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.

Samsung Global Research and Development Center, Gyeonggi, Korea

Lunch each day was freshly cooked to order!

Lunch is served at the 2015 Samsung Cup

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.

Yu Zhiying 5 dan (left) and Lee Sedol 9 dan at the 2015 Samsung Cup

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.

Park Younghun 9 dan (left) lost unexpectedly to Zhang Tao 4 dan at the 2015 Samsung Cup.

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 finalists of the 2015 Samsung Cup, from left: Kim Dongho 4 dan, Shi Yue 9 dan, Ke Jie 9 dan, Byun Sangil 4 dan, Zhang Tao 4 dan, Lee Sedol 9 dan, Tang Weixing 9 dan and Park Junghwan 9 dan

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.

The best way to prepare for a Go match is…yoga?

Kim Dongho 4 dan limbers up before his quarter final appearance at the 2015 Samsung Cup

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.

2015 Samsung Cup semifinalists, from left: Lee Sedol 9 dan, Ke Jie 9 dan, Tang Weixing 9 dan and Shi Yue 9 dan

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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Iyama Yuta 9p successfully defended his Meijin title on October 6, 2015, defeating Takao Shinji 9p with a perfect 4-0 score in the 40th Meijin title match.

Game 4 of the final was played on October 5 and 6 in Mie Prefecture, Japan and Iyama Yuta won by resignation after 227 moves.

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

Iyama still holds four Japanese titles

Iyama Yuta 9 dan at the 40th Meijin final.

Having successfully defended the Meijin title again, Iyama currently holds four of the seven Japanese “majors”, including the Kisei, Honinbo and Gosei.

Earlier this year, he also successfully defended three other titles, defeating Yamashita Keigo 9p in the 39th Kisei, 70th Honinbo, and the 40th Gosei title matches.

Yamashita won three games in the Kisei title deciding match, but only managed one win each in the Honinbo and Gosei finals.

Iyama in Meijin title matches

This is the 5th Meijin title in Iyama’s career.

Iyama first challenged Cho U 9p in the 33rd Meijin in 2008 but was defeated 4-3.

However, Iyama got a second chance the following year in the 34th Meijin and won his first Meijin title with a 4-1 score.

In 2010, Iyama defeated Takao Shinji 4-0 to successfully defend his title.

However, his hold was short-lived and he lost to Yamashita Keigo 9p in 2011.

In 2013, Iyama challenged Yamashita Keigo for the title back, and he won his third Meijin title with a 4-1 score.

In 2014, Kono Rin 9p challenged, but Iyama defeated him 4-2 to defend the title.

Takao Shinji’s defeat

Takao Shinji 9 dan with the sealed move, at the end of the first day from game 4.

At the end of 2014, Takao defeated Iyama to win the 40th Tengen with a 3-2 score.

He was behind the final 2-1, but won the last two games to win the title.

Takao’s style is calm but lively, and he favors tesuji and flexible haengma.

Yamashita Keigo was soundly defeated by Iyama earlier this year, so some thought Takao’s style of play might be more effective against Iyama’s powerful and creative style of play.

However, Takao didn’t manage to win a single game in the final so we can assume that it’s even harder for Takao to fight against Iyama.

Rising stars up to the challenge

There are a few young talented Japanese players rising rapidly through the ranks such as Murakawa Daisuke 8p, Ida Atsushi 8p and Ichiriki Ryo 7p.

Murakawa has already managed to win one title from Iyama with the 62nd Oza in 2014 and Ida is the youngest Judan holder.

So the professional circuit in Japan is about to get a lot more interesting!

Takao Shinji 9 dan (left) and Iyama Yuta 9 dan, at the beginning of game 4.

The 40th Meijin Series

Game 1

The opening up to White 54 was even.

White 58 to 60 were good probes, and White 66 and 68 were practical.

Black 87 was premature, and White took the lead up to White 96.

White 106 and 112 were nice moves to make eyeshape.

White 142 and 146 were sharp, and decided the game.

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Game 2

White 22 to 26 were nice, and the result up to White 32 was slightly more favorable for White.

Black 35 to 37, Black 47 to 49 were full of fighting spirit.

Black 73 to 77 were strong, and Black 89 and 103 were good tesuji.

The big trade up to Black 123 was good for Black, and Black took the lead.

White 170 was sharp, and White 182 was a nice way to reverse the game.

White 200 was the losing move, and the game was reversed again up to Black 211.

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Game 3

White 22 to 28 were creative moves by Iyama.

Black 37 was questionable, and White 46 to 56 were sophisticated.

White 82 was a nice counter-move, and the result up to White 92 was satisfactory for White.

Black 97 to 103 were bold, but Iyama’s sabaki up to White 128 was excellent.

Black went all out with 129, but White 140 and 142 were accurate, and Black’s center group was captured.

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Game 4

White 22 and 24 were questionable, and Black had a nice start up to 31.

Black 39 and 41 were a good combination, and Black 49 was a good tesuji as well.

White 74 was slack, and Black solidified his lead with 77.

Black 81 to 85 were creative, and Black 89 was practical. Black was still in the lead up to 123.

Black 143 to 149 were severe, and Black 167 to 175 were strong and powerful.

White 210 was tricky, but Black 211 and 213 were accurate, and simplified the game.

Black 215 and 217 were played in precisely the right order, and the game was over.

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Related Articles

• Go Commentary: Yamashita Keigo vs Iyama Yuta – 70th Honinbo
• Iyama Yuta wins 40th Gosei, 3rd victory against Yamashita Keigo in 2015
• Iyama Yuta wins 70th Honinbo, holds title for 4th consecutive year
• Go Commentary: Iyama Yuta vs Takao Shinji – 40th Tengen Final
• An Younggil’s Pro Go Videos: 53rd Judan Final decider – Ida Atsushi vs Takao Shinji

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Here are the weekly Go problems for week 140.

Black plays first in all problems and all solutions are labeled ‘correct’. Have fun!

Easy Go problem

One of the Golden Rules of Go is “take care of yourself when attacking.”

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Intermediate Go problem

There are two basic tactics in capturing races; reduce liberties or increase them. You’ll need special tesuji here.

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Hard Go problem

The aji in Black’s lone cutting stone is surprisingly strong! Just be careful in the corner.

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Still want more Go problems?

You can find Go books packed full of life and death problems, tesuji problems and other valuable Go knowledge at the Go Game Shop.

Discuss other possible moves

If you have any questions or want to discuss any of these problems, please leave a comment below at any time. You can use the coordinates on the problem images to discuss a move or sequence of moves.

You can also download the solutions as a PDF or SGF file by clicking the links below each problem.

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