Nexik’s Baduk

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Today Kato Keiko 5p tried to defend her title against Xie Yimin 3p. Unfortunately Kato Keiko make some mistakes like 181 and lost by smallest margin. Xie Yimin now has two titles: Female Meijin and Honinbo. In Female Kisei Xie Yimin 3p lost to Mukai Chiaki 2p who is actualy playing in best-of-3 with Umezawa Yukari.

1 game: Kato Keiko 5p vs Xie Yimin 3p B+0,5
2 game: Xie Yimin 3p vs Kato Keiko 5p W+0,5

Xie Yimin Challenger

Yesterday Xie Yimin won over Kato Keiko first game Female Meijin by 0,5 point. Xie Yimin is young (18 year old), beauty and talented woman. last year Xie Yimin started domination on female pro scene in Japan, when she won her first title(Female Strongest). It was also new record (the youngest female title holder - 17 years and 1 month). Unfortunately she lost in 2007 edition of Female Strongest in 3rd round game against Kato Keiko. Xie recover very quickly and two month later she won another title: Female Honinbo with great score 3-0. But now he can take revenge for her Female Strongest by taking Kato Keiko Female Meijin title. Xie Yimin is on the good way to obtain this, she only one more win.

Dia.1 - Fighting fuseki

In yesterday day Xie Yimin show good fighting spirit when she started first fight in early fuseki. Black 13 was surprising, but very good move. After some fight Xie Yimin build big territory on lower side and situation seems to be very good to her.

Dia.2 - Kato come back

In early yose Kato Keiko found great tesuji - White 160 - and after this situation was very close. Maybe Xie should play A or some similar to prevent White 160. Unfortunately for Kato Keiko even good yose wasn’t enough to win the game. Xie Yimin won y 0,5 point with 268 moves. Second game will be in 20 February.

1 Game: Kato Keiko 5p vs Xie Yimin 3p B+0,5