15 year old, Choi Jung (1 dan, Female Myeongin).

I also commented the final game between Choi Jung and Kim Miri earlier.

Here’s what Choi had to say:

An Younggil: Hello Jung, do you remember me? I saw you studying at Yu Changhyuk’s dojo before I came to Australia.

Choi Jung: Yes, I do.

First of all, congratulations on taking the Female Myeongin title. How do you feel about it?

Happy!

Oh, you must be happy for sure. What else do you want to say about it?

Hmm, I’m starting a new phase in my Baduk (Go) career.

That’s good. I agree with you. By the way, what do you do to study Baduk?

I study Baduk from 9:00am to 9:00pm every day. I play some practice games with other pros, and study all aspects of Baduk at Choong-Am Dojo.

Choong-Am Dojo was established in 2010. It’s located beside Choong-Am high school, which is very famous for Baduk in Korea. More than 110 pro players are from this school, including Lee Changho.

In 2010, three big dojos were merged to establish this new dojo. Lots of pros and inseis are studying here.

What’s the most important part of your study schedule?

Playing games and solving life and death problems.

How would you describe your style of play?

Fighting style. It’s because I’m confident at fighting, but I’m not good enough at other aspects of the game.

Rui Naiwei (9 dan, left) plays Choi Jung (1 dan) in the 5th Kisung final.

Who’s your role model?

Rui Naiwei! There’re so many things to learn from her. I respect her for her desire, enthusiasm and attitude towards Baduk.

And who do you think of as your rival?

Male pros.

I see. I understand that.

Yoshida Mika (8 dan, left) plays Choi Jung in the 2nd Huang Longshi Cup.

By the way, recently you played a game against Yoshida Mika in the Huang Longshi Cup and there was a rumor that you lost the game because of the differences in the Chinese rules.

Is that true?

No, that’s not true.

I understood the rules, I just lost by half a point in the normal way. The opening was bad for me and the game didn’t go well.

I had a good chance to finish the game in the endgame, but I missed it and lost.

I see. I’m sorry to hear that, but that’s ok. You won your first title! Anyway, what’s your goal in Baduk?

I want to take a major title one day.

I see, but you just took the major title. Oh, you mean the major title for everyone, like the Kuksu?

Yes, I do.

That’s a big goal. I hope you can achieve it in the future.

Thanks.

Could you please introduce yourself to Go fans around the world? They don’t know that much about you, even though you’re a rising star in Korea.

I’m 15 and going to high school this year. I like studying and playing Baduk very much, and my hobby is reading novels. I like the Harry Potter series.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to Go fans overseas?

Hmm, I want you to introduce and teach Baduk to your friends. I’m studying English and I hope to travel and teach Baduk overseas one day.

Thank you so much for your time and for the interview. I’ll be hoping for your dreams to come true.

Thanks.

A rematch with Chen Yaoye

Zhou Hexi (4 dan, left) plays Tan Xiao (5 dan) to decide who will challenge Chen Yaoye for the Tianyuan title.

Zhou, was also the challenger for the Tianyuan title in 2011 and will once again take on Chen Yaoye (9p) for a second shot at the title.

This year’s Tianyuan tournament played out rather strangely. Big names such as Gu Li (9p), Qiu Jun (9p) and Piao Wenyao (9p) were knocked out early.

March of the tiger

The only 9 dan to make it to the quarter final stage was Kong Jie. This seems to indicate that the Chinese tiger cub generation are already making their presence felt in the domestic Chinese Go scene.

Zhou Hexi contemplates the board.

In years to come, will we look back on Jiang Weijie’s recent win in the 16th LG Cup as the beginning of this generation’s march on the international scene?

Tan Xiao, another promising player.

And how will they fare against the likes of Park Junghwan (9p), Iyama Yuta (9p), Kang Dongyun (9p) and Kim Jiseok (7p)? (and lets not forget another prodigy from that generation, Chen Yaoye).

Chen Yaoye, the current Tianyuan title holder, awaits Zhou.

26th Tianyuan finals

The finals will be played later this year in April. Can Zhou go one better than last year?

Game record: Tan Xiao vs Zhou Hexi

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Choi Jung (left) plays Kim Miri (2 dan) in the final.

Kim Miri

Kim Miri is 20 years old and she became a pro in 2008. In 2011, she joined the 9th Jeongganjang Cup as a member of the Korean team. This is her first time in the final of a major tournament.

Choi Jung

Choi Jung became a pro in 2010. She was in the final of the 5th Female Kisung (Kisei) last year, but was defeated by Rui Naiwei (9p). She’s only 15 years old and this is her second time in a major final.

Go teachers

Kim and I are from the same dojo. Our teacher is Heo Janghoi (9p).

Choi’s teachers are Yu Changhyuk (9p) and Choi Kyubyoung (9p). Just before I came to Australia, Choi was an insei, but now she’s become one of the top female players in Korea.

15 year old Choi Jung.

Two fighters

Kim Miri is good at fighting, but she needs to become stronger in other parts of the game.

Choi Jung is also good at fighting, and she’s good at the endgame too. In 2011, she beat eight senior players in a row in 5th GG Auction Cup, and it was very sensational in Korea.

Let’s have a look at the game…

Commented game record: Kim Miri vs Choi Jung

[Embedded SGF File]

If you have any questions about the game, please feel free to leave comments below.

Black plays first in all problems and all solutions are labeled ‘correct’. Have fun!

Easy Go problem

Capturing a stone isn’t always the best approach.

[Embedded SGF File]

Intermediate Go problem

When you have the advantage it’s important not to get greedy…

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Hard Go problem

This is not a situation to shoot first and ask questions later. In fact, just the opposite.

[Embedded SGF File]

Jiang takes an early lead

Lee Changho (9 dan, left) plays Jiang Weijie (5 dan) in the 16th LG Cup final.

