The sword of the Assassin Kato Masao 9-dan was blunted against the Stone Buddha, Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan, in Game 14 of the 2nd Nong Shim Cup on 19 March 2001. As this was the last game, the Korean team now takes home not just the trophy but also 150 million won - although the final was in Shanghai, the sponsors are Korean.
Although Buddhas are supposed not to kill, it did not stop Yi squelching on a group of Kato's. In fact, Kato looked rather pitiful in this game. By move 43 Yi had a huge moyo and a strong attack on a weak group - and not one invading the moyo as you might expect. Yi capitalised almost instantly with 49, 53 and 55, then 67 was a beautiful move that clearly took Kato unawares. He did try to gamely to make something with 108 to 118, but one sensed he was glad to be put out of his misery as he lost these stones.
Cho looked masterly in his victories. Yi looked refreshed and just as imperious. Japan, though, may be regretting not sending a stronger team. With increasingly shaky economics at home they would do well to focus more on the international stage.
Click here for Game 14 in downloadable sgf format.
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Older News From 18 March 2001: GUNFIGHT AT THE SHANGHAI CORRAL
It was billed by the Chinese hosts as the Assassin (Kato Masao 9-dan) versus the Sharpshooter (Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan). But Game 13 of the 2nd Nong Shim Cup in Shanghai on 18 March 2001 turned into a bare-knuckle fight that was eventually won by attrition after 298 moves.
And surprise, surprise: it was the Japanese Kato who won. Yi Ch'ang-ho now carries the Korean flag for the final showdown on 19 March, and cannot expect the rest he claims he badly needs.
Click here for Game 13 in downloadable sgf format. Cho tried to secure his usual advantage in the fuseki, but Kato countered by turning the game into a brawl. Cho responded with some great tesujis of his own against Kato's upper side, and in the end it was endgame technique that won it. Cho maybe should take lessons from his pupil!
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Older News From 17 March 2001: CHO ENDS CHINA'S DREAM
China's desperate quest for an international title was foiled yet again when Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan of Korea put out her last man, Yu Bin 9-dan, in Game 12 of the 2nd Nong Shim Cup. Playing again at the luxury Rainbow Hotel in Shanghai, on 17 March 2001, on the board Cho went instead for brutal minimalism and looked every inch a world champion.
Yu started patriotically with a mini Chinese opening, but as early as move 39 he was on the back foot. Once Cho invaded brilliantly with 66 to 68, Yu was no more than the antelope being chased by the cheetah, and the game duly finished at high speed on move 158. Yu possibly could have continued the death throes a little longer, but his 151 had all the hallmarks of a resignation-setting move.
Now it is Japan's turn to send in their anchor man. The phlegmatic Kato Masao 9-dan is not one to be overawed by Cho, and he has been performing well in his recent revival. But Cho has looked like the class act in town.
Click here for Game 12 in downloadable sgf format.
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Older News From 16 March 2001: MASTERLY CHO PUTS HEX ON YAMASHITA
With two men left, Korea put up Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan for Game 11 of the 2nd Nong Shim Cup on 16 March 2001, against Japan's Yamashita Keigo 7-dan. It was probably an easy decision since Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan has been complaining of fatigue recently, and Cho showed such mastery that there is a serious chance that Yi might not even get to play.
It was a case of triple sixes that did for Yamashita. White 26 by Cho was a time bomb, inviting Yamashita's counterattack. It exploded with White 86, and by move 106 White had the game sewn up.
Cho now faces Yu Bin 9-dan, China's last man, on 17 March, and the winner of that game will play Japan's anchor man, Kato Masao 9-dan.
Click here for Game 11 in downloadable sgf format.
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Older News From 15 March 2001: NOODLES SOUP TURNS BITTER FOR CHINESE
After his recent crop of impressive victories, China's Chang Hao 9-dan was probably odds-on favourite to win Game 10 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup on 15 March 2001, especially when Japan decided to field the inexperienced Yamashita Keigo 7-dan. But it was Yamashita who took the spoils and set up a game with one of the last two Koreans.
It seems to have become the norm now for teams not to reveal their choice of player until the last moment, but Korea have both Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan and Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan to call on for Game 11 on 16 March at the same venue, the Rainbow Hotel in Shanghai. This rather plush 4-star hotel has its own Korean restaurant. Don't be surprised if it's packed out over the next few days.
Still, Japan also has two players left, and China is not without hope. Her last representative, Yu Bin 9-dan, is not the first name that would spring to mind in a list of top players, but he does have a very respectable international record.
Click here for Game 10 in downloadable sgf format.
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Older News From 14 March 2001: NONG SHIM NOODLES BACK ON THE MENU
The delicious - in all senses - Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup resumed with the start of the final Stage 3 in Shanghai on 14 March. All China was on tenterhooks as local boy Chang Hao 9-dan took on Korean Ch'oe Myeong-hun 7-dan.
