Who is the instructor? Does it matter?

In this side of the world we don't have the chance to know about these details, and in the end, it's all about results.

And results matter, but that's not all. For example, today, Tsuji Hana 2-dan lost to Nakamura Sumire 2-dan (Senko Cup prelims). Both became pros by special recommendation

We have a new private in the ranks: Suzukawa Natsumi 1-dan. She's already 18, and is based in the Nagoya Branch of the Nihon Ki-in rather than the prestigious Tokyo one, but she did (taking B lack) beat an 8-dan man in a game I recently looked at.

The commentary on that game predicted a great future for her. I suspect there was a bit of journalistic whimsy there, based on her name (鈴川七海 - a tinkling bell in a river floating out to the seven seas), but the commentator went to the trouble of asking the insei instructor in Nagoya about her, and two things of special interest came up.

One is that Natsumi is apparently a ferociously hard worker. There's been a few references to hard work (quickly crosses himself!) recently in references to female players. It's almost as if this is being seen as a new feature in women's go. That would marry with what Kobayashi Izumi said in a recent interview I described elsewhere on SL - females are now starting to play go earlier and so have more time to work hard on go before the burdens of family life kick in.

The other is that Natsumi is considered especially strong at the endgame. I don't recall ever seeing "strong endgame" and "woman" in the same sentence before, so that's interesting in itself. But even more fascinating is the inference that the instructor must consider other young pros relatively weak at the endgame! So all we amateurs needn't feel so bad.

Well, the very fact that both these players became pros on the basis of their instructors' recommendations, and not on the basis of results, show that instructors matter

If I read this right, Fujisawa Rina advanced to the round of 8 in the Tengen: https://nordot.app/883633747611205632?c ... 1839462401

Well, the very fact that both these players became pros on the basis of their instructors' recommendations, and not on the basis of results, show that instructors matter

Well, it must matter, but... I had in mind that the promotion to pro has to be confirmed by 5 (?) pros, so it's not only the intructor's opinion.

I'm guessing you may think an instructor is an amateur. Some are, like Sumire's mother. But insei instructors are usually very strong pros. The most terrifyingly famous was Sugiuchi Masao, of whom tales are still told, but none of them treat it as sinecure.

An interesting event for the Army:
the Senko Cuo starts tomorrow, with Fujisawa Rina, Ueno Asami, Ayami Suzuki,Xie Yimin and Nakamura Sumire in the Japanese team.
Also playing Yu Zhiying (China), Choi Jung (Korea) and Lu Yuhua (Taiwan).

This is an international tournament. Notice that there is another tournament by the same, in Japan. This one is also known as Female Saikyo.

Two interesting facts:
- This is the 4th edition, and the previous winners are only one player: Yu Zhiying
- Fujisawa Rina and Nakamura Sumire will be playing in the first round. This will be their first official game, and will be played before the important Meijin match (days 14, 16, and who knows if 18)

Choi Jung and Yu Zhiying both out, Japan will have the first international women's tournament winner in many years, perhaps even the first ever female go champion from Taiwan . . ?

Choi Jung and Yu Zhiying both out, Japan will have the first international women's tournament winner in many years, perhaps even the first ever female go champion from Taiwan . . ?

Has there ever been a Japanese winner of an international women's tournament?

Japan will have a winner, or not. The Taiwanese player is still standing, although she was behind for most of the game.

Things look promising, though. And if you compare to all previous editions, the improvement in astounding.

Good game for Sumire, who couldn't win against Rina, although it was close (B+2.5). If you watch the game in youtube, you can see that at first, Sumire is sitting in her chair, like in any game. But as the game goes on and when she loses chances, she starts touching her hair, moving on the chair... she couldn't hide her nervousness.

Rina, on the other hand, has a chance to win an international title, and a boost in morale. Whatever happens might have an impact in the upcoming match against Sumire.

Has there ever been a Japanese winner of an international women's tournament?

Results aren't posted to the tournament page yet but that must be the case. I was looking at the two players she might be facing next and I thought I recognized Ryu Shikun. Turns out I've seen his YouTube channel in my suggestions.

Good luck to Fujisawa. If she can win again I wonder if we'd get a "celebrity" YouTube stream. I wonder how the association decides which games are important enough.

Not Amazon related but I'm interested to see if Iyama plays Cho U in the Tengen challenger qualifying.