Sakai Hideyuki, a 27-year old medical student, has won the 22nd JAL World Amateur Go Championship in Sendai. After coming second in 1998 and 1999, last year losing only the final game by the slimmest margin of half a point, Sakai this year again won through the Japanese qualifying tournament, and went undefeated through eight rounds. He was awarded an 8 dan diploma signed by top professionals; perhaps more significantly as an indication of his strength he plays as 5d* on the IGS server, above the pro-level threshold of 4d. He has however no intention of turning pro himself, preferring his chosen career as a doctor.
Second and third places went to DPR Korea and South Korea respectively. The flurry of interest in a reconciliation between the states of the Korean peninsula ten days before the start of the competition was reflected by behind-the-scenes contacts between pro players from the South and the North Korean party, paduk diplomacy rather than ping-pong. Pak Ho-gil of DPR Korea, 16, looked flushed and strained through much of the proceedings, and apparently didn't understand English; but after it was all over, showed another side.
Games took place from June 19 to 22 in the large, modern Sendai International Centre, set in gardens with the local small rhododendrons and azaleas. Playing conditions were good and organisation diligent, though the room itself had little in the way of soft furnishings and was something of a whispering gallery for clock beeps, camera shutters, the inevitable mobile phones and the endless JAL video loop of a retouched blonde on holiday in the South Seas. Beyond the air-conditioning it was the official rainy season outside, meaning blazing sun and high humidity, temperatures rising through the week to the low thirties. Professional players in attendance included the legendary and affable Takemiya Masaki 9 dan, of the
famous "cosmic" style.
Fourth place went to the Chinese boy Zhou Zhenyu, 14, and fifth to Ng of Singapore (their best ever result). It was clear that the overseas Chinese everywhere are coming as a force. The overseas Koreans too (e.g. Australia's representative Chi, the USA's Lee and Canada's Beck); Chile's Pablo Saez has a Korean coach (as does your reporter). Europe took the rest of the top eight places, with Groenen (Netherlands) sixth, Schoffel (Germany) seventh, and Florescu (Romania) eighth - all on six wins, a good result for a 6 dan here, ahead of Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Asada Prize was awarded to Vietnam (Le 3d, 18th with 5 wins), one of the improving countries and taking part only for the second time.
There were 55 entrants, Heiser of Luxembourg having to drop out at the last minute. New this year was Morocco. Next year Armenia and Lithuania should be invited, as Go becomes ever more global. The Latin American countries were there in force, under their undisputed leader Diane Whitehead-Santiso (Guatemala); but have yet to break through into the top places. The system is a Swiss, with seeding for the first round only (top 25% and bottom 25% on past form do not meet). The draw is now computer-run, which is believed to produce more of the top clashes in earlier rounds; but colours are still chosen by the traditional nigiri (guess the parity of a handful of stones).
Older News From 21 June 2000: SAKAI LOOKING GOOD IN THE HEAT
After six rounds of the WAGC in leafy, sweltering Sendai the likely winner is Sakai Hideyuki of Japan, after his win over Pak Ho-gil of North Korea in Round 6. The competition is an eight round Swiss.
The fancied Chinese entrant, 14-year-old Zhou Zhenyu, who recently turned pro, lost to Sakai, Japan's top amateur of recent years, in Round 4 by 3.5 points.
On five wins are Pak, Zhou, Hong of South Korea, Wang of Hong Kong, Chou of
Taiwan, and Geert Groenen of the Netherlands.
