Yeosu, a mid-tier team without a reserve, increased their win percentage goal from 50% to 60% after a four win streak. Kim Dayoung 3p scored a reversal in a match of captains, while on first board Kim Miri 3p may have narrowly escaped loss;

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bbc5_wc0 Lee Minjin 8p (W) v Kim Miri 3p (B)
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . O X X X X 3 . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . O O O X 2 X . X . X O O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X O O O X X . X X X O O O . |
$$ | . . . O . X . . . O O X . . O X X O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . X X O . O . . X . |
$$ | . . O . . . . X O X X O O . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O O X X O . . X X . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . X X O . O . X O . . X . |
$$ | . . . . . O O . O O . 1 X . . X X O X |
$$ | . . . O O X . . . , . O O X . X O . . |
$$ | . O . O X . X . O . . . X . . O . O . |
$$ | . X . X . X . . O X . . X X O . O . . |
$$ | . . . X X . X . . . . X O O X X . X . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . O O X . O . O X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . X . . X . O X X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O O X X X O O O X O . X , . . . |
$$ | . . . O X . . X . . . . O O O X . . . |
$$ | . . . O X X X . X O a . . O X O X . . |
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

Click Here To Show Diagram Code

[go]$$Bbc5_wc0 Lee Minjin 8p (W) v Kim Miri 3p (B)
$$ ---------------------------------------
$$ | . . . . O X X X X . . . . . . . . . . |
$$ | . . . . O O O X 2 X . X . X O O . . . |
$$ | . . . . . X O O O X X . X X X O O O . |
$$ | . . . O . X . . . O O X . . O X X O . |
$$ | . . . . . . . . O . X X O . O . . X . |
$$ | . . O . . . . X O X X O O . O X X . . |
$$ | . . . . . . O O X X O . . X X . . . . |
$$ | . . . . . . . X X O . O . X O . . X . |
$$ | . . . . . O O . O O . 1 X . . X X O X |
$$ | . . . O O X . . . , . O O X . X O . . |
$$ | . O . O X . X . O . . . X . . O . O . |
$$ | . X . X . X . . O X . . X X O . O . . |
$$ | . . . X X . X . . . . X O O X X . X . |
$$ | . O . . . . . . O O X . O . O X X . . |
$$ | . O . . . . . X . . X . O X X . . . . |
$$ | . . . O O X X X O O O X O . X , . . . |
$$ | . . . O X . . X . . . . O O O X . . . |
$$ | . . . O X X X . X O 3 . . O X . X . . |
$$ | . . . . O . . . . . . . . . . X . . . |
$$ ---------------------------------------[/go]

White appears to be in danger in the second diagram

Coming into the match, Pohang had two consecutive wins and summoned Wang Chenxing 5p against Buan who had lost in the third round even with Fujisawa Rina 3p. Pohang was expected to win, but not by a hairs breadth.

While Wang's match had a large difference, it was partly due to white 170 which allowed black 173:

Being her third season, she's more used to the culture and schedule. Heo Seohyun 1p is the second youngest player in the league, born in 2002 behind Kim Kyeongeun 1p in 2003, so there's reasonable expectation for her development.

The same can be said for the entire team of Buan, something An Hyungjoon 4p will likely acknowledge, however— Kim Minjeong 1p lost, but against Cho Hyeyeon 9p who is the de facto flagship player for Pohang, playing for them in each of the four season's since the league's initiation as one of the top players along with Kim Cheayoung 3p and Choi Jeong 9p. You may not want to meet them across the board in the sort term, but in the long term it can only be helpful.

But Oh Yujin 5p has already proven herself to be very strong. In this game, she lead after an early mistake by Oh Yujin 5p, and swiftly finished the game in 195 moves

The action with Chungnam SG GOlf never seems to end.

Shock 1:2 defeat in the first round, 3:0 shutout in the second, another shock 0:3 loss in the third, back on track in the fourth with Rui Naiwei 9p on hand winning a match with huge dragons.

