(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]RU[Japanese]SZ[19]KM[8.00]GN[Liu-Xing-vs-Cho-Chikun-20120525]PW[Cho Chikun]PB[Liu Xing]WR[9d]BR[7d]DT[2012-05-25]EV[7th Ing Cup]RO[Round of 16]PC[Taipei]SO[http://gogameguru.com/]AN[An Younggil 8p]C[Liu Xing vs Cho Chikun – 7th Ing Cup]RE[W+Resign];B[pd]C[This game is from the round of 16 in the 7th Ing Cup. It's between Cho Chikun 9p and Liu Xing 7p. Liu defeated Yuki Satoshi before this game, and this is Cho's first game in this tournament.Cho Chikun is one of the most well known Go players in the world. He's very famous for his indomitable spirit. There was a match at the Kisei final in 1986 where Cho played in a wheelchair. Just before the final, he had a serious car accident. His doctor tried to stop Cho from playing, but Cho insisted on playing the games anyway. His attitude, mental spirit and passion for Go are very highly regarded in the Go world. He has taken 71 titles in his lifetime, and it's the record in Japan.On the other hand, Liu Xing is currently ranked number 16 in China. His style of play is lively and free, so it's unpredictable. He's regarded as a very unique and creative player amongst pro players. He's won four domestic titles in China, but his results in international tournaments so far haven't been that impressive. ];W[dd];B[pq];W[dp];B[fq];W[cn];B[ql]C[Black starts with a micro Chinese opening. ];W[iq]LB[cn:B][fq:A]C[As black already exchanged A for B, white pincers here first.];B[lp]C[This is Liu's style of play. ](;W[eq]LB[fq:A]C[White wants to make the stone at A heavy. ];B[fp];W[io]LB[eq:A]C[Good combination with A. ];B[fm];W[dm]C[Black 13 and white 14 are pretty common. If white doesn't play 14 here, black could play at 14 himself.];B[hl]LB[fk:B][hm:A]C[It's Liu's unique sense as well. A or B is more common. ];W[jm]C[This move looks a bit weird, but it's flexible. ](;B[hn]C[Black should make himself strong to prepare for fighting. ](;W[ho];B[go];W[in]C[Right answer. Cho's well known for extreme territorial style, but around the mid 90s his style of play changed.];B[jk];W[hm](;B[gl]C[Right answer. ];W[mm]C[Cho's play is rather flexible and mild now.];B[np]LB[jm:A]C[This jump seems to be slack, but it's necessary. Black is aiming at white's weakness between A and 24. ];W[nc]C[White doesn't answer at the bottom and approaches on the top. Cho might have thought that the bottom group wasn't a problem.];B[pf];W[pb]C[As you may already know, Cho is famous for his sabaki skills. ];B[fc];W[qc]C[This is Cho's original style of play. Gaining territory first, and then fighting. ];B[cf];W[df];B[dg](;W[ce]C[Cho chose to play here. ];B[ef];W[de](;B[fe]C[Proper move. ];W[ec](;B[eh]LB[gd:A]C[I've never seen this move before in this sort of position. Black normally answers at A, but Liu wanted to take sente here.];W[fb]C[White must hane here. Otherwise, black's descent at 40 would be very big and sente.];B[jp]C[Black starts to attack this white group to get some profit. ];W[mo]LB[mp:A]C[White just wanted to utilize this peep in sente, but ];B[lo]C[Good response for black. ];W[ln];B[nn]C[Good follow up. ];W[mn];B[mp]LB[nn:A]C[It's difficult for white to come into black's lower right corner now, because of black's peep at A.];W[nm]C[This turn looks slow, but white can't go further while this white group is still vulnerable.];B[pm]LB[on:A]C[Right response. Extending at A is a common