Park Junghwan 9p defeated Kim Jiseok 9p to win the 19th LG Cup 2-1.
The final of the 19th LG Cup was held on February 9, 10 and 12, in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Korea.
Kim Jiseok 9 dan (left) and Park Junghwan 9 dan at the 19th LG Cup Final
Park Junghwan’s 2nd international title
Park Junghwan 9 dan at the 19th LG Cup Final
This was Park’s first LG Cup title, and only his second international title since he won the 24th Fujitsu Cup in 2011.
Park is currently ranked #1 in the world according to Dr Bai Taeil’s rating system, which is used by the Korean Baduk Association.
In recent years, many Go fans doubted Park’s #1 ranking, because Park hadn’t won any international titles since 2011.
However, during this LG Cup, he showed his power and strength. Now that he has another title, I hope he can play even better without too pressure much from Korean Baduk fans.
Summary of the final
Park got off to a good start in game 1. He took the lead after a big fight at the top, and he won the game without any significant trouble. Kim couldn’t find any opportunities to fight back.
Kim won game 2 with his excellent sabaki skills inside of Park’s big moyo, and the score was tied at 1-1.
In game 3, Kim took an early lead after the first battle in the top left corner. He maintained his lead very well against Park’s tough and aggressive moves in the middle game.
However, Kim played safely and softly in the endgame, and the game become closer. It was reversed in the end.
Once Park reversed the game, there was nowhere left for Kim to catch up again.
Kim Jiseok’s natural enemy
Kim Jiseok 9 dan at the 19th LG Cup Final
Park Junghwan is #1 in Korea, and Kim Jiseok is #2. However, their games together haven’t been well balanced so far.
The head to head record between these two, before this final, was 16-5 for Park’s favor. And it’s now at 18-6.
Because of that, people in Korea say that Park is Kim’s natural enemy.
If Kim wants to become #1, he has to surpass Park one day, and this final was a very good chance for Kim to do so.
However, Kim missed the perfect chance to defeat his natural enemy in this LG Cup. He failed to extend his good mood from the 2014 Samsung Cup final, and might suffer a psychological setback because of this defeat.
I hope he can become even stronger from this painful experience.
Brief Game Commentary
Game 1
Kim Jiseok vs Park Junghwan
The opening up to White 28 was Kim Jiseok’s favorite, but Park Junghwan didn’t mind.
White 42 and 44 were a nice combination, and the result up to Black 47 was even.
Black 59 was questionable, and White 60 and 62 were nice moves to extend the ko.
The result of the big trade up to White 74 was better for White, and White took the lead of the game at the same time.
Black 79 to 89 were nice sequence for Black, but White’s responses were accurate.
Black 99 was questionable again, and Black’s center group was isolated after White 110.
White was in a winning position at 138, and the game was decided by 156.
This was a wonderful game for Park Junghwan.
Game 2
Park Junghwan vs Kim Jiseok
The opening up to Black 21 was normal, but Black 23 and 25 were recently researched moves.
Black 33 was very nice and thick, but White was also fine after settling down up to 42.
Black started to attack White’s lower side group from 43, but White’s responses were nice and calm.
Black tried to attack White’s corner with 69, but White 70 was a good counter, and the game became better for White.
White 88 was a mistake, and the game became complex with the ko fight from 91.
White 114 was questionable, and the game seemed to be reversed with 115.
White 118 was a subtle reduction, and Park tried to attack that stone severely with 119, but it was the wrong decision of play.
The sequence from White 126 to 134 was excellent, and it became hard for Black to capture the whole group.
Black 157 was a severe attack, but White 164 to 168 were nice responses.
White 174 and 176 were brilliant moves, and the trade up to Black 181 was unavoidable.
White restarted the ko with 182, and the game was decided. Black couldn’t win the ko because White was solid and strong everywhere.
Game 3
Park Junghwan vs Kim Jiseok
The opening up to Black 21 was the same as in game 2, but Kim chose to play the higher extension at 22.
White 30 was interesting, and the result up to White 38 was even.
White 44 and 46 were strong responses, and White 52 was a well timed probe.
Black 53 and 55 were a nice counter, but White 60 and 62 were also nice moves.
The result up to White 70 was satisfactory for White, and Kim took the lead with 76.
White 78 was big, but it was a bit too greedy, and White’s right side group became thin and weak.
Black 99 and 101 were nice tesuji, and Park reduced White’s territory in sente.
Black 113 and 115 were strong moves, but White 120 and 122 formed a nice counter.
Black caught up a bit up to Black 137, but White was still in the lead.
