Lu Liyan 3p (CWA rank 127)Wang Shuo vs Wang Shuo (the one on the left was born in 1994, on the right was born in 2003)Battle at the top: Fan Yunruo 8p (Left, CWA rank 11) vs Chen Xian 7p (CWA rank 41)Edit: Fan Bingxu should be 2p, Hu Zihao 2p, Wang Junxiao 2p

Women's Round 4

At the top Li He 5p beat Chen Yiming 4p. Li He 5p, Wang Chenxing 5p, Wang Yubo 2p and Tang Jiawen 1p remained undefeated. Wu Yiming lost another game to new pro Li Xuemeng.

6 Xu Jingqi 1p < Yin Qu 2p
13 Jia Ganglu 2p > Yan Ximo 5D
16 Yu Jingying 1p > Wang Han 5D
19 Chen Manqi 1p < Hang Xiaotong 1p
21 Li Sixuan 1p > Mao Yanxin 1p
22 Wei Xintong 1p < Zhang Mengyao 1p
24 Gu Wanshan 1p > Li Xiaoxi 00 1p
25 Wu Yiming 1p < Li Xuemeng 1p
29 Wang Pan 1p > Wang Meicheng 1p

Wu Yiming lost to Li Xuemeng Gu Wanshan 1p (Left) beat Li Xiaoxi 1p15 year old Wang Han 5D

Results from Sep 23rd

Men's Group Round 7

At board 11, this year's PQT 1st place Wang Chunhui 1p lost to last year's 2nd place Lu Liyan 3p. Zhao Fei 1p beat Gu Ruize 3p to improve to 4-3 after 7 rounds. Yu Zhiying 6p and Rui Naiwei 9p both won.

At the top Cai Jing 6p beat Chen Xian 7p. Cai 6p is the only undefeated player after 7 rounds.

11 Wang Chunhui 1p < Lu Liyan 3p
26 Gu Ruize 3p < Zhao Fei 1p
34 Yu Zhiying 6p > Wan Leqi 2p
36 Huang Mingyu 1p > Hua Chang 1p
37 Su Guangyue 1p < Hu Yuhan 5p
41 Shi Ji 1p < Li Xinchen 1p
44 Li Haotong 2p < Lu Xunfeng 1p
45 Rui Naiwei 9p > Dong Kun 2p
46 Qu Ming 1p < Luo Yan 4p
48 Chen Tuli 1p > Han Enyi 2p
51 Li Zerui 2p > Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
52 Wang Yucheng 1p < Wang Mian 1p
53 Zhou Runmin 1p < Yao Xiaotong 1p
55 Hu Zhenpeng 1p < Wang Junxiao 2p
57 Yang Ge 1p > Zhang Haowei 1p
58 Wang Wenqi 1p < Han Zhuoran 1p
60 Wang Pengfei 1p < Cai Lichen 1p

Cai Jing 6p (right) beat Chen Xian 7p to take the sole leadYu Zhiying 6p (next to her is head referee Mr Liang Jianwu helping with broadcasting)Rui Naiwei sensei

Women's Group Round 5

Wu Yiming won her second game by beating new pro Yu Jingying. Li Sixuan and Li Xuemeng both won their 3rd game and have the best results among new pros.

At the top Li He 5p beat Wang Yubo 3p, Wang Chenxing 5p beat Tang Jiawen 1p. The two 5p's stayed undefeated.

10 Yan Ximo 5D < Li Xuemeng 1p
13 Zhang Mengyao 1p < Zhang Zihan 3p
14 Li Sixuan 1p > Yuan Jie 1p
18 Cao Youyin 3p > Xu Jingqi 1p
20 Yu Jingying 1p < Wu Yiming 1p
21 Wang Qianyu 1p < Li Xiaoxi 00 1p
22 Wei Xintong 1p < Wang Pan 1p
23 Liu Huiling 2p > Mao Yanxin 1p
24 Chen Manqi 1p < Song Ronghui 5p
28 Wang Meicheng 1p < Huang Jiayi 1p

Li He 5pWang Chenxing 5p

Edit: Wang Yubo should be 3p.