idea, but then white can play at 49 later. ];W[fd]C[This is typical of Cho Chikun's style. He doesn't really care about his group. He's always confident at sabaki.If you review the games between Cho Chikun and Takemiya Masaki from the 80s and 90s, you'll be able to see the big contrast between their styles of play and feel the extreme thrill and excitement of their games. ];B[nk]C[It's black's turn to attack this group more severely. But actually, black just wants white to make some bad exchanges in order to live. ];W[no]C[This is an example of what I just mentioned (forcing white to make some bad exchanges).];B[oo];W[on];B[pn]LB[on:3][pn:4][no:1][oo:2]C[Black is happy with this clean and fat territory. These exchanges (1-4) were good for black.];W[gn];B[fn];W[ll]C[Vital point to make life. ](;B[qd]C[A very big move, and the game looks slightly favorable for black now.];W[ne]C[A nice jump. ];B[he]LB[ge:B][ng:A]C[Good jump too. If black responds at A, white would hane at B. ];W[og]C[This knight's cap is white's right. ];B[pc];W[rb];B[rc];W[qb];B[qh];W[kq]C[This peep is interesting. White wants to get some points here. ];B[fr];W[dr];B[jq];W[jr](;B[ir]C[Liu wanted to fight here. It looks as if white is in trouble, but ](;W[lr]C[Right answer. ];B[ip];W[hq];B[js];W[kr](;B[hr]LB[hp:A]C[This move is right. A doesn't work very well for black. ];W[op];B[po];W[kp];B[hp];W[oq]LB[ko:A][nr:B]C[A brilliant move. If white just connects at A, black is happy to jump at B.];B[nq];W[or];B[nr]C[Only answer for black. ];W[pr];B[qq]C[Black can still capture these white stones, but ];W[ko];B[qr]TR[op][oq][or][pr]C[The result up to here is satisfactory for white even if black captures white's marked stones. Black didn't gain any points because it was already black's territory, and black will have to play more moves to take these stones off the board later. This is called forced capture, or semedori in Japanese: http://senseis.xmp.net/?Semedori](;W[cj]C[A big move, but the top was more valuable. ];B[lc]C[Good move for black. ];W[ic]LB[oc:A]C[Right move for white. If white answers at A, black would extend at 94. ];B[le]TR[nc][ne][og]C[W's marked stones need to be reinforced, and the game becomes good for black. ];W[rd];B[re];W[sc]LB[nb:A]C[It's a kind of indirect defense against A. Now that white's corner is alive, white will have time to manage the center stones if black cuts.](;B[mg]C[Liu knows that Cho is very good at saving stones. This knight's move is right. ];W[of];B[dk]C[A good exchange. ];W[dj]C[White wants to take sente here. ];B[ej];W[ek];B[el];W[ck]LB[je:D][di:C][cl:B][dl:A]C[Locally, A-C is the way to play for black, but then white can play at D.];B[id]C[Playing here first is a smart idea. ];W[jc];B[hc];W[hb];B[dl];W[cl];B[di]C[Black eventually comes back here. The game becomes slightly better for black. ];W[li]C[Good reducing move. ];B[kh];W[jd];B[je];W[kd]LB[ld:B][ke:A]C[A sharp move. A and B are miai. ];B[ke];W[ld];B[md]LB[oc:B][me:A]C[Good move. If white cuts at A, black would play at B. ];W[nd]C[Right answer. ];B[me];W[mc];B[gc];W[gd];B[hd];W[gb];B[oi]C[It's not really big, but it secures black's right side and the game becomes simple. Black is winning by a little bit.];W[bf];B[bi];W[qf]C[Black's only weakness is here. ](;B[qg]C[Incorrect answer, and it seems to be the losing move.];W[rf](;B[rg]LB[qe:A]C[Therefore black couldn't connect at A (see the