As predicted, 19-year-old Gu Li 5-dan made short shrift of Huang Yizhong 5-dan in Game 2 of the 8th Xinren Wang final in Shanghai on 10 February 20, taking the title by a 2-0 margin.
Despite having Black in Game 2, Huang chose to initiate an early fight, but Gu showed his trademark composure and forced a resignation after 202 moves.
Unlike its model, the Japanese Shinjin-O, the Xinren Wang has a patchy record as a predictor of future success. Former winners do include Shao Weigang and Chang Hao, of course, but Zou Junjie and Liu Shizhen have so far not fulfilled their promise. Maybe they should get in touch with Jennifer Capriati.
However, we further predict that Gu will be one that does have a future, though he may not be the only Gu in the pot. As we write, an exhibition match has been set up for the other young Gu, the 10-year-old prodigy Gu Lingyi, who has been awarded amateur 6-dan (that's Chinese amateur 6-dan, mind you).
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Older News From 9 February 2001: GU LI TAKES THE FRONT SEAT AGAINST HUANG
In the battle of the 5-dans, Gu Li - just turned 19 - adopted a Sideways Chinese opening to win the first game of the 8th Xinren Wang final against Huang Yizhong on 9 February 2001 in Shanghai.
Gu is from Chongqing, the motorcycle capital of China and runaway leaders in the national team tournament. As a star of the team he therefore began as a firm favourite. Huang, a few months older, has never quite managed to make a major impact in the same way as Gu, and already looks like being a pillion passenger.
The remaining two games are scheduled for 10 and 11 February.
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Older News From 7 February 2001: FIVE-DANS SHOW THE WAY
The 8th Xinren Wang final will be contested between two 5-dans, Gu Li and Huang Yizhong, on 9 February 2001 in Shanghai.
Most of the higher grades fell by the wayside early on, although the game between the two top players on paper, Zhou Junxun 9-dan of Taiwan and Wang Yuhui 7-dan attracted special interest. Zhou won that game before losing to Huang in the semi-final, but achieved part of his aims in taking part. He said he hoped to temper his skill in the furnace of stiff competition, something he lacks in Taiwan.
Full results so far:
Round 1 (5 February, Shanghai)
Gu Li 5d 1-0 Liu Shizen 6d
Hu Yaoyu 6d 1-0 Kong Jie 6d
Xie He 4d 1-0 Lin Zhaohua 6d
Liu Jin 7d ama 1-0 Dong Yan 7d
Huang Yizhong 5d 1-0 Liu Xing 5d
Wang Yao 4d 1-0 Qiu Jun 6d
Wang Yuhui 7d 1-0 Yang Yi 4d
Zhou Junxun 9d 1-0 Ding Wei 7d
Round 2 (6 February, Shanghai)
Gu 1-0 Hu
Xie 1-0 Liu
Huang 1-0 Wang Yao
Zhou 1-0 Wang Yuhui
Semi-finals (7 February, Shanghai)
Gu 1-0 Xie
Huang 1-0 Zhou
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Older News From 6 February 2001: TAIWANESE STAR JOINS NEW STARS
The 8th Xinren Wang title - China's equivalent to Japan's Shinjin O, or King of the New Stars - got under way on 4 February 2001 in Shanghai. The final is scheduled as a best-of-three for 11 February.
Note that Zhou Junxun 9-dan of Taiwan is being allowed to take part.
The Round 1 pairings are:
Group A
Liu Shizen (last year's winner but now 6-dan) v. Gu Li 5d
Hu Yaoyu 6d v. Kong Jie 6d
Lin Zhaohua 6d v. Xie He 4d
Dong Yan 7d v. Liu Jin 7d ama
Group B
Huang Yizhong 5d v. Liu Xing 5d
Wang Yao 4d v. Qiu Jun 6d
Yang Yi 4d v. Wang Yuhui 7d
Zhou Junxun 9d v. Ding Wei 7d
This is a quickplay tournament based in Shanghai and Beijing, being sponsored by the Chinese Go Association (Zhongguo Qiyuan) in the capital and the Shanghai Go Association (Shanghai Qiyuan).
First prize is 10,000 yuan and second prize 5,000 yuan.
It is for men and women players under 30 and 7-dan or below, including amateurs. It is the only completely open tournament in China.
The final stage is now a 32-person knockout tournament, and the final is now a best-of-three (from Term 2 onwards). In the first two terms the final stage was for just 24 players, being a knockout in which 16 players played in Round 1 and were then joined in Round 2 by 8 seeds.
Komi is 2.75 points.
Xinren Wang is the same as the Japanese Shinjin O and means King of the New Stars.
