YAMASHITA SENDS CENTRAL JAPAN INTO GLOOM
Two out of three of the Heisei Golden Trio - Japan's best young hopes of the current era - faced each other in the final of the 25th Shinjin-O, but Gosei winner Yamashita Keigo 7-dan remained the man in form. In Game 2 on 27 September he moved into an unassailable 2-0 lead over Hane Naoki 8-dan.
In the process Yamashita sent Nagoya into despair, according to MSO writer Pieter Mioch who is based there. The game was played at the Central Branch of the Nihon Ki-in, where Hane is now the local star.
On the other hand, as by far the youngest of the Golden Trio (Hane and Takao are the others), Yamashita is seen by insiders in the main Tokyo branch of the Nihon Ki-in as Japan's best chance of providing a native Japanese who can compete with the international stars.
Here is Game 2 to download. Since Yamashita was Black it was yet another chance for him to show off his unusual high fusekis to best advantage.
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Older News From 20 September 2000:
YAMASHITA STILL ON COURSE TO RETAIN SHINJIN-O TITLE
Yamashita Keigo 7-dan, already victor in the Shin'ei and Gosei tournaments this year, won the first game of the 25th Shinjin-O final against Hane Naoki 8-dan on 18 September 2000. Yamashita is now on course for a double hat-trick - third title this year, third win in a row in the Shinjin-O.
The Shinjin-O has acquired increasing prestige over recent years, being seen as a reliable indicator of future strength in major tournaments. Yamashita has already passed that test and remains in the Shinjin-O only because his tournament achievements have outstripped his promotions.
His victories this month have also been a bit of a birthday present to himself. He turned 22 on 6 September. Insiders in the Nihon Ki-in regard him as the country's best hope for a native challenge to the international stars, an assessment the fans share. He shows little sign of feeling the burden of these expectations yet, and with his unusual openings gives every sign of playing his go to enjoy himself.
Game 2 of the best-of-three final is on 27 September and Game 3, if needed, is on 9 October.
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Older News From 11 September 2000:
YAMASHITA STILL ON COURSE TO RETAIN
SHINJIN-O TITLE
Yamashita Keigo, newly promoted to 7-dan, and Hane Naoki 8-dan, will contest the final of the 25th Shinjin-O tournament - a repeat of the 1999 final. For Yamashita it will be a chance to notch up a record third victory in a row.
The quarter-final results were:
- Yamashita 1-0 Nakano Yasuhiro
- Yamada Takuji 1-0 Akiyama Jiro
- Hane Naoki 1-0 Kimu Shujun
- Nakamura Shin'ya 1-0 Takao Shinji
Semi-finals (14 and 17 August 2000):
- Yamashita 1-0 Yamada
- Hane 1-0 Nakamura
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Older News From 15 May 2000:
YAMASHITA IN THE HUNT FOR 3RD SHINJIN-O TITLE
The last eight of the 25th Shinjin-O have been established, and holder Yamashita Keigo 6-dan is still lurking there. He has to play Nakano Yasuhiro 6-dan next. The other pairings are Akiyama Jiro 7-dan plays Yamada Takuji 5-dan, Kimu Shujun 5-dan plays Hane Naoki 7-dan and Nakamura Shin'ya 7-dan plays Takao Shinji 6-dan.
The prestige of this already esteemed tournament is growing. We can see why from this cast list.
SHINJIN-O ARCHIVES
HOW DOES THE SHINJIN-O TOURNAMENT WORK?
The Shinjin-O tournament is sponsored by the socialist newspaper Akahata (Red Flag).
The winner takes 2.6 million yen. The losing finalist gets 420,000 yen. The match fees for both is 580,000 yen. Game fees range from 30,000 yen in the early preliminaries for 1-dans to 174,000 yen in the semi-finals.
The title holder is not seeded. The event is open to all Nihon Ki-in and Kansai Ki-in who are 7-dan are below at the start of the tournament. In the Nihon Ki-in, two preliminary knockouts are held first. One is find the top players from 1-dan to 4-dan, and the other is to find the
top players from 5-dan to 7-dan. The Kansai Ki-in holds similar events.
This produces a total of 32 players, weighted in favour of the 5- to 7-dans and of the Nihon Ki-in. They are joined by the previous year's winner and losing. After a preliminary playoff between 4 of the players, a final knockout of 32 players is played.
The final is a best-of-three held in September-October. Normally all games are played in the Nihon Ki-in. Thinking time is 5 hours each in all games. Komi has always been 5.5 points.
The word Shinjin-O means King of the New Stars.
Click here for a list of SHINJIN-O FINALISTS.
