September 1994

On September 2, TV viewers equipped to pull in NHK's direct satellite broadcasts were able to watch Otake Hideo play Qian Yuping of China for the Asian TV Go Championship. The games were played in July in Pusan, Korea (for reasons best known to itself, NHK delayed the broadcasts by a month and a half). Both Korean players, Cho Hunhyun and Yoo Changhyuk, lost in round one, which was somewhat surprising in view of recent history. Qian disposed of last year's winner Yoda Norimoto in round two, but was overwhelmed by Otake in the final. Japan has a complete monopoly on this championship--Japanese players have won it every year since it started in 1989.

Elsewhere in TV-land, Japanese cable viewers got to see Morita Michihiro, 7-dan, win his first professional title. Morita defeated Rin Kaiho in a fierce game, one of the best of the year, that climaxed the Ryusei (Dragon Star) tournament.

A new professional tournament, the Acom Cup, ended this month. This unique tournament is sponsored by a financial institution, the type of place you can turn to when you need cash and interest rates are no object. Participation is voluntary, and the tournament is open to selected amateurs as well as professionals. The semifinal and final rounds were both played on September 17, under conditions not too different from the World Amateur Championship: 90 minutes per player plus 1-minute byo yomi. The finalists were two of the current masters of high-speed go, Korean-born Cho Chikun and Taiwan-born O Rissei. Winner of the first Acom Cup: O Rissei.

Kobayashi Koichi is off to a good start in the defense of his Meijin title, having won the first two games from Rin Kaiho.

Coming up in October is an Oza title fight between Kato Masao and Cho Chikun. Cho beat Yoda Norimoto by resignation in the final game of the knockout to decide the challenger. For the third consecutive year, Yoda fell just one victory short of getting into this title match.