Life In 19x19

A game played today (or yesterday?) by Sumire, which is still up in the Tygem game list. I don't know whether these games eventually find their way into online databases, so here it is just in case.

Sumire played Zhou Hongyu 6-dan today (March 4th). She had already played with this opponent a few months ago, and Sumire lost. I don't remember the tournament, and I am not going to look for it now, but she is a strong player in the international arena. This is quite an achievement.

As for the mousepad, I can see (in the previous link) that the one that Miura Taro has is different. No wrist protection. Or Kobayashi sees how Sumire takes her mouse and pad from her bag.

The UK blanket, however, is the same that I have seen many times before. Unless it's a different one with the same flag.

BTW, this event is compared with the Hokuto Cup, in Hikaru no Go. In the manga, Akira wins all of his games, while Hikaru and Yashiro lose all.

Just saying.

I don't remember the tournament, and I am not going to look for it now, but she is a strong player in the international arena.

It was the Go Seigen Cup, last July. But I think you may even be underselling Zhou a wee bit. She actually won the Go Seigen Cup in 2020, and has a couple of other good domestic titles under her belt.

Moreover, Sumire also won her 1st round game here against Taiwan (Lin Yuting), and so in both rounds Japan has scored 1-2 with the two boys in the team (Miura and Fukuoka) not pulling their weight.

For those wondering, this latest event is a 4-country event for new stars under 19 in teams of three (one girl).

I too am intrigued by the Union Jack rug. She is also fond of the Borders tartan, though that may be explained by the black & white of go stones. Possibly it's something to do with learning English?????

Zhou is probably the second strongest female player only to Choi, I was surprised, but then again Nakamura Sumire is on the level of Choi Jung and Kim Eunji!

I noticed that most of the Sumire merchandise is old, same as everyone else's. I haven't seen it change besides the formal Japanese outfit set. They must hire someone to make it all at once. I haven't seen new merchandise in years. The pandemic probably affected that as well.
(https://item.rakuten.co.jp/nihonkiin/c/0000000199/)

Elom0 wrote:Zhou is probably the second strongest female player only to Choi, I was surprised, but then again Nakamura Sumire is on the level of Choi Jung and Kim Eunji!

I didn't mean to undersell Zhou. Raher, I was underselling my own memory I only follow the Japanese scene, so I don't know players from other countries.

Anyway, winning one game against Zhou and saying that she is on the level of Choi and Kim... a bit too early.

CDavis7M wrote:I noticed that most of the Sumire merchandise is old, same as everyone else's.

Wow, I didn't know about this. A few quick thoughts:
- Kato Masao is still the first man, and Yoshihara Yukari is the first woman. Still quite popular, I guess, for different reasons.
- Fans from men are 10 yen more expensive than fans from women. Really??
- Xie Yimin has a few more fans, more expensive. Maybe she is better with the brushes.
- The plastic cover with Sumire's image is quite creepy, IMHO.

Back to the topic... I want to see next games against Ueno Asami and Nyu Eiko in the female Meijin league. The last game, against Mukai Chiaki, might be a fight for survival.

Anyway, winning one game against Zhou and saying that she is on the level of Choi and Kim... a bit too early.

I'm sure Sumire is nowhere near the level of Ch'oe - who is? But she has the same grade as Kim Eun-chi yet is MUCH, MUCH superior otherwise (I hope). Kim had to take a year off for alleged AI cheating, you will recall.

pajaro wrote:

Elom0 wrote:Zhou is probably the second strongest female player only to Choi, I was surprised, but then again Nakamura Sumire is on the level of Choi Jung and Kim Eunji!

I didn't mean to undersell Zhou. Raher, I was underselling my own memory I only follow the Japanese scene, so I don't know players from other countries.

Anyway, winning one game against Zhou and saying that she is on the level of Choi and Kim... a bit too early.

CDavis7M wrote:I noticed that most of the Sumire merchandise is old, same as everyone else's.

