History of Topics 1999

  The fourth game of the 23rd Kisei title match was held at the In-no-shima Seaside Hotel on the island of In-no-shima (the birthplace of Shusaku), Hiroshima Prefecture, on February 17 & 18. With the challenger, Kobayashi Koichi Tengen, having won his first game in the previous game, this was considered to be the crucial game of the series. Playing white, the defending champion won by 1.5 points after 287 moves. This gave him a 3-1 lead, so he now needs only one more win to defend his title. Of their time allowances of eight hours each, Cho was down to his final minute and Kobayashi had nine minutes left. The fifth game will be played at the Shiroyama Kanko Hotel in Kagoshima City on February 24 & 25.

  The playoff to decide the challenger for the 37th Judan title (sponsored by the Sankei Newspaper) was held at the Nihon Ki-in in Tokyo on 11 February. The playoff pitted Kobayashi Koichi Tengen, now in the midst of his challenge for the Kisei title, against Kobayashi Satoru 9-dan, who was aiming at his first Judan challenge.
  Playing white, Kobayashi Koichi won by half a point after 247 moves, so he will challenge Hikosaka Naoto for the title. Kobayashi is making his first Judan challenge for five years. This will be the first title match between Kobayashi and Hikosaka. The match is scheduled to begin in March.

  Kobayashi Izumi, the daughter of Kobayashi Koichi, has defended the Dokomo Cup 2nd Women's Kisei title against Sugiuchi Kazuko 8-dan with two wins to one loss. After Kobayashi had won the first game, Sugiuchi tied the best-of-three match with a win by 4.5 points, holding black, in the second game. In the third game, Kobayashi won by 5.5 point, holding black, so she succeeded in her first title defence.

  Kobayashi Koichi has scored his first win in the 23rd Kisei title match. In the third game, played at the Kazen-no-Sho inn at Ochiai Hot Spring, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, on February 3 & 4, Kobayashi, playing white, forced Cho to resignaiton after 186 moves. That made the score 1-2 in Cho's favor in the title match. Of their time allowances of eight hours each, Cho was down to his final minute and Kobayashi had 15 minutes left.
  The fourth game will be played in In-no-shima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on February 17 and 18.

  The second game of the 23rd Kisei title match, in which Kobayashi Koichi Tengen is challenging Cho Chikun, holder of the Triple Crown, was played at the Nihondaira Hotel in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on January 27 and 28. Retaining the momentum of his win in the first game in Paris, Cho, playing white, forced the challenger to resignaiton after 208 moves.
  Of their time allowances of eight hours each, Kobayashi had 26 minutes left while Cho was down to his final minute. The third game is scheduled for February 3 and 4.

  The playoff to decide the challenger for the 11th Women's Meijin title was held at the Nihon Ki-in in Tokyo on January 28. Playing white, Aoki Kikuyo 7-dan defeated Chinen Kaori, the Women's Honinbo, by 1.5 points and so earned the right to challenge Nishida Terumi for the title. This will be Aoki's first appearance in the Women's Meijin title match for six years. It will also be the first title match between Nishida and Aoki. The title match will start in late February.