The first round of the 17th Nongshim Cup was played from October 20 to 23, 2015, in Chongqing, China.
Ichiriki Ryo 7p, the first player from team Japan, won three games in the first round.
Ichiriki Ryo
Ichiriki Ryo 7p, the hero of the first round of the 17th Nongshim Cup.
Ichiriki Ryo defeated Baek Chanhee 1p, Fan Yunruo 4p and Min Sangyoun 4p consecutively, and it was impressive and hopeful news for team Japan.
Even though Ichiriki lost to Wu Guangya 6p in the fourth game, he’s already done very well for Japan.
Ichiriki was also the first player to step up to the plate at the 16th Nongshim Cup in 2014, where he defeated Byun Sangil 4p and lost to Tuo Jiaxi 9p.
Over the last decade or so, Team Japan sometimes struggled in the Nongshim Cup. However, they’re off to an excellent start this year, due to Ichiriki’s excellent performance.
An interview with Lee Sedol 9 dan, Gu Li 9 dan and Kono Rin 9 dan, at the opening ceremony.
17th Nongshim Cup Teams
Team China
Gu Li 9p (1oth Chunlan Cup) and Ke Jie 9p (2nd Bailing Cup) were selected as current world champions, and Lian Xiao 7p was also selected as the last man standing in last year’s Nongshim Cup.
Wu Guangya 6p and Fan Yunruo 4p are making their debut on China’s Nongshim Cup team, along with Ke Jie.
Team Japan
Iyama Yuta 9p, Kono Rin 9p, Ida Atsushi 8p, Murakawa Daisuke 7p and Ichiriki Ryo 7p are representing Japan.
The team is exactly the same as the last year, when they survived until the final round.
In 2014, Ichiriki Ryo won one game, and Iyama Yuta won two games as the anchorman for Japan, but they’ve already notched up three wins this year.
Team Korea
Park Junghwan 9p was selected for Team Korea as the current #1 (based on domestic ratings), and Lee Sedol 9p was selected as a wildcard.
Choi Cheolhan 9p, Min Sangyoun 4p and Baek Chanhee 1p qualified through the preliminaries, but many Korean fans are worried that the two younger players (Min and Baek) aren’t strong enough to compete with the top players from the other teams.
Because of this, there’s currently a debate in Korea about changing the domestic qualification system for the Nongshim Cup (within Korea).
As you can see, Team Japan has selected their strongest players, which is more strategic, and Korean fans were disappointed when Baek and Min were knocked out.
Game records
Baek Chanhee vs Ichiriki Ryo – Game 1
Black 43 was questionable, and White 44 was painful for Black.
Black 49 was the result of a misread, and White took the early lead up to 58.
White 68 was an overplay, and the game became complicated up to Black 95.
Black 109 was slack, and the position became better for White again with 110.
White 126 and 128 were a brilliant combination, and White’s continuation up to 144 was flawless.
White was winning up to 154, and the game was decided by White 162.
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Baek Chanhee 1 dan (left) and Ichiriki Ryo 7 dan, reviewing just after the game.
Ichiriki Ryo vs Fan Yunruo – Game 2
White 24 was questionable, and Black 25 was a sharp jab.
The result up to Black 39 was slightly favorable for Black.
Black 55 to 57 were a nice tesuji combination to connect underneath, and the game was still playable for Black up to 67.
Black 69 to 77 were skillful followups, and Black 79 was appropriate reduction.
Black 91 was too greedy; it should have been at Black 117.
White 96 to 100 were sharp, and White 104 to 124 were also severe and powerful.
However, Black 143 to 147 were a good decision, and Black 157 was the winning move.
Black 171 hit White’s vital point, and Black’s responses afterwards were perfect.
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Ichiriki Ryo 7 dan (left) and Fan Yunruo 4 dan with Kono Rin 9 dan (middle right).
Ichiriki Ryo vs Min Sangyoun – Game 3
White 32 and 34 were a well timed invasion, and defending with White 36 and 38 was a good decision.
Black 39 was slack, and White was happy to settle comfortably from 40 to 46.
White 50 was too gentle, and it would have been better at Q17.
White 80 was a gentle attack, and the game up to White 94 was slightly better for White.
White 128 was a mistake, and playing at White 130 would have been preferable.
After Black 129, White 130 and Black 131 became miai, and White was in trouble.
Black 133 to 147 comprised an excellent technique for escaping, and the game was reversed up to Black 157.
White 190 was the last losing move. White should have attacked at Black 191 instead.
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Min Sangyoun 4 dan (left) and Ichiriki Ryo 7 dan from the 17th Nongshim Cup.
Ichiriki Ryo vs Wu Guangya – Game 4
White 30 and Black 31 showed fighting spirit.
Black 33 was questionable, and White 34 was a strong counter.
White Black 47 to Black 51 were a tesuji combination, and the game became more exciting.
White 76 was slack, and Black 77 was a strong response.
White 88 was safe but passive, and the result up to Black 89 was satisfactory for Black.
White 118 and 120 formed a light sabaki sequence, but Black 123 resisted strongly.
Black 125 was the losing move. Black F9, White E10 and Black G11 would have been correct.
White’s sequence from 130 to 142 was exquisite and, all of a sudden, Black resigned.
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Wu Guangya 6 dan (left) and Ichiriki Ryo 7 dan, last game of the first round.
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