variation), and the game's reversed here.];W[qe];B[pe];W[se];B[pg]TR[sd][re]C[White earned three points here, and it's big enough for white to reverse the game. ];W[jo];B[gp];W[oh];B[ni];W[kk];B[jj];W[ki];B[ji];W[ol];B[ok];W[cg]TR[oh][ki][kk][ol][jo]C[This is the last big endgame move. The marked stones up until this move are all white's sente endgame moves.];B[ch];W[bh];B[ah];W[bg];B[ci];W[bj]LB[qf:A][qg:B]C[Cho's endgame in this game is incredible. After black's mistake at B, white's endgame was perfect. ];B[er];W[ds]C[Right answer. ];B[kj];W[lj];B[kl];W[lk];B[jl];W[km];B[ge];W[em];B[fk];W[lh];B[lg];W[ph];B[pi];W[sg];B[sh];W[sf];B[do];W[co];B[dn]C[Four points endgame. ];W[aj];B[ai];W[ed]C[Three points endgame. ];B[ri];W[pl];B[pk];W[om];B[en];W[cm];B[ag];W[af];B[nf];W[ng];B[mf];W[oe];B[oc];W[ob];B[es];W[ep];B[cp];W[cq];B[bp];W[bq];B[eo];W[dq];B[mr];W[lq];B[pp];W[ms];B[ps];W[il];B[ik];W[mk];B[nl];W[ks];B[is];W[nj];B[oj];W[mj];B[im];W[mq];B[os];W[il];B[ml];W[mh];B[im];W[jh];B[kg];W[il];B[gm];W[im];B[hn];W[nh]LB[qg:B][gn:A]C[Black resigned here. A should be the last move for black, and black would win by 7 points on the board. Which means black would win the game by half a point in a normal international tournament (6.5 komi), but this is the Ing Cup and komi is 8 points, so white would win by 1 point instead. In the Ing Cup, black wins ties, so it's similar to 7.5 komi under Chinese counting.It's very unfortunate for Liu Xing, so he resigned.Cho's play in this game was very impressive. He played the game with his unique territorial style and showed excellent endgame skill.On the other hand, Liu was managing the whole game beautifully, playing his own style too, but he made a simple mistake at B, and it cost him the game. It's a peaceful game, but if you look at their play carefully, you might feel their spirits.In the next round, Cho played against Park Junghwan. Cho was leading until the middle game, but he couldn't maintain his lead until the end. However, it was impressive enough as he's already in his mid 50s.I hope you can enjoy this game more after seeing this commentary.Thanks, An Younggil 8p http://gogameguru.com/])(;B[qe]LB[sd:E][se:A][sf:C][pg:F][rg:B][sg:D]C[This connection might look alright, and if white connects under at A, black would d play B to F, and it would be good for black, but];W[pg]C[This cut is white's best move, and ];B[sf];W[rg]LB[pe:A][se:F][rh:B][qi:C][ri:D][rj:E]C[Black can't connect at A, because white can play B to F, and it would be a serious ko fight.];B[rh]C[Therefore, black has to stop white here, ];W[pe];B[sg];W[pf];B[se]C[This is necessary, but black has already lost some points here. It's not good enough for black.]))(;B[qe]C[Black should play here.](;W[rf];B[pg];W[se];B[rg]C[This is a bit better for black than the actual game.])(;W[pg]C[If white plays here,];B[rf];W[qg];B[rg]C[This is ok for black too.])(;W[qg]C[White might think about this but,];B[pg];W[ph];B[pe]LB[oh:B][oi:C][pi:A]C[Now A and B are miai for black, because of the position of black C, so white can't gain anything more here.]))(;B[rf]C[This answer looks fine, but ];W[qg];B[rg];W[ph]LB[qe:B][pi:A]C[A and B are miai, so black is in trouble now.]))