Following Iyama Yuta (no world ranking discussions)

[pajaro]

So, tomorrow (May 8th) is the first day of the last Honinbo as we know it.

Sorry, the game will be 18-19 May.

There is a mistake in https://gotoeveryone.k2ss.info/news/jp/honinbo/78/

[pajaro]

Yesterday, Iyama played Ichiriki in the main event of the Tengen. 3rd round.

When I started watching the game, Iyama (W) was leading. And a bit later, was leading even more. That, if I had to believe the AI estimator. What if I looked to the board? What I saw was a big dragon with one eye and a ko to make the second eye. Sure, lots of ko threats (many local ones). In the end, the dragon lived, black got compensation and won the game.

Ichiriki is doing very well these days, but Iyama can still fight him evenly. They both are above everybody else. But with the Honinbo coming soon, when I saw this game...
As it's going to be the last "traditional" Honinbo, I'd like Iyama to keep the title. But I don't know what can happen... I bet we'll see more dragons die.

[kvasir]

Ichiriki, apparently, on a 13 game winning streak with the Tengen game. Can't call that lucky!

I should post this in the Ichiriki thread but next three games on his schedule are games with Iyama in the Honinbo title match and a Gosei challenger deciding game with Yu Zhengqi is sandwiched between those games. Iyama is the current Gosei title holder I belive. The way most Japanese pro tournaments are scheduled does make it more interesting.

[pajaro]

More Ichiyama today.

1st game of the Gosei. 4 hours per player. "Fast", compared to the Honinbo.
Iyama won this first game. And it even looked an easy win. Everybody can have a bad day, but Ichiriki didn't look like the solid player of the last few months. Perhaps because he ended his winning streak, or perhaps because, you know, it's Iyama in front of him.

Today, Iyama was the one on the offensive. He attacked a big group, and I have the feeling that he didn't try too hard to kill it because he didn't need it. Pretty one-sided.

Next 29th, they play again in the Meijin league. Depending on the result, the 5th game of the Honinbo might be very different.

[pajaro]

The Kisei has a new/old challenger: yes, Iyama Yuta.

After he lost the title 2 years ago, last year he was close to even be demoted. But this year, he won the S league with a perfect score (5-0) and the only game he needed in the challenger tournament, or whatever they call it.

So yes, more Ichiyama probably in January.

Also, Iyama is 2-3 against Shibano in the Meijin, after a horrible start (0-3). We all love a comeback but will it happen? I am not sure who am I rooting for.

[pajaro]

The last post was about the previous Kisei, which Ichiriki won. But, hey, nothing changes and here we are again: January and the Kisei, with yet more Ichiyama. Who thought this would be over?

Well, the first game was played a couple of days ago. And, to my surprise, Iyama won, dominating most of the game from the beginning. No dragon was in danger, but there was a ko towards the end that I didn't understand very well. Iyama's advantage was never at risk.

What I find interesting is that, in the previous matches won by Ichiriki (Kisei and defenses, Honinbo), Ichiriki always won the first game. I'm not saying that 1-0 is a big lead (better than 0-1). But Iyama probably wants to say that he is still him.

[kvasir]

I thought the game was balanced. I did believe in black but when the critical moment came Iyama somehow made it look like it was easier for white. Maybe it had to do with Big Ryo showing his cards by living the group in the upper right, instead of going for the center and the lower left first.

Iyama also played the student Oza over the weekend on two stones and -3.5 komi. The handicap was free placement, unusual, and the student Oza picked two good komokus but ended up struggling a bit. I think the name was Hayashi Ryo.

[pajaro]

One more game in the Kisei, and it's 1-3 now.

It looked like the old Ichiyama matches, with Iyama dominating Ichiriki. Not always in the board, but his presence...
Like I said, Iyama winning the first games in not good news for Ichiriki. In all 4 games so far, Iyama has got an early lead. Big lead, with chances >90% according IA. In the second game, Iyama got into trouble and lost the game. But it felt that it was him who lost the game, not Ichiriki who got to make a come back. Of course he had to play and fight and wait for his chance, but, if Iyama had played more solidly... I hope I am making my point clear.

In the 4th game, an early lead again, and an early swing in the second game. It looks like Iyama has prepared very well this match, but Ichiriki prepares really hard for the second day. Maybe he studies the game a lot, but the flow changes the second game. The players (due to IA regulations) are isolated during that time. Anyway, in this last game there were several changes in the lead (nobody wanted to win?), and in the end, Ichiriki made a mistake in yose that allowed Iyama to get his 3rd win.