Iyama Yuta 9p defended his Gosei title, defeating Yamashita Keigo 9p with a 3-1 score in the 40th Gosei title match.
Game 4 of the final was played on August 07, 2015, in Tokyo, Japan, and Iyama Yuta won by resignation after 122 moves.
Iyama Yuta 9 dan (left) and Yamashita Keigo 9 dan at the 40th Gosei final.
Title deciding game
Game 4 was very exciting with chain battles from the beginning of the game.
Yamashita started attacking White’s reducing stones from the top, but Iyama cut in the center and fought back, and he took the lead of the game from there.
Iyama was holding the initiative of the game for a while, but Yamashita made a nice counter with 83, and the game became very complicated.
However, Yamashita played a thank you move at 97, and the game was suddenly ended very soon afterwards.
Iyama is becoming the natural enemy of Yamashita
Iyama Yuta 9 dan at the 40th Gosei final.
Iyama Yuta and Yamashita Keigo already played each other in the 39th Kisei final and the 70th Honinbo final in this year.
Iyama barely defended the Kisei title with a 4-3 score. Iyama won the first three games, but Yamashita won next three games to go to the title deciding game.
Yamashita was looking for a reverse sweep with his sweeping upturn, but Iyama didn’t let it happen with his victory in game 7 in March, 2015.
In the 70th Honinbo final, Yamashita was challenging again, but Iyama defended easily with a 4-1 score in June, 2015.
This Gosei final was their 3rd title match in 2015, but Yamashita didn’t get revenge for his earlier defeats. It looks as if Iyama is becoming the natural enemy of Yamashita.
Yamashita is still superior against other top Japanese players, but only except against Iyama. Apparently, that doesn’t seem easy for Yamashita to overcome since he’s more than 10 years older than Iyama.
The goal of Honorary Gosei
With this victory, the goal of becoming Honorary Gosei, by defending the title for one more year, is within Iyama’s grasp along with the Honorary Honinbo.
The title of Honorary Gosei is bestowed upon players who hold the Gosei title for five years in a row.
Since 1976, only two players have received this title, including: Otake Hideo 9p and Kobayashi Koichi 9p.
Iyama Yuta 9 dan (left) and Yamashita Keigo 9 dan, just after the final game finished.
The 40th Gosei Series
Game 1
White 12 to 16 were the new style of play, and the attachment at White 22 was sharp.
White 36 was sharp, and Black 37 to 39 were fighting spirits.
White 40 was questionable, and that should be better to cut at 43 to make a ko.
Black 57 and 59 were practical, and Black took the lead up to 75.
Cutting at Black 83 was a nice tesuji, and Black solidified his lead up to 87.
White 98 and 100 were severe attack, but Black 99 and 101 were sharp and creative to invade and live on the left side.
The sequence from Black 155 to 167 was brilliant, and the game was decided.
Iyama Yuta vs Yamashita Keigo – Game 1
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Game 2
Black 9 t0 15 were unusual, and Black 17 and 19 were creative.
White 20 was questionable, because White’s right side group became weak after Black 23.
The opening up to Black 37 was favorable for Black.
Black 55 was practical, and Black 75 was very nice to threaten White’s weaknesses.
White 86 and 88 were strong, and a big ko fight was emerged up to Black 103.
White 108 was the losing move, because that ko threat didn’t work.
Black’s sabaki from 115 to 125 were sophisticated, and Black 131 to 135 were calm and accurate.
White went all out with 172, but Black captured White’s huge dragon up to 179, and White soon resigned.
Yamashita Keigo vs Iyama Yuta – Game 2
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Game 3
Black 19 and 21 were strong, and the result up to Black 39 was slightly better for Black.
Black 49 t0 65 were good sequence to make a ko, and the trade up to Black 87 was still favorable for Black.
White’s cutting from 88 was severe, and the game became more complicated up to White 102.
Black 121 was necessary to take care of this group, and White 134 was a good sequence, and the result of the ko fight up to 164 was successful for White.
Black 171 and 173 were a good decision, and the game was still slightly better for Black up to 191.
Black 193 was careless, and White 194 was a nice response to take sente.
However, Black 201 to 213 were bold and accurate, and Black successfully reduced White’s territory up to 222 in sente.
Black 223 was big, and Iyama’s endgame was perfect to save the small margin.
Iyama Yuta vs Yamashita Keigo – Game 3
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Game 4
The opening was well balanced between territory and influence, and Black started to attack White’s reducing moves with 21 and 23.
Black 31 was interesting, and White 32 was the correct response.
White 36 and 38 were nice haengma, and White took the initiative of the game with 46.
Attaching at White 56 was a nice tesuji, and the result up to Black 65 was successful for White.
White 78 and 80 were too much, and Black 83 was a nice counter.
White played strongly from 86 to 92, and the game became very complicated.
Black 97 was a crucial mistake, and that should be hane at 99.
White 100 and 104 were cool and flexible, and Black’s big dragon became in great danger up to White 116.
Yamashita couldn’t find any way to save his dragon, and he soon resigned.
Yamashita Keigo vs Iyama Yuta – Game 4
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Reviewing the game after the final game finished.
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