Kato Atsushi 1-0 Takao Shinji
Kono Rin 1-0 Akiyama Jiro
Kimu Shujun 1-0 Yamashita Keigo
Cho U 1-0 Hane Naoki
Semi-final
Kono 1-0 Kato
Cho 1-0 Kimu
Final
Kono 2-1 Cho.
Game 1 of the 1999 Final in sgf format is available here. To download, right-click and choose to save the link on your machine.
HOW DOES THE CHIKURIN CUP WORK?
The Chikurin Cup is sponsored by the magazine Go World (the Japanese one; and its defunct predecessor Igo Club) and supported by Otake Hideo and Rin Kaiho, after whom it is named.
Top prize is 1 million yen. The runner-up receives 200,000 yen.
The eight players are selected in three ways from Nihon Ki-in professionals aged 24 or less and ranked 6-dan or less. The first five places go to those with the best winning record in the previous year. One place is given to a women player (so far selected on the basis of most wins), and the remaining two places are awarded on the recommendation of the promoters, Otake Hideo 9-dan and Rin Kaiho 9-dan. They also comment on the games.
They play a straightforward knockout, the games being published monthly in Go World. The final is a best-of-three.
Time limits are now 2 hours each (1 minute overtime). Komi is 5.5 points.
Chikurin is from the -take in Otake, in its Sinified reading, and Rin is from Rin Kaiho.