After one day rest, the NIC resumed on the 25th. Men's group played round 8 and 9. Women's Group played round 6.

Yu Zhiying 6p and Rui Naiwei 9p suffered consecutive losses. Wang Chunhui and Zhao Fei both had one win one loss and are still the best among new pros with 5 wins each.

At the top Cai Jing 6p lost to Shen Peiran 5p and Wang Zejin 6p. Chen Xian 7p and Wang Zejin 6p now lead with 8 wins. 10 more players tied at 7 wins.

Men's Group Round 8

21 Zheng Xu 4p > Yu Zhiying 6p
23 Zhao Fei 1p < Wang Ziang 4p
27 Wang Chunhui 1p < Zhang Qiang 6p
32 Yao Xiaotong 2p > Su Guangyue 1p
33 Wang Mian 1p < Li Zerui 2p
34 Hua Chang 1p > Hu Zihao 2p
36 Wan Leqi 2p > Chen Tuli 1p
39 Hu Xiao 3p > Rui Naiwei 9p
45 Lu Xunfeng 1p < Qin Jialin 2p
46 Li Xinchen 1p < Zhang Qi 2p
48 Cheng Jiaye 2p > Wang Yucheng 1p
49 Cheng Xiaoqing 1p < Zhou Runmin 1p
52 Yang Wenkai 1p > Yang Ge 1p
53 Dong Kun 2p < Qu Ming 1p
57 Xiao Qi 1p < Wang Wenqi 1p
59 Cai Lichen 1p > Hu Zhenpeng 1p
60 Zhang Haowei 1p < Wang Pengfei 1p

Round 9

27 Qin Jialin 2p < Wang Chunhui 1p
28 Zhao Fei 1p > Kou Zhengyan 4p
32 Yu Zhiying 6p < Pan Tingyu 3p
35 Zeng Yuanhai 2p < Hua Chang 1p
39 Li Xinchen 1p < Zheng Zaixiang 2p
41 Li Haotong 2p > Rui Naiwei 9p
42 Lu Xunfeng 1p > Gu Ruize 3p
43 Qu Ming 1p < Hu Aohua 4p
45 Wang Haotian 1p < Chen Tuli 1p
49 Liu Yuncheng 2p > Su Guangyue 1p
50 Wang Mian 1p > Zhou Runmin 1p
55 Dong Kun 2p > Yang Ge 1p
56 Wang Wenqi 1p < Cai Lichen 1p
57 Han Zhuoran 1p > Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
58 Wang Yucheng 1p < Jiang Jidou 2p
59 Hu Zhenpeng 1p > Wang Pengfei 1p

Cai Jing 6p (right) lost to Shen Peiran 5p in round 8Taiwan vs Taiwan: Chen Zhengxun 5p (left) beat Pan Tingyu 3p in round 8. Both are affiliated with the CWA (I think that means they cannot participate in Taiwan Qiyuan events)

Women's Round 6

Amateur Yan Ximo 5D beat Wang Xiangyun 3p and improved to 3-3. Wang Xiangyun 3p won the NIC women's group championship back in 2005, and she did it as an amateur! After the NIC the CWA decided to give her a special promotion to pro shodan. She might be the only younger generation female pro that did not go through the PQT to earn pro status.

Wu Yiming lost to Wang Siyin 2p. She has two wins after 6 rounds.

Li Sixuan and Li Xuemeng have the best records among new pros with 3 wins.

At the top Li He 5p beat Wang Chenxing 5p to take the sole lead. Zhou Hongyu 5p, Gao Xing 4p and several other players stand at 5 wins.

