The sponsor's dream came true, and the game everyone in Korea and China wanted to see happened. Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan was last up for Korea and was pitted against China's last man, Ma Xiaochun.
Cho Sonjin 9-dan had salvaged some respectability for Japan by overcoming China's Chang Hao 9-dan on 26 March 2000, ending Chang's three-game winning streak. But the following day Cho lost to Yi Ch'ang-ho, and the day after that it was the big day. Unfortunately for Ma he came off worst yet again, unable to take advantage of Yi's relatively indifferent form of late.
So Korea wins the inaugural event. But even without that this newcomer among tournaments can be rated a tremendous success. The Chinese have taken to referring to it as a modern version the War of the Three Kingdoms, a reference to a Chinese classic (about battles between three Chinese kingdoms over 1500 years ago) that is thoroughly familiar to everyone in all three countries. If only the Japanese would show the same level of commitment...
Here are the last three games of Stage 3 in downloadable sgf format.
The sponsor's dream of a tournament that catches the public interest in three countries, goes down to the wire and ends in a victory for the host country is still alive in the 1st Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup.
Going in to the final Stage 3 in Seoul, Korea still had its three world beaters, Cho, Yu and Yi, and China still had its two dragons in a Dragon Year - Chang and Ma. Japan was there essentially just to make up the numbers with its reserve team, having a mere 7-dan (Yamada) and a player with just one title to his name (Cho Sonjin), but remarkably they were still in with a shout.
But there was still a chance of an anti-climax. Chang Hao 9-dan changed all that, however, by rattling of three wins in a row. In Game 9 on 22 March 2000 beat Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan of Korea. In Game 10 (23 March) Yamada Kimio 7-dan of Japan took him to a 1.5 point game but lost. In Game 11 (24 March ) Chang then overcame Yu Ch'ang-hyeok 9-dan of Korea.
In the final three games, from 26 to 28 March, the players to come are: Cho Sonjin 9-dan, Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan, Ma Xiaochun 9-dan. If the sponsor's dream continues unfolding, we could come down to the game everyone wants to see: a return between Yi and Ma. That really would be a spicy dish.
Here are the first three games of Stage 3 in downloadable sgf format.
Mok Chin-seok 4-dan of Korea was the hottest thing around in the premiere of the newest event on the pro circuit, the 1st Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup, which saw Stage 1 begin in Shanghai on 16 December. It was a big show, with all the combatants there, even though many had no chance of a game yet. There were sideshows laid on, too, with visits to places like Suzhou, supposedly home of China's prettiest girls - but there were no women in the event, a note which jars.
Mok beat Yamashita Keigo 6-dan of Japan in the opener. The following day he beat China's first man, Qiu Jun 5-dan.
On 19 December, the cool veteran Kudo Norio 9-dan of Japan knocked out Mok, 40 years younger, but he in turn lost to young Luo Xihe 8-dan of China on 20 December. That completed Stage 1 of the event.
For Stage 2 the scene shifted to Tokyo. In Game 5, on 18 January, Kim Yeong-sam 4-dan of Korea beat Luo, but the following day, he was crushed by Yoda Norimoto 9-dan of Japan.
In Game 7, on 21 January, Yoda - who has one of the best international records of any player - had another convincing win against Wang Lei 8-dan of China. But the following day Korea's Cho Hun-hyeon 9-dan stopped him in his tracks.
The scene now shifts again to the sponsor's home country, Games 9 up to a possible Game 14 being played in Seoul from 22 March onwards. Korea is in the driving seat, with Yi Ch'ang-ho 9-dan and Yu Ch'ang-hyeok 9-dan to follow Cho, but the Chinese can call on Chang Hao 9-dan, Ma Xiaochun 9-dan. Japan, having fielded far from its strongest team, has Cho Sonjin 9-dan and Yamada Kimio 7-dan in reserve.
Here are downloadable games in sgf format from the event.
Older News From 13 December 1999: SPICE BOYS HERE WE GO
Yet another World Championship from Korea. But if titles alone counted this would
surely be victor ludorum: the Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup World's Strongest Go
Tournament. Since this is for teams of five, we may see a male rival to the
Spice Girls. Is this what we really, really want?
The tournament was announced early in July and is about to kick off in earnest
with Round 1 in Shanghai on 16-20 December 1999 (a game a day). Round 2 is in
Tokyo in January 2000 and the final Round 3 in March 2000 in Seoul.
The preliminaries to select the Korean team were first under way. On 17 November
it was announced they will be represented by Yi Ch'ang-ho, Cho Hun-hyeon,
Yu Ch'ang-hyeok, all 9-dan, plus Mok Chin-seok and Kim Yeong-sam, both 4-dan.
It hardly seems worth anyone else turning up. All except Yu won their way into
the team in a qualification tournament. Yu's place was given by special
recommendation.
The Japanese team, announced on 21 November, is Cho Sonjin 9-dan, Kudo Norio 9-dan,
Yoda Norimoto 9-dan, Yamada Kimio 7-dan and Yamashita Keigo 6-dan. This is far
from their strongest possible team, but with so many Japanese tournaments running
all year, it is often difficult for the real stars to take time off (the domestic
tournaments are also more lucrative).
The Chinese team, announced on 22 November is Chang Hao 9-dan, Ma Xiaochun 9-dan,
Wang Lei 8-dan, Luo Xihe 8-dan and Qiu Jun 5-dan. They occupy five of the top
ten places in the current Chinese ranking list.
GAME
Click here for the game, in downloadable sgf format, that determined Mok's inclusion in the team.
HOW DOES THE NONG SHIM TOURNAMENT WORK?
This is a team event for three countries (Korea, Japan, China) sponsored by the
Korean food manufacturer Nong Shim, who make spicy noodles. The Korean name is
Nong-sim Sin Lamyeon Bae, where lamyeon (noodles) is borrowed from Japanese
ramen, which in turn is borrowed from Chinese. A truly international event!
It is a triangular version of the Japan-China Supergo, where teams compete in a
single match, starting with the weakest player. The winner continues playing the
next opposing team member until he is defeated. The team with the last one left
standing is the winner of the match. Noodles are often associated with stamina in the Orient.
Prize money for the winning team is 120 million won.
Komi is 6.5 points.
WINNERS
Year
Term
Winner
Team
2000
1
Korea
Yi Ch'ang-ho 9d, Cho Hun-hyeon 9d,
Yu Ch'ang-hyeok 9d, Mok Chin-seok 4d, Kim Yeong-sam 4d
DREAM GAME ADDS SPICE TO SUCCESSFUL FIRST CUP