These are some fun games to go through. To imagine that even players like Takamiya once took 9-stones (and lost!) against other amateurs too. We all have to start somewhere.

If you work hard, you can do anything : )

He was 8 years old then, according to his profile at the Nihon Kiin,
and only 6 years later, he would become a pupil with Kitani and in the same year, make pro.

Super cute.

Even Takemiya Masaki once made a life and death mistake and let a group die?!

There is hope for me yet.

Honestly, sometimes I feel like great pro players just show up at the NHK one day, are taught the rules of go, realize all of the games intricacies, then take the pro exam and just become Honinbo at 25 without breaking a sweat. I know that's not true, that every great go players has studied for hours to get to a new level, but when I can't figure out a 15 kyu life and death problem in one of my games I feel like the pros must have had a much easier time that me.

_________________
"You have to walk before you can run. Black 1 was a walking move.
I blushed inwardly to recall the ignorant thoughts that had gone through
my mind before, when I had not realized the true worth of Black 1."
-Kageyama Toshiro on proper moves

I was watching the Children's Meijin in Japan last year which many pros end up going through. They interview all these kids and they study and work hard just to get to that level and then to try to win it.

They didn't have an easier time than you. They just started younger, got addicted, and work hard at it.