10 Li Xiaoxi 90 3p > Li Sixuan 1p
14 Lu Minquan 5p > Li Xuemeng 1p
16 Chu Ke'er 2p > Yu Jingying 1p
18 Xu Jingqi 1p < Wang Jiaqi 1p
20 Song Ronghui 5p > Zhang Mengyao 1p
22 Li Xiaoxi 00 1p < Wang Pan 1p
23 Wang Siyin 2p > Wu Yiming 1p
24 Wang Xiangyun 3p < Yan Ximo 5D
27 Mao Yanxin 1p < Chen Manqi 1p
28 Wei Xintong 1p < Wang Qianyu 1p
29 Yang Qiqi 1p > Wang Meicheng 1p

12 year old Yan Ximo 5D Wang Xiangyun 3pGao Xing 4p

Results from Sep 26th

Men's Group Round 10

Yu Zhiying 6p and Rui Naiwei 9p both won in round 10. They stand at 5-5 and 4-6 respectively.

Wang Chunhui 1p beat Chen Yafeng 2p to go 6-4 and is the best among new pros. As a 13 year old he definitely deserves a close look by some A-League teams. Zhao Fei and Hua Chang tied with 5 wins each.

At the top of the group Chen Xian 7p beat young star 2018 new pro Huang Chunqi 3p and continue to lead with 9 wins. The other leader Wang Zejin 6p lost to Liu Yuhang 5p and slipped to the 8 win group, which included Fan Yunruo 8p, Wang Xinghao 4p and several more.

20 Hua Chang 1p < Huang Xin 5p
24 Pan Tingyu 3p > Zhao Fei 1p
25 Chen Yafeng 2p < Wang Chunhui 1p
31 Cheng Jiaye 3p > Wang Mian 1p
37 Chen Tuli 1p < Yu Zhiying 6p
38 Hu Aohua 4p > Lu Xunfeng 1p
47 Zhou Runmin 1p < Wang Yinlingshui 2p
48 Su Guangyue 1p < Chen Yusen 5p
49 Cai Lichen 1p < Han Enyi 2p
51 Yang Wenkai 1p > Qu Ming 1p
53 Rui Naiwei 9p > Yu Haoran 1p
54 Gu Ruize 3p < Li Xinchen 1p
55 Cai Wenxin 2p > Wang Yucheng 1p
56 Cheng Xiaoqing 1p > Wang Wenqi 1p
57 Yang Ge 1p > Shi Ji 1p
59 Xiao Qi 1p > Hu Zhenpeng 1p
60 Xue Hongzhe 1p < Wang Pengfei 1p

Chen Xian 7p (left) vs Huang Chunqi 3p

Women's Group Round 7

The surprise of the round is certainly 13 year old new pro Li Sixuan 1p beating 2019 Jianqiao Cup finalist Pan Yang 3p. Together with Li Xuemeng they lead the new pros with 4 wins.

In a battle of two PQT medalists 2018 winner Wu Yiming 1p beat 2019 winner Zhang Mengyao 1p. Next round Wu Yiming (who is still couple months away from her 13th birthday) will play a younger player for a change, and that is amateur Yan Ximo 5D.

Li He 5p beat Zhou Hongyu 5p to stay undefeated. Chen Yiming 4p, Wang Chenxing 5p and Wang Yubo 3p trailed with 6 wins.

10 Yan Ximo 5D < Lu Jia 2p
11 Li Xuemeng 1p > Wang Siyin 2p
14 Li Sixuan 1p > Pan Yang 3p
21 Wu Yiming 1p > Zhang Mengyao 1p
22 Li Xiaoxi 00 1p > Wen Zhaoyi 1p
23 Yuan Jie 1p < Chen Manqi 1p
24 Chen Si 6D > Xu Jingqi 1p
25 Sun Guanqun 1p > Yu Jingying 1p
27 Mao Yanxin 1p < Wei Xintong 1p
29 Wang Meicheng 1p > Yan Yuying 6D

Chen Si 6D is a student at Shanghai University of Finance and EconomicsYan Yuying 6D

Results from Sep 28th

Men's Group

There were two rounds played for the Men's Group. Yu Zhiying went 1-1 and had 6 wins after 12 rounds. Rui sensei lost both rounds.

