Every count points somewhere
Changes
While Pohang (POSCO Chemtech)'s 5th place placement of the final round's independent of their performance in the final fixture except for a 3:0 finish which might put them into fourth place, for Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) it meant the difference between, fourth, third, and second depending on whether Lu Minquan 4p leads a win in the postponed board of their round 16 fixture. With both teams having 16 fixtures under their belts, Seoul (Baduk Elegance)'s clocked up nine wins and 23 board points in comparison to Pohang (POSCO Chemtech)'s eight wins and and an equal number of board points. If Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) won, they would maintain their lead over Seoul (Baduk Elegance); Pohang (POSCO Chemtech) winning would mean they could switch places with Seoul (Baduk Elegance) if the latter lost.
Cho Hyeyeon 9p saves the day again
A wonder in when Wang Chenxing 5p won her match against Kim Cheayoung 4p, fighting starting on the right side of the board and spreading, ending in resignation in favour of the Chinese professional. This set the tone for the entire match, on the top board a tense confrontation between one and two p's Jang Hyeryeong and Kang Dajeong, the latter countering a black invasion with the well placed
on Q12. The game continued until move 196, in which Kang Dajeong 2p took the win. On third board, it mattered that Lu Minquan 4p won both this game and the game in two days afterwards, but Cho Hyeyeon 9p repeated her half-point feat of the previous round and found the perfect position for Pohang (POSCO Chemtech) to advance, so, Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) were unable to be sure to surpass their similarly named competitors just yet.
Buan (Gomso Salt) ascended in the later stage of the main league, in essence holding promise for a better perfomance in the following season— a well earned one also by their coach, perhaps. Gyeounggi (Hoban Construction), on the other hand, might have quite a few regrets in them losing the last round in such a way and being last on the leader-board at the main league's end.
In seventh place over Inje (Skydown) after this shutout, but it may not last as Inje (Skydown) takes on Seoul (Baduk Elegance) in the final fixture of this round, making it extra important for Oh Yujin 5p to win the following day.
In the end, it all depended on Inje
Yeosu (Turtle Ship) are entering the postseason with a result of 13-3, after somewhat surprisingly losing against Seogwipo (Chilisimni), Lee Minjin 8p losing to Cho Seungah 1p and Lee Sula 4p losing to Kim Soojin 5p, the two Seogwipo (Chilisimni) players apparently taking charge in the case of Oh Jeonga 3p losing just shy to Kim Dayoung 3p in an endgame reversal. Seogwipo's sixth win left it in similar place, short of entering the postseason by the three match points of demarcation between finishing and advancing teams, and ahead of Buan (Gomso Salt) by two board points.
On the third board of the round 16 fixture where Buan (Gomso Salt) faced Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical), the single board point deciding whether Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) will tie with their city rivals in third place up to BP's at 24 each until prioritising personal points, or just finish fifth, finally commenced. In it, Oh Yujin 5p defeated Lu Minquan 4p in 210 moves, ensuring seventh place for Buan if their main rival for the position did not win the following day's fixture...
From the first game of the first round to the final fixture of the last— commencing and finishing the main league, Inje (Skydown) stopped Seoul Baduk Elegance from beating Seoul Bukwang to third, overtaking Buan (Gomso Salt) by a stunning shutout.
On board 2 two, the top players from each team toughed it out but the fighting was dominated by black stones; by move 215, the second game of the fast board was due. Beating Lee Youngjoo 2p, Gao Xing 4p held on to an early lead to close out the match, but a third and final board point of the season will have either sealed seventh of set Inje (Skydown) to eighth. Park Shiun 9p had not been performing so well in the league this season, four wins and 10 lossess tallied before this game, but pulled out a final reminder of her ability, but only just— something was not quit right with the white stones on the right side, but the battle on the lower side forced black to crumble in the shortest game of the fixture after 170 turns.
On another note, Inje also won their opening and ending games.
To the posteason
It may have been tough for Seoul (Baduk Elegance) to take a loss like so in the last innings, but there was no time for recovery as they took on their rival team in the wildcard playoff with a one-game advantage given to the fourth placed team the next day, defeating fifth placed Seoul (Bukwang Pharmaceutical) though Hei Jiajia 7p's busy schedule meant she was not able to attend, in an incredible event which saw Kang Jisoo 1p take on Kim Cheayoung 4p and win. Lu Minquan 4p countered this feat in winning against Park Jiyeon 5p, but Kwon Juri 2p couldn't keep her nerve more than Lee Youngjoo 2p, the latter known to leap in performance every time the postseason occurs.
To Kim Cheayoung 4p credit, she would have been very tired for her match after an extensive competition schedule, but she did receive commemorative bouquet for her 25 game winning streak from the 2017 to 2018 seasons. It might be a long time before anyone is able to repeat that in the history of the Women's Korean Baduk League [url]http://w.baduk.or.kr/WEB_FileUpLoad/wnews/[299]d4.JPG[/url].
Hei Jiajia 7p's absence would come to sting as Seoul (Baduk Elegance) would not be so fortunate next fixture best of three match, Pohang (POSCO Chemtech)'s Park Taehee 2p and candidate Wang Chenxing 5p sealing the deal against Lee Youngjoo 2p and Kang Jisoo 1p.
Kang Jisoo 1p can take the fight to her opponent no matter who they might be, possibly helping in her game against Kim Cheayoung 4p in a manner similar to Choi Jeong 9p since Kim Cheayoung 4p's more defensive style can come apart at the hands of an extremely aggressive fighter, but Wang Chenxing 5p's experience was superior in this instance and helped her win in just 174 moves.
Lee Youngjoo 2p, however, seemed to be on the path to victory against Park Taehee 2p until a sudden switch of fates in the middle game.
Wang Chenxing 5p has stayed in Korea since the 16th round, not needing to play in the Women's Chinese Weiqi league in a while. This is evident then in four wins out of four games, as many foreign candidate players cannot perform at top level amongst the commute, lag, and return each time they are called.
Only games necessary for the fixture win are played postseason, board points not anymore being important. Cho Hyeyeon 9p and Kang Jisoo 1p may play next, however!
Lee Youngjoo 2p-
+R