A fairly comfortable win by Chang, by 2.5 points, levelled the standings, so that now all three teams have two players left.
The next game, Game 10 on 15 March, will see Chang up against one of the Japanese - Kato Masao 9-dan or Yamashita Keigo 7-dan - but the Japanese have not yet revealed which it will be.
If Chang falls, the last man in for China will be Yu Bin 9-dan. The Koreans, though, still have Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan and Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan.
Older News From 29 November 2000: BIG WIN FOR CHANG AND CHINA
Chang Hao 9-dan brought Cosmic Man Takemiya Masaki 9-dan back down to earth with a thumping 9.5-point victory in the last game of Stage 2 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup in Seoul on 29 November 2000. Takemiya obviously believes the proverb "if you lose all four corners, resign" does not apply to him.
The scene now shifts to Shanghai in January 2001. Korea still has the aces of Cho Hun-hyeon, Yi Ch'ang-ho and Ch'oe Myeong-hun left in their pack and must remain favourites. China, apart from Chang Hao, only has Yu Bin, the newly crowned Qiwang. Japan has Kato Masao and Yamashita Keigo left.
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Older News From 28 November 2000: TAKEMIYA IS ALMOST ALL HEART
As we hinted in our last report, Takemiya Masaki 9-dan of Japan was determined to enjoy himself again on the world stage. It was therefore not much of a surprise when he beat Korea's Mok Chin-seok 5-dan in Game 7 of the three-country 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup in Seoul on 28 November 2000.
Takemiya Masaki 9-dan analyses
Moreover, he did it in style. Adopting his trademark cosmic style with White, both sides made huge territories, but Takemiya appeared to enjoy himself trying to live inside Mok's, then - to cap it all - his territory ended up in the almost the shape of a heart. If it was anyone else you'd say it was a fluke. But with Takemiya you can never be sure. Below is the final position.
Takemiya at the mike
Takemiya now plays Chang Hao of China. Click here for Game 7 in downloadable sgf format.
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Older News From 27 November 2000: MOK PUTS KOREA BACK IN CONTROL
Korea took over the driving seat in Game 6 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup in Seoul on 27 November. Mok Chin-seok 5-dan defeated China's Shao Weigang 9-dan.
Mok will now face Takemiya Masaki 9-dan of Japan in Game 7. Takemiya may be something of a yesterday man in tournament play, but he had relished recent international jaunts and will not not leave the stage willingly.
Whoever wins Game 7, facing him will be Chang Hao 9-dan of China. China has already seen three of its five players knocked out. Japan has lost two and Korea only one.
Older News From 26 November 2000: STAGE 2 KICKS OFF IN SEOUL
Stage 2 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup began in Seoul on 26 November, with Shao Weigang 9-dan taking over the baton for China from Kobayashi Satoru 9-dan of Japan in Game 5. He won by mere half point, thanks to the new large Korean komi of 6.5 points.
Games 6 to 8 will take place over the next three days, 27-29 November, before the scene switches again, for the final time, to Shanghai for Stage 3 in 14-22 January 2001.
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Older News From 20 October 2000: BACK TO REALITY
The dream is over for Korean teenager Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3-dan: having won the first three games of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup, he was finally dumped out by veteran Kobayashi Satoru 9-dan of Japan on 20 October 2000. The established pros have now had a good chance to have a look at his game and to probe suspected weaknesses. Ch'oe lasted just 143 moves.
Stage 1 is now over. The scene shifts to Seoul in late November for Stage 2.
Older News From 20 October 2000: YOUNG CH'OE ACHIEVES HIS GOAL
The win-and-continue form of combat borrowed from the martial arts - the winner of each bout stays in the ring until someone beats him - was early in the 20th century the maker of reputations in go. This was especially true for young players as they knocked down established stars one after the other.
The format is making a come-back even in Korean domestic tournaments, but it has been one of the most characteristic aspects of the Nong Shim "Three Kingdoms" international event.
Now 15-year-old Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3-dan of Korea is on the verge of establishing his own reputation. He has just bulldozed past Yu Ping 6-dan, O Meien 9-dan, and now China's Liu Jing 8-dan in Game 3 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup on 19 October 2000. Ch'oe won with White by 1.5 points in a style that showed remarkable maturity for a teenager.
Winning three games means Ch'oe has achieved his original target. The next kangaroo to be caught in his headlights will be a Japanese 9-dan in the final game of Stage 1.
Older News From 19 October 2000: YOUNG STAR GIVES O MEIEN A PASTA-ING
It turned out that Japan finally put up one of their trump cards, O Meien 9-dan, to counter 15-year-old Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3-dan in Game 2 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup on 18 October 2000. But Ch'oe slurped all over him and won by 6.5 points.