Top 3 Teams after round 5:
Yeosu
(5/5, 100%)
----------
Pohang
(3/4, 75%)
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Chungnam
(3/5, 60%)
----------

Chungnam wins an important game against Pohang, leveling it's win count with the rival championship contender, with some of the toughest pairings in the league on boards two and three. Gyeounggi also bags their first win of the season against Inje, and Seoul (Baduk Elegance) overcome Seogwipo to match them in wins while in game four, Kim Dayoung 3p doesn't manage to overcome her sister, a dificult feat, but Yeosu still continue to sweep the championship so far.

Cho Seungah 1p has a better 2017 season record than Oh Jeonga 3p, however Oh Jeonga 3p's won 5 matches in a row to Cho Seungah 1p's two wins five losses so far this season.

For fixture two, we had a clash of titans with 'Choi Jeong 9p's Team' versus 'Kim Cheayoung 3p's Team', and the drama to fit. With Choi Jeong 9p and Kim Cheayoung 3p on seperate boards, board 1 was a high-pressure match with a pivotal role in the placing of the two teams, one which Jang Hyeleong 1p managed to weather best. On board two, however, it seemed the match may have had a chance to finish sooner than expected. Choi Jeong 9p invaded black's right side moyou, but after creating a second group at move 20, Kwon Juri 1p ferociously attacked the two groups. It seemed that she might take the lead going into the middle game, but pushed too hard with black 45, and after white 48 was on the backfoot.


Song Hyeryung 2p's performance varies greatly in good form compared to bad, but wasn't strong enough this time to overcome Kim Cheayoung 3p.

In the third, the tightest and possibly most dramatic fixture, both half-point boards one and two were reversals, Inje in low spirits and Park Shiun 9p speechless after her game.
In this unusual situation, board three was a relatively quick 184 move decider with Cho Hyeyeon 9p defeating Inje's best performing player.

This left the fixture between Seoul (Baduk Elegance) and Buan in last place win no wins and four losses, both teams calling their foreign players for this important match, with board one's game being especially tense with Seoul Team Captain Park Jiyeon 5p against Fujisawa Rina 3p, holding three out of five Female titles in Japan but still not having managed to win some crucial matches making for a high degree of pressure in expectation. History repeated itself, Hei Jiajia 7p swinging the match after 312 moves.

A break period in the women's league in China meant that more Chinese players participated in this integrated round on the second floor of the Hanguk Kiwon.

Having not won a single fixture yet despite Oh Yujin 5p winning every game since round 3, Buan (Gomso Salt) would have to wait next round for a chance at ending their losing streak after losing a fixture in which Kim Cheayoung 3p extended her clean slate with six consecutive wins, keeping top spot among individual players and reaffirming her outstanding performance in the league throughout.

On fixture's two and three, a major swing in which Pohang (POSCO Chemtech) wins their match within half a point of sweeping Gyeounggi (Hoban Construction), a fate Yeosu (Turtle Ship) was not spared against Chungnam (SG Golf) in a shock shutout in the titanic clash, with Pohang now replacing Yeosu as sole leader of the league.

Meanwhile, Inje (Skydown) moved down to eighth place on the bitter end of another 3-0 in Seogwipo (Chilisimni), Seogwipo leaving the fixture with three wins and three losses for sixth place in the league. Oh Jeonga 3p shares a spotless six wins with Kim Cheayoung 3p, but interestingly, team performance seems to be a factor in determining provisional places for most individual wins; Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) holds fourth place with four wins and two losses.

Pan Yang 3p failed to secure her first win of the season against Hei Jiajia 7p, also having played three games but with a positive 2:1 record. Seoul (Baduk Elegance) Director Song Taekon 9p's fortune seemed to be inverse to that of his team when he clocked up a four win streak during the teams initial losses, leading him to joke that bad luck for him in his cellphone breaking before the round predicted a team win.

The most anticipated fixture must have been the showdown between top teams Yeosu (Turtle Ship) and Pohang (POSCO Chemtech), whom Yeosu's director described as strong at away matches, taking place on the former's home turf in the aptly named Most Valuable Life Hotel. With shock sweep in the presence of the Yeosu vice mayor, Yeosu regained lead position of the league.

