History of Topics 2012

  The final game (The 7th game) of The 36th Kisei match was played on 14 and 15 March 2012. The game finished at 7:00 p.m. on the second day, with Cho U, taking black, winning by resignation. Cho U defends the title and has now won the Kisei title three years in a row. The challenger, Takao Shinji 9p, could not get Kisei title while his master, Fujisawa Shuko, won the 1st Kisei and earned the title of Honorary Kisei by defending the title for six years in a row.

The full results of the series are given as follows:
 Game 1 (12 & 13 Jan.): Takao (black) wins by 2.5 points
 Game 2 (26 & 27 Jan.): Cho (black) wins by resignation
 Game 3 (1 & 2 Feb.): Takao (black) wins by a half point
 Game 4 (15 & 16 Feb.): Cho (black) wins by resignation
 Game 5 (23 & 24 Feb.): Cho (white) wins by resignation
 Game 6 (7 & 8 Mar.): Takao (white) wins by resignation
 Game 7 (14 & 15 Mar.): Cho (black) wins by resignation

  The second game of the Women's Meijin was played on 14 March 2012.
  Hsieh Yi Min (black) defeats Mukai Chiaki 5p by 1.5 points and wins the title by 2-0.
  Hsieh Yi Min defends Women's Meijin title for five consecutive terms and qualifies for the title of Honorary Women's Meijin. When she turns 60, the honorary title is given to her.

The full results of the series are given as follows:
 Game1 (29 Feb.): Hsieh (white) wins by resignation
 Game2 (14 Mar.): Hsieh (black) wins by 1.5 points

  NHK cup is the most popular go tournament in Japan since the tournament is shown on NHK which is the largest broadcaster in Japan.
  Hane Naoki (Gosei) and Yuki Satoshi (9p) play at the final of the 59th NHK cup and Yuki Satoshi (white) wins the tournament by 5.5 points. He wins NHK cup three times in the last four years.

  The final of the 31st NEC Cup was played between Cho Chikun (The 25th Honinbo) and Takao Shinji (9p) on 17 March 2012 at The Nihon Ki-in. Takao beats Cho Chikun by resignation and gets NEC Cup for his first time.

  The final of The 7th Daiwa Securities Cup was played on 24 March 2012.
  Taking black, Iyama Yuta (Tengen) beat Cho Chikun (The 25th Honinbo) by resignation.
  Iyama won the tournament two years in a row.

  The master of cosmic style, Takemiya Masaki 9p, played against `Zen' which is the strongest computer go program in the world. Two handicap games were played on 17th March 2012 and Zen (black) won both games. The first game was a five stones handicap game and Zen won by 11 points. The next game was a four stones handicap game with which Zen also beat Takemiya by 20 points. O Meien 9p commented that Zen may be as strong as strong 6 dan Amateur players in Japan.