Older News From 17 October 2000: KOREA OFF TO PLUM START
Rising star Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3-dan, just 15, got Korea off to the perfect start in their title defence when he overcame Yu Ping 6-dan of China in Game 1 of the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup on 17 October 2000.
Korea had already enjoyed a plum draw at the opening ceremony at the Chinese Go Association's headquarters in Beijing. A floral system was used to draw lots and China drew orchid, Japan chrysanthemum and Korea - plum! The flower-pickers were the heads of the respective go associations, which added a degree of gravitas to the occasion. It was the first international task for the new Hanguk Kiweon chairman Kang Ch'eol-myeong, and he was joined by his counterparts, Wang Runan of China and Kawamoto Noboru of Japan.
Most of the players were present, supposedly five from each team, which ensured that the analysis sessions on the first game were ultra-high octane. Apart from the players, luminaries such as Nie Wei-ping were checking out what proved to be an interesting game, especially for joseki aficionados.
All the Chinese were there, of course, but Kato Masao and Kobayashi Satoru were missing from the Japanese squad, and Yi Ch'ang-ho from the Korean team - otherwise engaged in domestic tournaments. This left the Japanese in the rather sorry state of not being able to play much of a tactical card. They had to put a man up for Game 2 against Ch'oe, but had only three to choose from. We understand it will be Yamashita Keigo.
His team colleague Takemiya Masaki, himself overjoyed to be back on the international scene, not only reckons that Japan has a good chance of winning, but that young star Yamashita has the best chance of anyone to beat Yi Ch'ang-ho. Which makes it strange to put him up so early, but it can be explained by other diary clashes. Ch'oe, obviously the youngest player in the event - by far - has set himself a goal of winning three games, so maybe he can help Yamashita meet his other commitments.
The schedule for the rest of Stage 1 is Game 2 on 18 October, Game 3 on 19 October and Game 4 on 20 October.
Stage 2, that is the transfer to Seoul, runs from 26 November to 1 December. The final Stage 3 in Shanghai will start on 14 March 2001.
Older news From 6 October 2000: CHO IS KOREAN No. 5
The Korean Go Association has announced that its discretionary pick for the last place in its five-man team for the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup starting in October 2000 will be Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan.
They also had Yu Ch'ang-hyeok to choose from, among others, but Cho's victory in the 13th Fujitsu Cup in August was the clincher. Cho therefore joins Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan, Ch'oe Myeong-hun 7-dan, Mok Chin-seok 5-dan and Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3-dan.
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Older News From 1 October 2000: JAPANESE TEAM CHOSEN AT LAST
Though details of the procedure have not been revealed, the Japanese have at last come up with a team to challenge for the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup. There are no representatives from the Kansai Ki-in, but it is a respectable team - if not quite the A team.
It is Kato Masao 9-dan, Takemiya Masaki 9-dan, Kobayashi Satoru 9-dan, O Meien 9-dan and Yamashita Keigo 7-dan. Whatever the outcome it will be fascinating to see how the great future hope Yamashita copes with his first major international test.
Round 1 starts on 17 October.
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Older News From 19 September 2000: JAPANESE FARCE ADDS SPICE
Japan's attempts to get an acceptable team for the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup are threatening to descend into farce. Stage 1 takes place in Beijing from 15 to 22 October 2000 and the Japanese still appear to have no idea who to pick.
Dissatisfied with previous attempts to put a team together (the Japanese have been unable to fit in a qualifier, unlike Korea and China), the Nihon Ki-in apparently decided to ask fans to vote. We have yet to see full details, but this seems to have turned into a fiasco with foreign-born stars virtually excluded and Umezawa Yukari 4-dan leading the poll.
Popular though Umezawa is, mainly through her television appearances and no doubt because the current free present for subscribing to the Nihon Ki-in Internet server is an Umezawa mouse pad, she has hardly set the go world alight. She has yet to win a title, for example. Yet Meijin Cho Chikun (Korean born) was down in 17th place, O Rissei (Taiwan) was 15th and O Meien (Taiwan) was the highest foreigner, in 13th place. Cho Sonjin and the West's own Michael Redmond don't get a look in.
Admittedly the players listed after Umezawa have the makings of a great team: Yamashita Keigo, Kobayashi Koichi, Yoda Norimoto and Hane Naoki, names that will be familiar even to western fans. But then comes 61-year-old Kosugi Kiyoshi 8-dan....? The Nihon Ki-in appears to have painted itself into a corner, though we believe the poll has not yet closed and the position of the Kansai Ki-in has yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the Chinese team has been firmed up after the qualification tournament on 9 and 10 September. Shao Weigang, Liu Jing and Yu Ping won the three available places in a play-off among 12 players based on their points-ranking system. The automatic places go to Chang Hao and Yu Bin, Ma Xiaochun having finally confirmed he will rest.