Fixture three marked the first loss in the season for Oh Jeonga 3p in her seventh game, not realising when black was ahead as determined in the examination room, against the best performing newcomer of the 2018 league Lu Minquan 4p.

Kwon Juri 1p hoped to end a five-loss streak, but couldn't achieve it against Kim Kyeongeun 1p, keeping the hopes of Seogwipo (Chilisimni) alive.

With the unexpected loss of their top player, a match Seogwipo (Chilisimni) expected to win was in jeopardy, the only hope being for the last person to have ever beat Kim Cheayoung 3p in the Women's Korean Baduk League— Cho Seungah 1p.

Since the fourth round of the 2017 postseason, Kim Cheayoung 3p had ranked up 19 consecutive wins in the league before the match, and proved too strong for Cho Seungah 1p who's nine-win-five-loss performance in 2017 feels far from the three wins and four losses so far this year.

Yet to win one match, and in a fixture finishing a round of highly anticipated matches, Fujisawa Rina 3p finally faced off against Choi Jeong 9p, known as the girl of great strength in her youth.

A team contending for the title against a team scraping for a single victory; Heo Seohyun 1p had struggled to win a single game so far and Oh Yujin's two wins and four losses record in the season might be evidence of a likely struggle to break Rui Naiwei 9p, so it may have been the strategy behind drafting Fujisawa Rina 3p who interestingly only slightly behind Choi Jeong 9p in their head-to-head record; if she could win, only on win from the two remaining boards would be necessary. As expected, however, Chungnam (SG Golf) swept the round with each game 180 moves or less.

Seoul (Baduk Elegance) had an upturn in fortune the past couple of rounds after a poor start, whereas Inje (Skydown) had lost the past four rounds. On board one, it seems as if the trend would continue as Park Shiun 9p lost to Park Jiyeon 5p. After this game, Park Shiun 9p's record stands at a surprising two wins and six losses.

Boards two and three, however, told of a story reversal, Kim Miri 3p winning against Kang Jisoo 1p who started on the back foot after an opening mistake, reflective of a recent struggle she's had to win games, and Gao Xing 4p, who has been staying in Korea for a while, defeating Lee Youngjoo 2p, reflective of a season long struggle with one win and four losses. At the very least, the atmosphere in the Seoul (Baduk Elegance) examination room tends remains positive from a large number of supporters.

Yeosu (Turtle Ship) affirmed their lead in the second fixture against Seogwipo (Chilisimni), their only loss coming from a game that was surprisingly long considering it began with mirror go.

Buan (Gomso Salt) finally managed to win on match in a fixture between the two lowest ranked teams so far, with Fujisawa Rina 3p over coming Pan Yang 3p in a match between to foreign candidates who were yet to have won a single game between them, the board erupting into intense fighting from the start spreading across the board.

A fitting end to the first half of the first league came in the form of a final win from a phenomenal champions performance by Kim Cheayoung 3p, her 21st straight win in the league and eighth of the season forming part of a win for Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical), with the assistance of Lu Minquan 4p in an impressive mere 166 move win against former Chinese women's number one Wang Chenxing 5p as she continues to lead the way amongst debutee's to the league. The twist of fortune for Pohang (POSCO Chemtech) presides over their slip to fourth place after losing now in not only round nine but round eight. At the very least, if an arm wrestling match in the Pohang (POSCO Chemtech) examination room tells of anything, it could only be a resolve to comeback into a winning momentum.

Heo Seohyun 1p of Buan (Gomso Salt), the youngest player in the league, has struggled to win a game so far, along with Kwon Juri 1p from Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical).

Buan (Gomso Salt)'s the youngest team in the league (Oh Yujin 5p-19, Heo Seohyun 1p-15, Kim Minjeong 1p-17, Fujisawa Rina 3p-19). Perhaps they might find their footing in the second half; of the two more experienced players, Oh Yujin 5p is at five wins three losses, but as a foreign candidate player Fujisawa Rina 3p has played the captains or foreign candidates of other teams; an increased presence from the rest of the team may prove critical in Buan having a chance at entering the post season, which will require them to drop no more than a single match in the second half. Too tense to sip the green tea on the table in round 8, the last chance she had to win in the first half, without a change of winds it may be difficult for Heo Seohyun 1p to overcome the psychological burden of the league and the losing streak to find victory.