Black 165 and 181 were big reverse sente endgames and the game was reversed.
Black 191 was a small mistake, but 223 was the last big endgame move, and the game was decided. Kim tried to catch up with a ko, but it didn’t succeed.
About Younggil An
Game 1: move 42 was clever. I’d never think of that move.
I suppose it makes 45 at D12 into a bad move as E13 puts E14 in a wrong position? Presumably if white just plays 44 without 42 then D12 is good. I was a bit surprised when white allowed black 39, but he obviously had a plan in advance. Very impressive.
50 was nice too, but easier to find! 🙂
You’re right. White 42 was a nice tesuji to have a good haengma afterwards.
Park’s strategy in that game was flawless, and it was an excellent game of him.
The first comment on game 1 I do not realy understand:
“The opening up to White 28 was Kim Jiseok’s favorite, but Park Junghwan didn’t mind.”
Did Kim get to play his favourite opening? Is this something that is comonly known? And how can you tell Park did not mind?
Or do you mean that the opening untill move 28 favour Kim?
Or is something els intended that I totaly miss. Any way the part where Park didn´t mind, how can you tell/know this?
I am not trying to be dum/rude, I honestly just do not get this coment. Sorry. =(
I’m not sure about Kim’s favorite opening (maybe he just plays it a lot), but it’s easy to see Park didn’t mind – he could have easily deviated and not let Kim play this opening. It’s an even opening, not particularly more favorable for any side, though.
Hope this helps 🙂
I think it means that’s the opening he plays most frequently lately. Park would know this, and if he minded he would have resisted, or tried to steer the opening in a different direction. Since he went along, we can assume he didn’t mind playing that opening.
Sorry Daniel for the confusion and thanks Michael for your nice answer.
Let me say something to make it clearer.
Kim plays the opening a lot lately, and he said to his friends that he thought that opening is better for Black.
Park must have known Kim likes that because they are close friends. However, Park didn’t mind to play that opening, because he thought the opening isn’t bad for White.
I hope this makes more sense. 🙂
Yes, thank you all for clerifying it to me. =)
Hi, thanks for those mini commentaries. But… Game 2: move 88: You are teasing us! 🙂 🙂
If 88 is questionable, then what is the best move? My instinct would be to test at E2 and try to take sente, though even then I am not sure where to use it! :-). But what is the right move?
Same question for 119 (though how Park is supposed to spot the tesuji at 174 at that point I don’t know!!! :-)). 119 seemed to make the game a massive gamble on whether white could pull anything off in the centre…
Oh, I wasn’t teaching you, but You’re right for your first question Hippo. 🙂
White could play at E2 to take sente for White 88. Black should respond at E3, and White can play at the top around L16 next. That would be better than in the game.
For Black 119, there could be several options. One option is to respond at K13, and if White comes in with J12, B J10. W K12. then Black can come back at G14 to cut White off like in the actual game. The fighting in the center is much better, and White wouldn’t be able to live easily.
L16. Ah, nice 🙂
Must admit I was glad Park played 119 as I was wondering how Kim was going to make sabaki, it looked almost impossible!
Inserting K13 is a clever idea. Thanks for the answers.
Yes, I agree that the actual game was more exciting than responding at K13 for 119.
I was also curious about what Kim would do if Park tries to cut and kill White 118, and Kim soon showed us how to sabaki. 🙂
One thing bothers me about game 3: Why is 35 at N3 better than N4? I guess after W 78 it looked better – but…
41 was intriguing. Park had obviously decided to tenuki from 42 as otherwise 41 is the wrong place, as you taught us before in a previous commentary :-).
Is 52 well timed because at this stage black cannot sacrifice the D13 stones?
Thanks for another good questions.
Park might have thought that 35 is more flexible and better for the endgame than N4. N4 can be better to attack White’s group though. N4 is also possible to play in that situation.
For Black 41, Park was going to attach at 43 to manage his left side area, but White 44 and 46 were stronger than he expected I think. I didn’t mention, but Black 49 seemed to be questionable and Black was behind because of that. Let me explain more in details later in the commentary.
Hm, N3 makes K2 more playable in the endgame I suppose… I hadn’t thought about that move, I was only looking at moves like H3. Makes more sense to me now.
Looking forward to those comments about 49. I cannot see the better move 🙂
It doesn’t really matter if it’s Black’s turn. Black can invade at H3 as you mentioned. However, after White 78, N3 is better than N4 as we can see.
I’m making the commentary, and you’ll soon see. 🙂
Not E11 is it? Hm.
No: E11 C11; D12 G13 doesn’t seem to turn out well… 🙁