White: CHOI Chulhan (Korea) 9p Black: KANG Dongyoon (Korea) 9p Commentary by Michael Redmond 9p, transcribed by Chris Garlock This is an all-Korean final for the 2012 SAWMG Men’s Individual title. The players are top Korean players who have confidence in their … Continue reading
White: RUI Naiwei (China) 9p Black: LI He (China) 3p Commentary by Michael Redmond 9p, transcribed by Chris Garlock Rui is a strong fighter, as well as a tenacious player. She’s been at or close to the top of the women’s game … Continue reading
White: SHA, LIN (Canada) Black: KOVALEVA, SHIKSHIN (Russia) Commentary by Michael Redmond 9p, transcribed by Chris Garlock. This game is a good example of the players consciously using Pair Go tactics and techniques, such as setting each other up or the use … Continue reading
Murakawa Daisuke, who was born near Osaka, made professional shodan with the Kansai Kiin at age 11. He has been a frequent member of the Japanese team at the International New Stars tournament, where he has played alongside such current … Continue reading
Though not a title winner in Japan, Mukai Chiaki has challenged for women’s titles six times, and was promoted this year to 5 dan. She has frequently represented Japan in international competition, and has done well in team and pair … Continue reading
Natalia Kovaleva began competing in tournaments in the far east in 2004, when she and Alexei Lazarev won three games at the International Amateur Pair Go Championship in Tokyo. A high point in her career so far came at the … Continue reading
Three-time European champion Ilya Shikshin comes from a go-playing family that includes his sister Svetlana, who has played professionally in Korea. A short English-language biography of Ilya can be found on Svetlana’s website. At the World Mind Games he lost … Continue reading
Ranka interviewed the Hungarian pair, Rita Pocsai and Csaba Mero, after their loss to the Chinese pair in the first round of the pair-go competition at the World Mind Games. Ranka: Please tell us how you began playing go. Pocsai: … Continue reading
During the gold medal individual matches, Ranka had a chance to speak with European women’s champion Vanessa Wong. Ranka: Where were you born, and when did you move to Great Britain? Wong: I was born in Hong Kong, but when … Continue reading
White: LI, WEIJIE (China) Black: CHOI, CHOI (Korea) Commentary by Michael Redmond 9p, transcribed by Chris Garlock. This is another high-level pair go match that’s virtually indistinguishable from a regular one-on-one game. As in the second-round game between China and Japan, the … Continue reading