Yamashiro Hiroshi 9-dan won the final of the 41st Okan on 20 November 2000 when he defeated holder Hane Naoki 8-dan. It means that Yamashiro has been able to extend his record 11 victories in this event, open only to members of the Central Branch of the Nihon Ki-in, to 12.
The game took place in the Hotel Hotaka, high up in the Northern Alps, in Kamitakara in Gifu Precture. This is the site of a well-known observatory to measure seismic fluctuations, since Kamitakara is close to the Atotsugawa fault, one of the major active geological faults in Japan.
It would be interesting to know whether the monitors detected any seismic vibrations from the game, which began with something of a rumble as early as move 19, but if so they would have recorded a major blip around move 74. Hane sank into deep thought (this event has a 5-hour time allowance), having realised that he had made a reading blunder.
Yamashiro's main comment on the game was that Black 67 was bad, and he felt bad about the game at that point, but once he had secured territory with 77 he felt better. He was able to finish off the game with 1 hour 28 minutes of his time left. Hane resigned with just one minute and byoyomi looming.
Hane thought things were difficult for him up to the middle game, and he was dissatisfied with the invasion at 70 - it proved something of a half-measure. He too thought 77 was crucial.
Older News From 21 October 2000: YAMASHIRO EARNS CHANCE TO EXTEND RECORD
The challengers' final in the 41st Okan was won by Yamashiro Hiroshi 9-dan on 12 October 2000 in Nagoya. He defeated Ogata Masaki 9-dan to earn a chance to challenge Hane Naoki 8-dan for the title. Yamashiro has won this title, open only to members of the Central Branch of the Nihon Ki-in, a record 11 times, whilst Hane has won it for the past two years.
Yamashiro has already beaten a member of the Hane family in Round 1 - Yasumasa 9-dan, Naoki's father. If he wins again will that be a nidan-bane?!
The Okan is sponsored by the regional newspaper, Chunichi Shinbun.
Top prize is 1 million yen. The losing finalist gets 200,000 yen.
Only pros in the Nihon Ki-in Central Branch (Nagoya) are eligible. It is the highlight of their year and the final is usually played in the special Shoun no Ma (Auspicious Clouds Room) there.
Nowadays, after a preliminary, a final knockout (numbers have varied, but no more than 16 players) is held to produce a challenger to the holder. The final is a single game. For the first 15 terms the event was held every 18 months. Originally, because of the small number of players, it was a league.
Time limits are now 5 hours each (used to be 6). Komi was 4.5 points for Terms 1 to 15 and 5.5 points thereafter.
