The round of 16 and the quarter finals of the 2015 Samsung Cup took place on October 6 and 8, 2015. The venue was the very impressive Samsung Global Research and Development Center in Gyeonggi, Korea.

Lunch each day was freshly cooked to order!

It was a showdown between China and Korea, with Japanese, Taiwanese and American players eliminated in the group stage.

Round of 16

Shi Yue 9p and Kim Jiseok 9p were facing each other, and that was the most interesting match in the round of 16.

Kim has been in a long slump, and his haengma hasn’t been as sharp as before. Shi showed his strength, and he won the game relatively easily.

Yu Zhiying 5p was the only female player in the round of 16, but she was no match for Lee Sedol 9p.

Park Junghwan 9p, Ke Jie 9p and Byun Sangil 4p had little trouble defeating Zhou Hexi 5p, Na Hyun 6p and Gan Siyang 4p.

Zhang Tao 4p overcame Park Younghun 9p, which was most the unexpected result from the round of 16. Park’s been doing really well lately, but he lost in the endgame, which was very uncharacteristic of him.

Tang Weixing 9p conquered Lee Changho 9p and that was a meaningful win for him. Lee Changho was winning until the quite late in the endgame, where a few mistakes cost him the game. This would have never happened back when he was unbeatable.

The score became tied with China and Korea both entering the quarter finals with four players each.

Quarter finals

After a rest day, it was back to the Go board! Although not before some taking part in a yoga session to stretch out those tense muscles from the first day.

Kim Dongho 4p didn’t seem convinced this is a good way to prepare for his quarter final appearance against Shi Yue 9p which unfortunately, proved to be correct for Kim.

Zhang Tao 4p couldn’t manage to produce another upset which saw Lee Sedol 9p through to the semifinals.

Tang Weixing 9p and Ke Jie 9p snapped up the other two spots in the semifinals by defeating Park Junghwan 9p and Byun Sangil 4p, respectively.

Semifinal

When play resumes again in November, 2015, all of Korea’s hopes will be on Lee Sedol 9p who will face Ke Jie 9p.

The other semifinal will be an all-China affair with Tang Weixing 9p and Shi Yue 9p hoping to make it through to the final.

Game records

Tang Weixing (black) vs Lee Changho

Black 19 to 31 were lively, but White 40 and 42 were well balanced moves.

White 68 was the vital point, but the game was still even up to Black 81.

Black 91 was wrong timed probe, and White took the lead with 92.

White 118 to 122 were sophisticated, and White solidified his lead up to 146.

Black 157 to 161 were a good move order to catch up.

White 166 and 186 were small, and the game was getting closer.

White 214 was the losing move, and that should be at Black 231.

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Shi Yue (black) vs Kim Jiseok

Black 27 and 29 were practical.

White 32 was wrong direction, and the opening up to Black 37 was slightly better for Black.

Black 43 to 45 were light haengma, and the result up to Black 59 was favorable for Black.

Black 85 and 87 were brilliant, and White was in trouble.

White saved his group up to 110, but Black’s got strong everywhere, and it was good enough for Black.

Black 113 to 119 were gorgeous, and Black crystallized his lead.

White didn’t grasp any chances to catch up afterwards.

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Lee Sedol (black) vs Yu Zhiying

White 16 was warlike, and Black’s responses were cool up to 23.

Black 31 was premature, but White 32 to 36 were a bit heavy.

Black 45 to 49 were big, and White started to attack Black’s left side group from 50.

Black 57 and 59 were practical, and the result up to Black 69 was satisfactory for Black.

Black 73 to 83 were nice and strong, and Black was still in the lead.

Black 99 to 109 were magnificent, and Black’s moves afterwards were perfect to finish the game.

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Ke Jie (black) vs Byun Sangil

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Park Junghwan (black) vs Tang Weixing

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