Tomoe wrote:But okay, I see, if there is nowhere to fight anymore and there is a small but clear lead, it might not make any sense to continue at this level. Thanks!
It is not that easy to count the game, though it seems clear to me that Black is ahead.
White tried a ploy, letting the two stones on the left side get cut off, and reaching out towards them instead (a 5 dan once told me that this was an aspect of pro style). Black captured the stones: White tried to mine the upper left corner for whatever potential was there.
First question, though: what's a big lead? I decided some time ago that eight points was big. I think Black has this kind of lead, but it depends on what is going on in the centre, and some reading is needed there.
White is not connected through from the upper centre to the right side. If that is the case, White has to make eyes with the big upper group. That means a sequence of gote moves to defend eye space, ending up with a small number of points (fingers of one hand).
Black however can profit elsewhere, in the lower centre, where some white stones can get cut off. This adds up to saying "all the upside is Black's" from here on in.
Technically, there could be a ko in the top left. Reading a ko right out, just to count the game, is hard work, clearly. This is why we have the "picnic ko" concept, really: as long as Black doesn't risk too much, while White stakes the central group, the ko is also on the upside for Black. Black may not have to seek a "best result" for the ko, just a simplifying result. Overall thickness comes into play here.
I don't know how satisfactory you will find this. Three big steps: (a) count the game if nothing serious now dies; (b) read out the upper group status and endgame; (c) dispose of the ko business. One smallish one: what does Black have in the lower centre?
My guess is that both players had sussed this all out, roughly at least, about 30 plays before the end. White grabbed territory on the left side, probably knowing that with best play it would come to this.
Bottom line: a pro resignation is timed to show something.
