Following Nakamura Sumire

[pajaro]

Some remaining prelim games for the Wakakoi (Hiroshima Aluminum) Cup were played yesterday.

I took a look at the pairings, and Sumire wasn't there. So it seems that she is already a non-active pro in Japan.

She is a player of the female Meijin league. I wonder if she will play in it, or if she even will defend the female Kisei title.

[pajaro]

She is a player of the female Meijin league. I wonder if she will play in it.

The schedule for the league is out there, and Sumire is in it. Her first game, with Hoshiai Shiho, will be next Nov 2nd. But the last one will be around march or so. After the big good bye?

[pajaro]

Update on Sumire's transfer to Korea:

https://www.47news.jp/10044577.html

Roughly translated, she will defend the female Kisei in January and will move to Korea in March.

The female Meijin final will be in April (just saying).

So, it seems that both pro organizations agree to let Sumire defend her title, but all other games... could Sumire have to forfeit the last games of the female Meijin league?

[hzamir]

Update on Sumire's transfer to Korea:

https://www.47news.jp/10044577.html

Roughly translated, she will defend the female Kisei in January and will move to Korea in March.

The female Meijin final will be in April (just saying).

So, it seems that both pro organizations agree to let Sumire defend her title, but all other games... could Sumire have to forfeit the last games of the female Meijin league?

So, does this mean that if she successfully defends her title, she can continue redefending every year until she loses?

[pajaro]

So, does this mean that if she successfully defends her title, she can continue redefending every year until she loses?

I don't know, that's too much to say right now.

I find it hard to believe that a title holder couldn't defend her title, even in her situation. But we still don't know about her status as a NK player. This situation is new, but probably won't be the only one. More players might want to try an adventure and who knows, perhaps non top Korean players might want to play in Japan because, if you are not going to win titles, you might want to get more money.

Whatever happens with Sumire, it will set the tone for the future. She has made history before, she is still making.

[Smile&Go]

https://discord.com/invite/XmeRNcXZ
We are "Smile&Go!"
It is still an unofficial fan club and we are not receiving any money.
It is operated in Korea and is available in Korean, Japanese, and English.
On the days of Nakamura's matches, if there are fans from overseas, we also hold a special cheering party for them.
Let’s cheer and have fun together.

[Smile&Go]

https://discord.com/invite/XmeRNcXZ
We are "Smile&Go!"
It is still an unofficial fan club and we are not receiving any money.
It is operated in Korea and is available in Korean, Japanese, and English.
On the days of Nakamura's matches, if there are fans from overseas, we also hold a special cheering party for them.
Let’s cheer and have fun together.

[pajaro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJhyg5jgNr8

For more information, please watch the show.

Another link for the same press conference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJhyg5jgNr8

I don't know if any of them will provide subtitles in English (seriously doubting it). But it can't hurt to have options.

[pajaro]

I saw the press conference.

Automatic translated subtitles, some tweets... and I kind of understood a bit of what she told.

Sumire wants to improve, wants to become stronger, so she wants to go to Korea because the level is higher and she can play more games. In the future, the level in Japan might rise (I think that the use of IA is rising the level everywhere). But playing "more games" is related to each country. In Japan, games are longer (most of them, 3 hours or longer per player), few games per month, unless you win a lot, and more important: you lose, you are out of a tournament until next year. Leagues and titles games are only for a few players. So it takes a long time to gain experience. In Korea, even if you don't win a lot, you can play more. Money is key, too.

Also, Sumire will play again in Japan, but she doesn't know when. She was asked "would you like to play representing Japan?". An adult voice helped her here... her main concern now is to get stronger.

Last thing I think is interesting: she was asked to grade her performance since she became pro. Sumire said "70". Considering that she has won a title, she had chances to win more, she played in the C Kisei league and reached some A prelims... I'd say that 70 is short. But that shows her level of commitment. She sets her goals way higher.

About her future status, or Japanese games that she might have to play after March 2nd, she didn't say anything. Perhaps Kobayashi Satoru, who spoke after her, said something.

[pajaro]

Sumire is playing in the Teikei cup. First, it's a round-robbin league of 6 players, which means she will play 5 games with strong opponents, no matter the result.

And today, Sumire played the Meijin. Sumire lost, would have been a great shock if she won. But although she was behind in the beginning of the game, she was ahead for a good part of it. Of course, in the end Shibano is not Meijin for nothing, and he won. But only by 2.5 moku. I'd say, it's quite a decent game and a result that most players could be proud of.

[pajaro]

Since Sumire lost to Shibano, she has also lost her female Kisei title to Ueno Risa 2-dan. I think that her mental strength has played a crucial role. Still young

Other than this, Sumire's record in January was 5-1. Not against stronger opponents, but anyway, she is now 70 in Mamumamu, gaining 15 positions in January. She had been stranded for 2-3 months, so I'd say that this position makes sense.

Sumire leaves to Korea in March. I don't know exactly when. As of now, she is still playing in the Kisei, the Meijin, O shinjin,　female Meijin, and probably others. But in the other big ones, she is already out. What will happen if she wins her February games? Will she have to forfeit after she leaves Japan, or travel back? The only I know is that, in the female Meijin league, there was some change in the schedule. Probably, her March game was played before. But it was a league. You can't do that in prelims.

[pajaro]

Small update: Sumire won today in the Kisei against Okuda Aya 4-dan.
Next game, Meijin game against Ryu Shikun 9-dan (youtuber... he will surely comment his own game). And then, the last female Meijin league against Nyu Eiko.

And then... according to https://gorisenri.livedoor.blog/archive ... e-all.html, her next scheduled games will be loses by forfeit.
Sumire will like be second in the female Meijin league, because Fujisawa Rina is undefeated and I think she will win her remaining games. But I wonder what would happen if Sumire became challenger.

[pajaro]

Today, Sumire won her last official game in Japan before leaving to Korea.

Defeated Nyu Eiko in the female Meijin league. The result was important only for Nyu, I think.

After the game, there was a short press conference. Sumire is hoping to do her best, etc, etc, same that she has told before. Her life has been only go, so far. From now on, it doesn't look like it will change much.

Good luck.

[Elom0]

三村先生

Debut Match on her Birthday?

Press Conference
[youtube][/youtube][youtube][/youtube]

[pajaro]

Sumire is fully adapted to Korea's schedule. Not even a month there, and she has played 5 games so far (AFAIK). More than in Japan.

One of her goals was to play in Korea's Suprem Player League. Supposed to be like the Meijin league in Japan, where the strongest players in Korea play and fight to challenge (and be crushed by) Shin Jinseo. Who else?

Well, she didn't have to wait a lot. Sumire is playing in the league thanks to a wild card. Korea wants to make sure Sumire is seen as a Korean product. In Fox server, she is even playing under Korean flag.

The thing is, I expected her to lose all of her games. Not more than a learning opportunity.

But today, she played Im Sanggyu 2d (3339 in goratings, supposed to be like the 6th player in Japan, Yamashita Keigo). And Sumire won, B+0,5. Her biggest win ever, IMHO, in an individual game, of course.

Sumire is now 1-2. Last year, Choi Jung 9d played too and won 1 game. So at least, Sumire will even that result.