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Older News From 9 September 2000: TEAMS SHAPE UP
The shape of the teams top play in the 2nd Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup is beginning to emerge. Stage 1 takes place in Beijing from 15 to 22 October 2000.
The Korean five-man team is being selected on the basis of four parallel qualifying tournaments with the final being a free pick by the Korean Go Association. The four qualifiers are Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan, Ch'oe Myeong-hun 7-dan, Mok Chin-seok 5-dan and Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3-dan. It is believed the final place will got to either Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan or Yu Ch'ang-hyeok 9-dan, both of whom lost in the qualifiers.
The Chinese team is being based on their points-ranking system. Chang Hao 9-dan and Ma Xiaochun 9-dan get automatic places through being at Nos. 1 and 2 (though it is yet to be seen whether Ma will go back on his plan to take a long break from tournament play). The next 12 highest ranked players will play off for the three remaining places on 9 and 10 September.
The Japanese will choose their team through apparently secret meetings between the Nihon Ki-in and the Kansai Ki-in.
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Older News From 29 July 2000: DREAM MAY TURN TO NIGHTMARE OVER TIME
The second term of the highly successful Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup has begun in sensational fashion, though not perhaps in the way the sponsor might have wished.
Apart from the withdrawal of China's Ma Xiaochun owing to fatigue, the Korean dream team has had a nightmare, apparently because of chess clocks.
The Korean company's sponsorship has been generous so far, but has been substantially extended this term, apparently to ensure that it really is regarded as a world event. The prize fund has been increased by 17 per cent, to around 700 million won, with first prize now set at 150 million won instead of 120 million. Game fees are now up from 2 to 3 million won.
In the main event, between the three countries Korea, Japan and China, there are now extra prizes for outstanding performances. Three wins in a row by an individual will now be rewarded with 10 million won, with a further 10 million won for every victory thereafter, and the maximum possible 10 wins will earn 100 million won.
With so much largesse to spread around, all Korean pros have been competing for the five places in the national team. To this end, they have been divided into four groups who each play a knockout. The winner of each group earns a team place, and the fifth place is a wild card allocated by the sponsor.
Practice rarely follows theory, and what has happened so far is that in Group A, in mid June, Ch'oe Myeong-hun 7-dan won the first spot, but in the process eliminated star Seo Pong-su 9-dan. In Group B, on 11 July, 15-year-old Ch'oe Ch'oel-han 3-dan won top spot, but that put out Yu Ch'ang-hyeok 9-dan. Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan was the next big name to disappear when Mok Chin-seok 4-dan won Group C on 18 July.
The last big name that any Korean would include in his dream team, Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan , has to run the gauntlet of Group D on 7 August.
It has been claimed that the reason for these major upsets is that the Nong Shim qualifiers are run on, for pros, a novel basis: shock, horror, they have to press their own clocks. With a time allowance of just 70 minutes and a single overtime period, the older pros are apparently finding it hard to adjust and are either getting into time trouble or losing on time.
The main, international portion of the event gets under way with Stage 1 from 15 to 22 October in Beijing. Stage 2 is from 26 November to 1 December in Seoul, and Stage 3 from 14 to 22 January 2001 in Shanghai. The omission of a Japanese venue follows the hot protests from the Chinese mainly, but also the Koreans, at the exorbitant costs in Japan in the first event. The Chinese promised they could do a five-star service at a fifth of the price, and have now been given two chances to do it. One assumes that Nong Shim also plans to sell an awful lot of noodles in China.
This is a team event for three countries (Korea, Japan, China) sponsored by the
Korean food manufacturer Nong Shim, who make spicy noodles. The Korean name is
Nong-sim Sin Lamyeon Bae, where lamyeon (noodles) is borrowed from Japanese
ramen, which in turn is borrowed from Chinese. A truly international event!
It is a triangular version of the Japan-China Supergo, where teams compete in a
single match, starting with the weakest player. The winner continues playing the
next opposing team member until he is defeated. The team with the last one left
standing is the winner of the match. Noodles are often associated with stamina in the Orient.
Prize money for the winning team is 120 million won.
Komi is 6.5 points.
WINNERS
Year
Term
Winner
Team
2000
1
Korea
Yi Ch'ang-ho 9d, Cho Hun-hyeon 9d,
Yu Ch'ang-hyeok 9d, Mok Chin-seok 4d, Kim Yeong-sam 4d
2001
2
Korea
Yi Ch'ang-ho 9d, Cho Hun-hyeon 9d,
Ch'oe Myeong-hun 7d, Mok Chin-seok 5d, Ch'oe Ch'eol-han 3d