The final started on February 13 and Lee appeared to have a good game until Jiang ended things suddenly by killing a large white group in the center.

The tournament organizers were kind enough to give the players a day off on February 14 to enjoy Valentine’s Day, but play resumed on the 15th.

An exciting second game

Jiang was burdened with a weak group for most of the second game and it seemed like he might get into trouble against a veteran like Lee. However, Jiang managed the situation well, eventually leaving the players with a close endgame.

Jiang Weijie and Lee Changho play the opening of the second game.

This being Jiang’s first international final and given Lee’s recent resurgence, Lee probably entered the final as the sentimental favorite. But, Jiang was apparently unfazed by both the event and the player.

Jiang Weijie wins the 16th LG Cup

Lee resigned after 232 moves and Jiang won his first international title.

Congratulations Jiang Weijie!

A rare smile from Jiang Weijie, new LG Cup title holder.

Photos: 16th LG Cup final

Games: 16th LG Cup final

Jiang Weijie vs Lee Changho – Game 1

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Lee Changho vs Jiang Weijie – Game 2

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Huang Longshi is a female team tournament between China, Japan and Korea. It uses a win and continue format and is named after an ancient Chinese Go genius from the 17th century called Huang Longshi.

A good start for China

After seven rounds, Team China, led by the legendary Rui Naiwei (9p), still has all five team members in play. Rui leads Li He (3p), Tang Yi (2p), Wang Chenxing (2p) and Yu Zhiying (2p).

Team China in the 2nd Huang Longshi Cup.

Two women left for Team Japan

Team Japan has lost three players so far – Yoshida Mika (8p), Mukai Chiaki (5p) and Yashiro Kumiko (5p) – while Mannami Nao (2p) and Xie Yimin (6p) are still in play.

Team Japan in the 2nd Huang Longshi Cup.

Team Korea hanging by a thread

Team Korea has suffered the most casualties with Choi Jung (1p), Lee Sula (3p), Park Jiyeon (2p) and Kim Hyemin (6p) all being knocked out. Only Park Jieun (9p) remains for Team Korea.

Team Korea in the 2nd Huang Longshi Cup.

Wang Chenxing steals the show

China’s Wang Chenxing (2p) has won six games and is undoubtedly the star of the tourment so far. After Yoshida defeated Choi in round 1, Wang accounted for Yoshida, Lee, Mukai, Park Jiyeon, Yashiro and Kim in the six subsequent rounds.

Wang Chenxing (2 dan). Star of the 2nd Huahg Longshi Cup so far.

The next round starts in April

When the tournament resumes in April, 2012, Chen will face Mannami. Can her winning streak continue? And can Park Jieun keep Team Korea in the tournament?

Game records: 2nd Huang Longshi Cup

Wang Chenxing vs Yashiro Kumiko

[Embedded SGF File]

Wang Chenxing vs Kim Hyemin

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Black plays first in all problems and all solutions are labeled ‘correct’. Have fun!

Easy Go problem

Do you know the shape that makes an eye here? If you don’t, remember this one…

[Embedded SGF File]

Intermediate Go problem

In capturing races like this, you have to be meticulous. Don’t give white any leeway.

[Embedded SGF File]

Hard Go problem

Making an eye isn’t that hard, you just need to figure out how to do it in sente.

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An Younggil 8 dan pro.

I’m An Younggil, 8 dan professional Go player from Korea.

Would you like to win a free, 90 minute, online Go lesson with me? Simply tell your friends to learn Go for your chance to win!

Here’s the entry form:

(look at this if you want to know what Go is?)

The more people you tell, the greater your chance of winning will be.

Thank you and good luck!

Black plays first in all problems and all solutions are labeled ‘correct’. Have fun!

Easy Go problem

You need two stones to make a second eye, think about which one to place first.

[Embedded SGF File]

Intermediate Go problem

Does this look familiar? You can settle things with one precise blow.

This is one of my favorite tesuji. Not because it’s particularly hard to find, but because it’s elegant in its simplicity.

[Embedded SGF File]

Hard Go problem

Black’s marked stones seem to threaten white. Finding a way to balance offense with defense is the key to attacking.

[Embedded SGF File]

Youngest female title holder

Winners are grinners: Choi Jung wins her first domestic Korean title at 15 years of age.

At only 15 years of age, Choi also became the youngest female title holder in Korea.

Choi’s rise as a professional Go player has been remarkable.

She turned pro in mid 2010 and only a mere 18 months later, claimed her first major female title.

Taking down the big guns

En route to the final, Choi defeated Park Jieun (9p) and Cho Hyeyeon (9p). Last year, she also reached the final of 5th Women’s Kisung (the Korean equivalent of the Japanese Kisei, but was defeated by the legendary Rui Naiwei (9p).

Choi Jung (left, 1 dan) plays Park Jieun (9 dan) in the semifinal.

A wicked sense of humor…

Choi has a wicked sense of humor. In an interview after her win she expressed her disappointment that she wasn’t able to play Rui (who recently returned to China) in this year’s Myeongin tournament.

She then cheekily suggested that perhaps Rui wanted to avoid playing her and therefore ‘ran away’!

Choi also said that a typical day for her involves 12 hours of studying Go at an insei school, where she still lives and trains.

Kim Miri (left, 2 dan) plays Choi Jung (1 dan) in the final.

Choi’s goal for 2012 is to get selected by a team and play in the Korean Baduk League. With her recent impressive performance, she is surely not far away from achieving her goal and is definitely an exciting prospect for Go in Korea.

Congratulations Choi!

Game records: 13th Female Myeongin final

Choi Jung vs Kim Miri – Game 1

[Embedded SGF File]

Kim Miri vs Choi Jung – Game 2

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