(;B[nb]C[This attachment doesn't work very well for black. ];W[ob];B[oc];W[md]C[Good move. ];B[mb];W[ld]LB[kc:C][rc:A][kd:B]C[White's top right corner is already alive, so starting this fight is an overplay for black. If black continues at A, white'd cut at C. ]))(;W[id]C[White should have played here. ];B[ie];W[jd];B[je];W[ke];B[kf];W[le]LB[fc:A]C[Black can't move the stone A, so white's top is really big. The game is still very close, but slightly better for white.]))(;B[hp]C[This move looks good for black, but ];W[hr];B[mr](;W[is]C[If white just takes here, ];B[lc]C[Black is good with this, but (see the variation)])(;W[nr]C[Playing here is good timing. ];B[ms];W[op];B[po];W[kp]C[Black is in trouble. ];B[ko]C[If black still wants to cut, ];W[jo];B[gp];W[oq]TR[ko][lo][lp][mp][np]C[Now black is in deep trouble. ])))(;W[hr]C[If white captures black's cutting stone, ];B[ip];W[is];B[hp]C[It's troublesome for white. Even if white can live on the bottom, white's center group is cut off, and black's groups are all connected.]))(;B[kp]C[This connection should be right.];W[hr];B[kr]C[Black is still in the lead. ]))(;B[lk]C[If black attaches here, which looks very good, ];W[ne]C[White wouldn't answer, but jump here instead. Cho especially would surely play like this. ];B[ng];W[re]LB[gm:B][km:C][om:A][hr:D]C[This is sente and so big. White's big group on the bottom is pretty safe. Making two eyes is not a big problem for white. White has moves like A-D.]))(;B[fb]C[This descent is wrong. ];W[eg]C[This cut is good. ];B[dh];W[fd]C[Good sequence, and ];B[gd];W[ff]LB[ef:A]C[Capture the stone A. If black continues...];B[ee];W[ge];B[ed];W[fd]C[It's a snapback, and this is a disaster for black.]))(;B[cg]C[This connection would be wrong. ];W[fd];B[gd];W[fe];B[eb];W[db];B[jc]C[Black can settle on the top without any trouble, but ];W[cj]TR[cf][cg][dg]C[This extension is good, and black's marked stones become heavy and useless. ]))(;W[ef]C[This is normal, but ];B[cd]C[This attachment is good in this case, ];W[ce];B[be];W[de];B[bg];W[cc];B[bd](;W[ic];B[hd]LB[fc:A][eg:B]TR[jk][gl][hl]C[Black can move out with the stone A, and this variation is good for black. White can turn at B as part of the flow of fighting, instead of making the exchange earlier.])(;W[eg]C[In older games, white used to always make this exchange first, however...];B[dh];W[ic]LB[ec:A][eg:1][ch:B][dh:2][dm:C]C[These days white doesn't always make the 1-2 exchange, depending on the situation. In this case, there isn't much potential for black on the left side (because of white's group at C), so white doesn't care if black gets to play at 1 first. If black 1, white can play A. Since white is aiming to play A if possible, white might prefer to peep at B later, and attack the black group that way. In those cases, exchanging 1-2 can turn out to be bad for white.])))(;B[gm]C[It's easy to atari here, but then];W[gn];B[fn];W[il];B[ik];W[gl]C[White can cut here, ];B[hk];W[gk]LB[dj:D][fj:B][dl:C][el:A]C[If black comes out at A, white would answer at B and it's still favorable for white. Next, If black C then white can play D.];B[gj]C[If black plays here,];W[el]C[Black's in trouble. ]))(;W[ko]C[This jump looks nice, but ];B[lo];W[ln];B[mn];W[lm];B[kp]C[Actually, it's not really a good shape for white. ]))(;B[jd]C[If black doesn't reinforce at 17, ];W[gn]C[White can attack the group immediately. ];B[fn];W[go];B[fo];W[gm];B[gl];W[fl]C[Black is in trouble. ];B[el];W[fk];B[em];W[ej]C[That's why black 17 in the game was necessary. ]))(;W[nc]C[If white plays on the top, ];B[pf];W[jd];B[io]C[This cap looks nice. ]))