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History of Topics 2014


27 November


27 November

Nihon Kiin to Donate $2M to the Iwamoto North America Foundation

  The Chairman of the Nihon Ki-in, Mr. Wada Norio, announced that a donation of $2M will be made shortly as the seed fund for the Iwamoto North America Foundation for Go (‘INAF’).
  INAF was founded to support the promotion of Go in North America according to the vision and wishes of the later Japanese Go master, Iwamoto Kaoru. The funds will be used to sponsor an American East Coast Go Center and to support other activities such as teaching programs and cultural exchanges.
  INAF will seek proposals for these activities. For details, please watch for updates on the official INAF website.

The INAF Executive Board : Norio Wada, President
Thomas Hsiang, Executive Director
Andy Okun, Director
Hiroshi Yamashiro, Director
David Weimer, Director
Shusuke Masaki, Director

Offical Website : www.INAF-Go.org

Iyama Yuta Defends Meijin!

  The sixth game of the 39th Meijin title match (best of seven series) was played on 29th and 30th October 2014 in Nagano. Taking black, Iyama Yuta, the current Meijin title holder, beat Kono Rin 9p by 3.5 points after 215 moves.
  Iyama defended Meijin title by 4-2 and has now held it for two years in a row.
  Iyama still holds his sextuple crown (Kisei, Meijin, Honinbo, Oza, Tengen and Gosei).

The full results of the series are given as follows:
  - Game 1 (4, 5 Sep): Iyama(W) won by resignation
  - Game 2 (18, 19 Sep): Kono (W) won by resignation
  - Game 3 (25, 26 Sep): Kono (B) won by resignation
  - Game 4 (6, 7 Oct): Iyama (B) won by resignation
  - Game 5 (15, 16 Oct): Iyama (W) won by resignation
  - Game 6 (29, 30 Oct): Iyama (B) won by 3.5 points

Fujisawa Rina Won Women's Honinbo!

  The third game of 33rd Women's Honinbo title match (best of five match) was held on 7th November 2014 in the Nihon Ki-in (Tokyo).
  Taking black, Fujisawa Rina defeated the defending champion Mukai Chiaki 5p by 5.5 points after 233 moves and won Women's Honinbo title by 3-0.
  Rina becomes the youngest Women's Honinbo title holder at the age of 16 years and a month. (*the previous record was 17 years and 11 months which was achieved by Hsieh Yi Min)

The full results of the series are given as follows:
  - Game 1 (8 Oct): Fujisawa (B) won by resignation
  - Game 2 (17 Oct): Fujisawa (W) won by 2.5 points
  - Game 3 (7 Nov): Fujisawa (B) won by 5.5 points

Motoki Won Hiroshima Aluminum Cup!

  The final game of the 9th Hiroshima Aluminum Cup Wakagoi tournament (Knockout tournament for the top 16 players of the Nihon Ki-in 6-dan pro or below and 30 years or younger) was held in Hiroshima on 16th November 2014. Taking white, Motoki Katsuya 3p (19 year-old) beat Mutsuura Yuta 1p (15 year-old) by 2.5 points after 243 moves. Motoki won Hiroshima Aluminum Cup and it was the first time for him to claim an title.

Yamashita Challenge to Kisei

  Yamashita Keigo 9p earns the right to challenge for the 39th Kisei title match. In the playoff match to decide the challenger for the 39th Kisei title (*the current title holder: Iyama Yuta), played on 13th November 2014 at the Nihon Ki-in (Tokyo), Yamashita (B) defeated Murakawa Daisuke 7p by resignation after 171 moves.
  Yamashita will play Kisei title match for two years in a row.
  The first game of 39th Kisei title match (best of seven games) will be played on 15 January 2015 in Osaka.

Yu Ho Teaches at Seattle Go Center!

  Yu Ho 6p was dispatched to Seattle for the promotion of go in State of Washington in the US from 13th November. He taught dozens of local go players by providing workshops, teaching games and lectures at the Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of The West U.S.A for several days.
 
* The photos are by courtesy of Thane Williams

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