Go Commentary: Iyama Yuta vs Takao Shinji – 40th Tengen Final

This is game 4 from the 40th Tengen final.

The game was played between Iyama Yuta 9p and Takao Shinji 9p on December 11, 2014 in Kobe, Japan.

Iyama Yuta 9 dan (left) and Takao Shinji 9 dan at the 40th Tengen final.

Iyama Yuta

Iyama Yuta is the absolute #1 player in Japan, and he’s still Japan’s greatest hope in the international Go scene.

He was holding six major titles out of seven when this game was played. However, he was defeated by Murakawa Daisuke 7p in the 62nd Oza final by 3-2 after few days from this game.

Takao Shinji 9 dan (left) and Iyama Yuta 9 dan were walking along the garden.

Iyama challenged for 37th Tengen in 2011, and defeated Yuki Satoshi 9p 3-0 in the final to take the Tengen title.

On the following year, Iyama defeated Kono Rin 9p by 3-0 in the final as well.

In 2013, Akiyama Jiro 9p was the new challenger, but he couldn’t win any games against Iyama in the final.

Iyama played nine games in first three finals of Tengen since he challenged, and he shut them out all.

This was his 3rd time defending Tengen, and he was leading the series by 2-1 in the best of five before this game.

Takao Shinji

Takao Shinji was the new challenger, and it was his first time to challenge the Tengen.

He won the 60th Honinbo, defeating Cho U 9p in 2005, and that was his first major title. He won four more major titles up to 2008, and he was one of the best players in Japan by that time.

However, he didn’t add any major titles after five years since then. He challenged for 35th Meijin, but lost to Iyama Yuta by 4-0 in 2010.

Iyama Yuta 9 dan (left) and Takao Shinji 9 dan, when the game was finished.

He also challenged for 36th Kisei, but was defeated by Cho U by 4-3 in 2012.

On the following year, he challenged for 68th Honinbo, but lost to Iyama Yuta again by 4-3.

Nevertheless, he eventually came back to the title holder with Judan in 2014. He challenged for 52nd Judan against Yuki Satoshi, and he won the title with a 3-2 score.

Therefore, if he took the Tengen, he would be holding two major titles.

In this final of Tengen, Iyama won game 1 and 3, so this was kadoban for Takao in this best of five match.

Let’s have a look at the game.

Commented game record

Iyama Yuta vs Takao Shinji

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