Life In 19x19

The first two games of the Oza final were played this week (Thursday and Saturday) in Taipei between Cho U and Iyama Yuta.

Unfortunately, although he returned to his hometown, Cho U lost the two first games of this 3 wins 5 games serie. The next game will be played in Japan in November 22th. According to the Haifeng Qiyuan who covered the games Cho U missed the chance to kill the match in the first game and made some mistakes during the second game (http://www.haifong.org/?p=3922).

According to Wikipedia, Cho U currently holds Kisei and Oza and Iyama Yuta the Honinbo, Tengen, Judan, and Gosei. If Iyama Yuta wins the 3rd game, he will have 5 titles !

Who are you rooting for ?

Also, Iyama will have won six of the big seven Japanese titles. And he's one game away from challenging for the Kisei at the beginning of 2013, which would be the last title.

Does that mean, soon he could have all major titles? Has that ever happend?

It's also big for Cho U. If he wins this one, he will hold the Oza for five straight times which will give him honorary Oza later.

It's looking bad for that right now.

Cho U and Cho Chikun both won all seven titles during their career but certainly no one has held all seven simultaneously.

Cho U was the first and only to simultaneously hold 5. Iyama would be the youngest on both records, if he does it in this year or 2013.

hyperpape wrote:Also, Iyama will have won six of the big seven Japanese titles. And he's one game away from challenging for the Kisei at the beginning of 2013, which would be the last title.

Oups, I just checked the Meijin page on Wikipedia again and you're right he also has this one

That was incorrect. He's not even challenging this year. But he has won it in the past.

clemi wrote:Who are you rooting for ?

I'm going to have to root for Iyama. I want to see this guy hold all the major titles!

clemi wrote:Oups, I just checked the Meijin page on Wikipedia again and you're right he also has this one

Don't use Wikipedia as a source if you want up-to-date Go news; much of it is several years old. Sensei's Library or Mr Kin's page is better.

Well, Iyama is one step closer to his grand slam.

There's something I don't like about Iyama's style, so I'm not a big fan. I'm essentially rooting for everyone else.

Of course everyone else is losing one after another. Where did this guy come from?!?

Phoenix wrote:There's something I don't like about Iyama's style, so I'm not a big fan. I'm essentially rooting for everyone else.

Of course everyone else is losing one after another. Where did this guy come from?!?

I've been an Iyama fan since he burst onto the scene becoming one of (if not the) youngest challengers for the Meijin around 2008 or so, and because he's younger than my own kids. Xie Yimin also came into the scene around the same time and is about the same age. I always root for the kids, and especially the girls, since all my kids are girls.

Both of these kids have jumped to the top of the charts so quickly. Its inspiring.

Looks like Iyama defeated Cho U with straight wins. He is now Honinbo, Oza, Tengen, Gosei and Judan!

It's the beginning of the end for Cho U