Wang Chunhui continued his good play and beat Chen Hanqi 4p in round 11. He led new pros with 7 wins. Zhao Fei beat Gao Yu 3p in round 11, Hua Chang beat Jiang Jidou 2p in round 12. These two trailed with 6 wins. 6 other new pros had 5 wins.

At the top Fan Yunruo 8p beat Wang Zejin 6p and Liu Yuhang 5p. Wang Xinghao 4p beat Chen Xian 7p and Li Chengsen 5p. They tied Chen Xian 7p with 10 wins. 6 more players had 9 wins.

Round 11

14 Chen Hanqi 4p < Wang Chunhui 1p
27 Gao Yu 3p < Zhao Fei 1p
31 Chen Yafeng 2p < Yu Zhiying 6p
36 Hua Chang 1p < Hu Yuhan 5p
38 Zhang Mingkang 1p < Li Xinchen 1p
41 Chen Xudong 3p < Lu Xunfeng 1p
42 Rui Naiwei 9p < Jin Yucheng 2p
44 Yan Wenkai 1p > Chen Tuli 1p
49 Wang Mian 1p < Jiang Jidou 2p
53 Qu Ming 1p < Yang Ge 1p
55 Cai Lichen 1p < Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
56 Su Guangyue 1p > Huang Yiming 3p
57 Shi Ji 1p < Zhou Runmin 1p
58 Hu Zhenpeng 1p < Zhang Haowei 1p
59 Wang Pengfei 1p > Wang Yucheng 1p
60 Wang Wenqi 1p < Xue Hongzhe 1p

Round 12

14 Wang Chunhui 1p < Huang Xin 5p
25 Yu Zhiying 6p < Chen Hanqi 4p
30 Zhao Fei 1p < Yin Songtao 3p
32 Jiang Jidou 2p < Hua Chang 1p
39 Lu Xunfeng 1p < Wang Zeyu 3p
44 Li Xinchen 1p < Wang Mian 1p
45 Zhou Runmin 1p > Su Guangyue 1p
46 Cheng Xiaoqing 1p > Fan Bingxu 2p
49 Chen Tuli 1p > Li Huasong 4p
50 Wang Haotian 1p > Rui Naiwei 9p
51 Yang Ge 1p < Wang Junxiao 2p
54 Huang Yiming 3p > Cai Lichen 1p
56 Wang Pengfei 1p < Qu Ming 1p
58 Wang Yucheng 1p < Yu Haoran 1p
60 Wang Wenqi 1p > Hu Zhenpeng 1p

Wang Xinghao 4p (right) vs Shen Peiran 5p in round 10. 15 year old Wang Xinghao 4p of AL team Shanghai is a rising star.

Women's Group Round 8

Even with 2006 born new pros Chen Manqi and Li Sixuan in the field, Wu Yiming 1p is still the youngest pro in the NIC (her 13th birthday is about two months away). But she is not the youngest player in the competition. Her opponent in round 8 is almost an half year younger than she is. And the young amateur beat Wu Yiming to get her fourth win. Amateur Yan Ximo 5D is having a great tournament, but the same cannot be said of our youngest pro.

New pros did not fare well in this round. They lost every match up against more seasoned pros.

At the top of the group Li He 5p showed no sign of slowing down, beating Zhan Ying 1p to go 8-0. Wang Chenxing 5p beat Lu Minquan 5p, Wang Yubo 3p beat Chen Yiming 4p. They trailed with 7 wins. 5 other players had 6 wins.

