The 2nd China Japan Korea Meijin kicked off in Changde, China on August 16, 2011.
Title holders of Mingren from China, Myeongin from Korea and Meijin from Japan went head to head to decide who would be the World Meijin. The tournament is officially called the Chinese Changde Cup, World Mingren Championship.
A tournament reborn
Is it a book? Is it a present? Sort of, it’s a bye! (Jiang Weijie 5 dan)
The tournament was first held in 1996 when Lee Changho 9p, Takemiya Masaki 9p and Ma Xiaochun 9p competed against one other in a round robin. The championship was later discontinued but re-established in 2010 in a format similar to the Bosai Cup, where the winner must win two games in order to win the championship.
This year, Korea’s Park Younghun 9p, Japan’s Iyama Yuta 9p and China’s Jiang Weijie 5p battled each other for the title. As always, there was an elaborate banquet where the draw was decided. Jiang drew a bye in the first round.
Park Younghun defeats Iyama Yuta
On August 17, 2011, Park (white) played against Iyama (black). Park emerged as the winner, scoring a spot in the final on August 20, 2011.
Park Younghun (9 dan, left) plays Iyama Yuta (9 dan).
Live commentary of Iyama Yuta and Park Younghun’s game.
Jiang Weijie reaches the final
On August 19, 2011, Iyama played against Jiang and was once again unsuccessful. Jiang is one of the fastest rising stars in Chinese Go. He is only 19 years old and took down Chinese superstar Gu Li 9p in the Mingren last year to win the right to represent China at this tournament.
Park, though six years Jiang’s senior, has had an equally impressive career. Park was promoted to 9p at the age of 19 and until Park Junghwan’s promotion to 9p last year, held the record for youngest 9p in Korea. He has previously won the Fujitsu Cup twice (2004, 2007) and also the now defunct Zhonghuan Cup (2004).
Korea’s Park Younghun (left) plays China’s Jiang Weijie for the title of World Meijin.
Park Younghun wins the title
On August 20, 2011, Park met Jiang to decide the international Meijin. After falling behind in the opening, Jiang (black) was faced with the problem of having to kill white to remain in contention. Park countered with flexible strategies, showing his greater experience.
Jiang resigned after 132 moves and Park emerged as the winner of the 2nd China Japan Korea World Meijin.
Park Younghun, the World Meijin.
About Jing
Hmm … I wonder what will become of last year’s Super Meijin tournament (which featured: Gu Li, Iyama Yuta and Yi Ch’ang-ho)?
As far as I understand, it’s the same tournament. That’s why this is the 2nd World Meijin, last year’s was the first.
It gets confusing when there are so many different names for things, especially when sponsors have naming rights and sometimes change.
Okay, then it’s the second “China Changde Cup, World Mingren Championship.” …
And the third ‘World Meijin’ tournament (1996, 2010, 2011).
It makes me wonder what other tournaments I may have been ‘misinformed’ about for marketing/naming reasons. Perhaps this would be a good series of history articles to enlighten go fans.
Thanks David!
hmm I will be the winner of the 5th lol,coolgames
You’ll have to work really hard then Issa! Do your best.
it’s the 2nd because, the programme was restarded by a different company ofc or they counted it like this 0,1,2 these are the only possibilities I see..