Likewise, if Kwon Juri 1p's form and luck upturns it could mean that Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) take the lead position if Kim Cheayoung 3p performs at a level remotely close to the one she's demonstrated so far.

In similar terms, it may be to some more of a surprise that Choi Jeong 9p is not in first place among individual players than it is not that she is at least joint second, so much so her reign on the women's go scene in Korea. However, she does take on a heavier schedule from open tournaments, but while taking into account the effect it may or may not have on her performance in the league, it may be said that it is more of a case of exceptional display from Kim Cheayoung 3p being the difference.

The teams each have of one of the two players without a win— who don't meet.

Instead, Pan Yang 3p's chance this time was only against Kim Cheayoung 3p, ending in favour of the latter in only 172 moves. Nor could Kwon Juri 1p overcome Kim Hyeoimin 8p.

Lu Minquan 4p is proving a formidable power, likely to be watched in the second of of the regular league, taking the fixture and moving Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) closer to the top of the leaderboard after five consecutive team victories.

The third board game of fixture two had to be postponed due to Oh Yujin 5p being in China at the Huanglongshi Cup on the day where she grasped the first win for Korea, but a different fortune would follow Buan (Gomso Salt) as their revenge stepped off on the wrong foot. Kim Soojin 5p lead out of the middlegame against Heo Seohyun 1p, and as board one slowed, it showed Cho Seungah 1p ahead of Kim Minjeong 1p, who has yet to see victory since the second round.

Seogwipo (Chilisimni), moved up to fifth place from their fourth win— on the 17th, Oh Yujin 5p continued her form to defeat Oh Jeonga 3p, making it the first 2:1 one.

Each of the last three wins had been due to a 3:0 shutout, even against Chungnam (SG Golf), their accumulation of board points joint first with Chungnam (SG Golf) and Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical), at 16 points. More wins, therefore, should plant Chungnam (SG Golf) into a strong position, a position that may arise out of a positive win precentage from Cho Seungah 1p, who currently stands at four wins five losses after this round. Kim Minjeong 1p, being new to the league, mentioned that her skills are likely behind most participating, but with three wins and three losses, her record is better than her team's.

Losing streaks in the league are more often than not the result of the tacit pressure on the shoulders of the players rather than ability, and in the case of three-member teams in the WKBL, where the difference between a win or loss is nearly always a single game, it rings especially true. The dilligence of Buan (Gomso Salt) coach An Hyungjoon showed throughout the season as he determinedly reviewed every game of the young team upon completion, the only hope they grow to task— another dropped fixture, and any hopes of entering the postseason vanish.

In the third fixture, Yeosu (Turtle Ship) maintained advantage. Hoping to improve upon a poor season last year, Lee Youngjoo 2p came off better on board one against Lee Minjin 8p, but along with Lee Sula 4p taking her seventh win of the season in her second board game against Park Jiyeon 5p, a mere two losses in in a stellar performance placing her second place on the individual leaderboard. On board three, Kang Jisoo 1p played in a roller-coaster game bringing much attention till it's finish in the favour of Kim Dayoung 3p, despite questionable physical condition after returning right away from the Huanglongshi Cup in Jiangsu, China.

Few may have been able to predict the result of the fourth fixture as Inje (Skydown) finished Chungnam (SG Golf) on home turf. Lee Yujin 1p eeked out an impressive oh-point-five outcome in her favour against Choi Jeong 9p on board 2. Song Hyeryung 2p couldn't hold onto a lead from from the opening allowing the emergnce of Kim Miri 3p in a comeback completed in 231 moves. Even Park Shiun 9p, who had the less fortunate half of fate on her side this season's first phase, took a pleasant win against Kim Sinyoung 2p in what may be a second-half-of-season's-league resurgence.

A big result from fixture four blow the field wide open from places three to seven on the team leaderboard; Pohang (POSCO Chemtech)— third place, five wins, three losses; Seoul (Baduk Elegance)— seventh place, four wins, five losses.