Wow, I didn't know about this. A few quick thoughts:
- Kato Masao is still the first man, and Yoshihara Yukari is the first woman. Still quite popular, I guess, for different reasons.
- Fans from men are 10 yen more expensive than fans from women. Really??
- Xie Yimin has a few more fans, more expensive. Maybe she is better with the brushes.
- The plastic cover with Sumire's image is quite creepy, IMHO.

Back to the topic... I want to see next games against Ueno Asami and Nyu Eiko in the female Meijin league. The last game, against Mukai Chiaki, might be a fight for survival.

John Fairbairn wrote:

Anyway, winning one game against Zhou and saying that she is on the level of Choi and Kim... a bit too early.

I'm sure Sumire is nowhere near the level of Ch'oe - who is? But she has the same grade as Kim Eun-chi yet is MUCH, MUCH superior otherwise (I hope). Kim had to take a year off for alleged AI cheating, you will recall.

I forgot to note I was comparing her with Ch'oie Jeoung when she was the same age! And I guess I assumed that since Kim Eunjchi is young, she can still improve quite a bit from playing informal matches, whereas an adult tends to require official matches to improve. At least that's what I heard from Chihayafuru!

John Fairbairn wrote: I'm sure Sumire is nowhere near the level of Ch'oe - who is? But she has the same grade as Kim Eun-chi yet is MUCH, MUCH superior otherwise (I hope). Kim had to take a year off for alleged AI cheating, you will recall.

I think Kim is very strong, probably still stronger than Sumire at the moment.

illluck wrote:

John Fairbairn wrote: I'm sure Sumire is nowhere near the level of Ch'oe - who is? But she has the same grade as Kim Eun-chi yet is MUCH, MUCH superior otherwise (I hope). Kim had to take a year off for alleged AI cheating, you will recall.

I think Kim is very strong, probably still stronger than Sumire at the moment.

What is the age difference exactly? When kids are this young saying they're in the same grade is like saying two grown-ups are in the same generation. Bill Spight posted Malcolm Gladwell noting how erroneous it is not to treat age differences proportionally. Aversion towards proportional thinking in favour of linear thinking is just another one of the many human habits that make me lean towards anthroposkepticism, haha .

I think this conversation may be going skewgee. Without evidence of titles and so on, I personally would not presume to judge whether one pro was as strong as, or stronger than, another. I can simply quote dan grades. But I hope I am right (as a go fan) in judging Sumire as a SUPERIOR person, in that she has not blemished her reputation by misusing AI.

There is, I imagine, the possibility that Americans latch on to the word 'grade' in ways that are alien to me, i.e. to do with age in school. We don't normally use that word in a school sense in Britain except for results of exams. In fact, the entire American educational system, from kindergarten to phi-beta-kappa and beyond is a total mystery to me. For the avoidance of doubt, when I use grade here, I mean dan grade. (And most certainly not a PEE grade, either.)

Kim was born in May 2007, Sumire in March 2009.

Even using ranks is dangerous here, because they are from different countries, and their ranks are earned with different systems.

If possible, in these cases it's best to check direct matches or at least games with the same opponents. But this is risky too.

Anyway, nearly two years is not a small difference. Not for normal kids, and big not for go pros.

Regardless of the official decision on it and the technical definition, I don't consider Kim Eunji to be a pro, personally. I'm still upset that she didn't get her pro status officially revoked.

Cheating with AI changes the game - you don't deserve respect as to be a pro.

John Fairbairn wrote:Moreover, Sumire also won her 1st round game here against Taiwan (Lin Yuting), and so in both rounds Japan has scored 1-2 with the two boys in the team (Miura and Fukuoka) not pulling their weight.

Fukuoka had a fever and had to forfeit his 1st round game. He was replaced by Yuki Sakai for the final 2 rounds.

And I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but Sumire actually played Kim Eun-chi in the final round. Kim Eun-chi won.

Unfortunately, Japan lost that round too.

Speaking of Sakai, check out this Character/Stat sheet that Kono Rin made for him.

Opening (序盤) - 5
Middle Game (中盤) - 7
Endgame (終盤) - 4
Reading (読み) - 8
Big Picture View (大局観) - 5
Positional Judgment (形勢判断) - 3
Comeback Potential (逆転力) - 6
Calmness/Composure (冷静さ) - 3