11 Wang Pan 1p > Li Sixuan 1p
14 Li Xuemeng 1p < Zhao Yifei 3p
17 Chen Manqi 1p < Sun Guanqun 1p
21 Wang Siyin 2p > Li Xiaoxi 00 1p
22 Wu Yiming 1p < Yan Ximo 5D
24 Yu Jingying 1p < Gao Ruohuan 1p
25 Xu Jingqi 1p < Wei Xintong 1p
27 Zhang Mengyao 1p < Yang Qiqi 1p
29 Mao Yanxin 1p < Wang Meicheng 1p

Li He 5p (left) continued her rampage through the field by beating Zhan Ying 1pZhan Ying 1p lost the battle but kind of won the campaign. She accumulated enough points in this tournament to be promoted to 2p (CWA announces promotions at the beginning of each month, so her promotion will probably be announced in a few days, unless there will be a delay due to the Oct 1st long holiday)Battle to the last: Zhou Hongyu 5p(right) vs Li Xiaoxi 3p (the 1994 version) was the last game to finish in the whole venue and Zhou 5p prevailed. Even though it was late several pros still lingered around for the review. That pointing hand belongs to Chen Yunong 5p.

Results from Sep 29th (last day of competition)

Men's Group Round 13

Yu Zhiying and Rui Naiwei both lost in the final round. Yu Zhiying finished with 6 wins 7 losses and was placed at 69th in 120 players. Rui Naiwei 9p finished with 4 wins 9 loesses and placed at 108th.

Wang Chunhui leads new pros with 7 wins and was placed at 40th. Zhao Fei finished at 62nd place with 6 wins. Hua Chang, Cheng Xiaoqing and Zhou Runmin also finished with 6 wins.


Before the start of the final round Chen Xian 7p, Fan Yunruo 8p and Wang Xinghao 4p all tied with 10 wins. In the final round Chen Xian 7p beat Ying Yitao 4p. AL Shanghai teammates Fan Yunruo 8p and Wang Xinghao 4p played each other. Fan 8p won the battle but had less opponent points than Chen Xian 7p. Chen 7p became the 2019 NIC Men's Group champion. Fan 8p finished 2nd. Cai Jing 6p finished 3rd. Wang Xinghao 4p finished 4th (Wang 4p accumulated enough points to be Wang 5p before the final round).


14 Yin Songtao 3p > Wang Chunhui 1p
27 Zhao Fei 1p < Zhao Zhongxuan 3p
31 Chen Yusen 5p > Yu Zhiying 6p
36 Hua Chang 1p < Shi Yulai 2p
37 Li Xinchen 1p < Ding Shixiong 5p
40 Cai Wenxin 2p > Lu Xunfeng 1p
44 Chen Tuli 1p < Liu Qifeng 5p
46 Liu Yuncheng 2p < Cheng Xiaoqing 1p
47 Wang Mian 1p < Chen Haodong 1p
48 Zhou Runmin 1p > Jiang Jidou 2p
51 Xiao Qi 1p > Rui Naiwei 9p
52 Qu Ming 1p > Li Huasong 4p
53 Yang Ge 1p < Fan Bingxu 2p
55 Hu Zihao 2p > Su Guangyue 1p
56 Huang Yiming 3p > Wang Wenqi 1p
57 Shi Ji 1p > Wang Pengfei 1p
58 Han Zhuoran 1p < Cai Lichen 1p
59 Hu Zhenpeng 1p > Yang Zongyu 1p
60 Wang Yucheng 1p < Xue Hongzhe 1p


Final Standing (number after name is games won)

1. Chen Xian 7p 11
2. Fan Yunruo 8p 11
3. Cai Jing 6p 10
4. Wang Xinghao 4p 10
5. Shen Peiran 5p 10

--------------

40. Wang Chunhui 1p 7
62. Zhao Fei 1p 6
69. Yu Zhiying 6p 6
78. Hua Chang 1p 6
82. Cheng Xiaoqing 1p 6
83. Zhou Runmin 1p 6
93. Li Xinchen 1p 5
94. Wang Mian 1p 5
95. Lu Xunfeng 1p 5
98. Chen Tuli 1p 5
101. Qu Ming 1p 5
107. Su Guangyue 1p 4
108. Rui Naiwei 9p 4
110. Yang Ge 1p 4
113. Cai Lichen 1p 4
115. Hu Zhenpeng 1p 3
116. Wang Wenqi 1p 3
117. Wang Pengfei 1p 3
120. Wang Yucheng 1p 2

Wang Xinghao 4p (left) vs Fan Yunruo 8pChen Xian 7p (left) vs Ying Yitao 4pLast day of competition. Closest to the camera is Su Guangyue 1p (left) playing Hu Zihao 2p who is less than half his age.

