The 2nd Huang Longshi Cup ended on April 9th, 2012, with Team China convincingly defending the title.
Huang Longshi Cup
Wang Chenxing (5 dan, left) and Yu Zhiying (2 dan) win the Huang Longshi Cup for China.
The Huang Longshi Cup is a female win and continue team tournament between China, Japan and Korea, not to be confused with the Huang Longshi Female Mingren (Meijin) tournament.
Previously…
When we last looked at this competition, Team Japan still had Mannami Nao 2p and Xie Yimin 6p in play, while only Park Jieun 9p remained for Team Korea.
Meanwhile, China still had all team members in play, with Wang Chenxing 2p on a six game winning streak.
Wang Chenxing’s 8 game streak
Wang extended her winning record by two more games, defeating Mannami Nao…
Wang Chenxing (left) plays Mannami Nao (2 dan)
…and Park Jieun!
Park Jieun (9 dan, left) plays Wang Chenxing.
Xie Yimin stops the runaway train
Japan’s last woman standing, Xie Yimin, eventually ended Wang’s impressive run at eight wins. Wang, for her efforts, received a promotion to 5 dan.
Xie Yimin (6 dan) finally stopped Wang Chenxing's winning streak.
This meant that, for Xie to win the tournament for Team Japan, she would have to beat all four remaining Chinese players, including the legendary Rui Naiwei 9p.
Yu Zhiying steps up to bat for China
Teenager, Yu Zhiying 2p was next up for Team China. Perhaps inspired by fellow team mate Wang, Yu defeated Xie to bring the Cup home for China.
Xie Yimin and Yu Zhiying choose colors (nigiri) in the final game.
China wins the Huang Longshi Cup
It must be an unusual experience for the rest of Team China – Rui, Tang Yi 2p and Li He 3p – who are celebrating a major international win without having to play a single game!
Team China, from left: Wang Lei (8 dan - team coach), Yu Zhiying (2 dan), Wang Chenxing (5 dan), Tang Yi (2 dan), Rui Naiwei (9 dan). China's 5th team member, Li He, wasn't available to be in the photo.
About Jing
Aw, that’s too bad… with one more win she could’ve made history…
Well she still made history, but with one more win, that would’ve been outrageous! Taking down both Korea And Japan single handedly…
Yea, it’s unfortunate that she didn’t go one game more, but Xie Yimin is quite strong. By the way, Japan’s Yoshida Mika did knockout Korea’s Choi Jung right at the start of the tournament. Then Wang knocked out Yoshida et al.
It’s interesting how that one joseki in the top-right corner played out differently in the last two games. A review and commentary would be great. Thanks for all of the pictures too.
I thought so too Linden. That variation is relatively unusual and quite interesting.
I think in the game with Wang, black had more to gain from the fight after cutting. Cutting gives up territory, so she didn’t make that ‘investment’ in the second game, because she didn’t think it would pay off. That’s my reading of it anyway.