Pan Yang 3p and Heo Seohyun 1p win their first games

Pan Yang 3p wins
Yeosu extended their lead with Kim Dayoung 3p and Lee Sula 4p taking the match, but not without some consolation for Gyeounggi (Hoban Construction) as Pan Yang 3p took her first win of the season. While disappointingly not contributing to a win, it may be a sign of the release of a jinx.

A double relief
Buan (Gomso Salt) kept postseason hopes alive in a watershed moment with their first win of the season provided by the ever performing Oh Yujin 5p and the first win from Heo Seohyun 1p, only against Park Shiun 9p, defeating Inje (Skydown) two to one. It is still very much a difficult task to win every game from now on; with Yeosu (Turtle Ship) to play next round, it will be their biggest test so far, and maybe downfall.

A big win
Seoul (Baduk Elegance) defeated Chungnam (SG Golf), bringing them with three board points of each other at five wins five losses and 14 and 17 board points respectively at fifth and fourth place, all within he postseason cutoff line.

Lee Youngjoo 2p did well to defeat Rui Naiwei 9p in only 183 moves bringing her score up to thee wins and four losses.

Pohang shuts out Seogwipo
with only a single 2:1 victory to three shutout wins, sweepers Seogwipo (Chilisimni) suffered a serious shutout loss at the hands of the Pohang (POSCO Chemtech), swept up in a resurging force as if Pohang had promised revenge after their eighth and ninth round losses.

Cho Hyeyeon 9p had a striking season last year with Pohang (POSCO Chemtech), at eleven wins and a single loss. So far this year, her record is seven wins and two losses.

Top teams takes on 7th, 9th teams— Yeosu (Turtle Ship) guarantees second place

Seventh ranked team beats second ranked team
Kwon Juri 1p couldn't hold her lead until the very end, allowing Kim Miri 3p to take the game along with the match for Inje (Skydown) over Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) as Jang Hyeryeong 1p, suffered a similar fate against Gao Xing 4p.

Park Shiun 9p wasn't able to amend her win ratio this time as Kim Cheayoung 3p extended her winning streak since last season to 21 and this season to 10.

A generation of strength
Rui Naiwei 9p performed for Chungnam (SG Golf) as the match with largest possible age gap this season of about 40 years ended in her victory against Kim Kyeongeun 1p, who fought valiantly, but ultimately in vain, after 149 moves. Song Hyeryung 2p suffered a reversal after leading at the start in her loss against Cho Seungah 1p, and with the score at 1:1, Choi Jeong 9p, holding black, came up against Oh Jeonga 3p's mirror go— a strategy she took to this season. At move 23 she played on tengen. 200 moves lest one into the game, Choi Jeong 9p took the fixture for Chungnam (SG Golf) by resignation.

200, 200, Buan hopes in peril
Whereas most other teams have one high performing player, Yeosu (Turtle Ship) has two consistenly performing players this season: joint third place Kim Dayoung 3p and Lee Sula 4p nine wins, along with Lee Minjin 8p, an 8p of good standing who has had a near even win ratio. Taking on Buan (Gomso Salt) who's had one win so far, the first result came about after 200 moves at the fingertips the third third placed player— Oh Yujin 5p, over Lee Sula 4p, slippeing in a vicious attack towards the end of the game. One win from either of Buan (Gomso Salt)'s players could cause an upset annd extend Buan's hopes— Kim Dayoung 3p defeated Heo Seohyun 1p after a shaky start. Lee Minjin 8p was the scariest for Yeosu (Turtle Ship) as she is the only member with a negative record. 200 moves again— white wins. Kim Minjeong 1p's holds unique style but, yet to be polished, couldn't overcome Lee Minjin 8p this time.

The pangs of Pohang
Pohang.

Cho Hyeyeon 9p was the only one upon whom Pohang (POSCO Chemtech) won— Kang Jisoo 1p couldn't outdo the top player.

Park Jiyeon 5p defeated Park Taehee 2p and Lee Youngjoo 2p, training against AI to improve, proved her strength against -Kang Dajeong 2p, again improving her record in the process.