Takemiya Masaki and Cho Chikun will be meeting in this year's Igo Masters Cup final. (http://www.go4go.net/go/games/tournament/143)

Also on Go4Go.net is the game collection between the two players (http://www.go4go.net/go/games/twoplayer/98/82). It appears Cho has dominated the rivalry in recent years. So who are you rooting for?

Takemiya is one of my favorite players and I like to root for the underdog, so my choice is definitely overdetermined.

wait, is it 1980 again?

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North Lecale

Cho Chikun defeated Takemiya Masaki by 5.5 and took Igo master cup.





Past winner;
2011, 1st: Cho Chikun d. Kobayashi Koichi
2012, 2nd: O Meien d. Cho Chikun
2013, 3rd: Kobayashi Satoru d. Ishii Kunio
2014, 4th: Cho Chikun d. Kobayashi Satoru

This title was Cho's 74th. He is 59 years old and still going strong.


He looks like mad scientist.

Thanks for posting the result Trout, and the pics. I was rooting for Takemiya, but I just can't stop admiring how Cho can pull off that look.

Judging from his commentary on NHK TV games, he seems to be having a lot of fun. Years ago he said that he hated playing go. Having such a successful career, maybe he's reached a point where he can enjoy playing?

Does anybody have a picture from that time?

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If something sank it might be a treasure. And 2kyu advice is not necessarily Dan repertoire..

I think the hating go was simply a joke where the context got lost.

Sometimes commentating can be a lot more fun than playing if your a pro

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On Go proverbs:
"A fine Gotation is a diamond in the hand of a dan of wit and a pebble in the hand of a kyu" —Joseph Raux misquoted.

that's basically how I remember hearing it too.

IIRC, The context was being asked "Why do you like go so much?" having just lost a title match. Quite an understandable response IMO.

I think it was probably a joke, too.

However, I can relate to the feeling of hating go and loving it at the same time

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be immersed

I think his desire to win was very strong. It would have to be to achieve what he did in go. I can't see playing with that intensity could really be enjoyable. Cho is also known to say Go ni makeru to boku ni wa zetsubou shika nai "If I lose at go I feel nothing but despair.(roughly)" Certainly he would hate that feeling.

When we reach late middle age, satisfied with what we've done with our lives, we might lose that despair over losing, and playing could become less intense and more fun.