Women's Group Round 9

Wu Yiming 1p beat Wang Qianyu 1p and finished at 4-5. I was expecting a better result so a little disappointed. On the other hand finishing 4-5 is not a disaster at national stage for a second year pro, especially when she is still only 12.

Yan Ximo 5D also finished at 4 wins but given that she is an amateur and is even younger than Wu Yiming it is certainly a very good result. I would not be surprised at all if she makes pro next year.

Among new pros Li Sixuan, Li Xuemeng, Li Xiaoxi, Chen Manqi all finished at 4 wins.

Nobody could stop Li He 5p's quest for championship in this edition of the NIC. She won outright with 9 wins. Wang Chenxing 5p and Wang Yubo 3p (who will also be promoted at the beginning of next month) finished at 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

11 Yan Ximo 5D < Wang Siyin 2p
12 Li Xuemeng 1p < Gu Wanshan 1p
13 Liu Huiling 2p > Li Sixuan 1p
19 Wang Qianyu 1p < Wu Yiming 1p
20 Wang Xiangyun 3p < Li Xiaoxi 00 1p
21 Wei Xintong 1p < Yuan Jie 1p
23 Chen Manqi 1p > Wang Han 5D
26 Wang Meicheng 1p < Zhang Mengyao 1p
28 Xu Jingqi 1p > Yu Jingying 1p
29 Yan Yuying 6D < Mao Yanxin 1p


Final standing:

1. Li He 5p 9
2. Wang Chenxing 5p 8
3. Wang Yubo 3p 7
4. Tang Jiawen 2p 7
5. Zhou Hongyu 5p 7

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32. Li Sixuan 1p 4
35. Li Xuemeng 1p 4
36. Li Xiaoxi 1p 4
38. Chen Si 6D 4
39. Yan Ximo 5D 4
41. Chen Manqi 1p 4
42. Wu Yiming 1p 4
47. Wang Han 5D 3
48. Xu Jingqi 1p 3
50. Wei Xintong 1p 3
52. Zhang Mengyao 1p 3
54. Yu Jingying 1p 2
55. Wang Meicheng 1p 2
56. Mao Yanxin 1p 2
58. Yan Yuying 6D 1

Li He 5p (right) beat Fang Ruoxi 2p in round 9Wu Yiming 1p (right) beat Wang Qianyu 1pZhou Hongyu 5p (right) beat Gao Xing 4p

A few more photos from the closing ceremony.

Presenting award certificates to top 3 finishers (from left to right: Hua Xueming 7p (CWA vice chair, head of the national team), Wang Yubo 3p, Wang Chenxing 5p, Li He 5p, Chen Xian 7p, Fan Yunruo 8p, Cai Jing 6p, Mr Fu Zhigang (City of Wuxi Huishan District Culture and Sports Bureau Director))Men's Group 4th to 12th (from left to right: Wang Xinghao 4p, Shen Peiran 5p, Wang Zejin 6p, Liu Yuhang 5p, Tang Jingxuan 3p, Li Xiangyu 5p, Li Chengsen 5p, He Yuhan 6p, Chen Hao 6p, Mr Xu Wei (Wuxi Weiqi Association Chair))Women's Group 4th to 6th (from left to right: Tang Jiawen 2p, Zhou Hongyu 5p, Chen Yiming 4p, Mr Xie Linkai (Wuxi Yiyou Culture and Sports Ltd. President))