This EPUB is provided without Digital Rights Management (DRM), allowing you to read it on your EPUB reader of choice. We trust that you use this EPUB file for your personal use only. Buying the book at gobooks.com ensures that authors and publishers get paid, and makes it possible for us to convert more books to digital format.

This EPUB contains static go diagrams only. This makes it compatible with more EPUB readers, but does not show the full potential of interactive Go Books. Get a download link for the interactive version at gobooks.com/support.html.

SEVEN

The Go Super Match
Shin Jinseo vs. Park Junghwan

Gunnar Dickfeld

BOARD N’STONES

Buy the full book at gobooks.com

The “Beautiful Treasure Island Namhae Shin Jinseo vs Park Junghwan Baduk Super Match” has been a highlight in the go world, not only in Korea but also worldwide. Korea’s top two players, 1st ranked Shin Jinseo 9p and 2nd ranked Park Junghwan 9p, have been seeded to play a match of seven games. Each of these games were played in selected locations around the beautiful Namhae island, a county in South Gyeongsang Province. This event was characterized by the combination of scenic and cultural landmarks and the highest level of Korea’s human go players.

With his 7–0 win against Park Junghwan in the Namhae Super Match Shin Jinseo established himself as the “Number One” in terms of win record and rank. This book tells the story of these seven games.

Acknowledgements

My thanks go to Christian N. for his technical support on AI setup and maintenance.

Many thanks as well to Max for his support in reviewing the book!

March 2021, Gunnar Dickfeld

Copyright Page

SEVEN
The Go Super Match
Shin Jinseo vs. Park Junghwan

Gunnar Dickfeld

© 2021 BOARD N’STONES, Gunnar Dickfeld, Frankfurt a.M.
BOARD N’STONES is a trademark of Brett und Stein Verlag

All rights reserved.

Cover design: Lars Decker

ISBN of the printed version: 978–3–940563–79–8

Converted for SmartGo Books by John Mifsud.

Contents

SEVEN
The Go Super Match
Shin Jinseo vs. Park Junghwan

Acknowledgements

Copyright Page

Preface

ONE A Peaceful Game
2020/10/19, Gwaneum-ru Pavilion

The chapters in gray are included only in the full book.

TWO Endgame Surprise
2020/10/21, Namhae German Village

THREE Waves Are Coming In
2020/10/22, Sangju Eun Sand Beach

FOUR Under the Bridge
2020/11/11, Namhae-gak Motel

FIVE Divide et Impera
2020/11/16, Nodo Island of Literature

SIX Dragon Fight
2020/12/01, Seolri Skywalk

SEVEN The Last Battle
2020/12/02, Namhae Exile Literature Hall

ANNEX The Flying Dagger Joseki
2020/07/27, 3rd Korean Yongseong

Go Books from BOARD N’STONES

Buy This Book

About SmartGo Books

The Beautiful Treasure Island Namhae
Shin Jinseo vs. Park Junghwan
Baduk Super Match

The „Beautiful Treasure Island Namhae Shin Jinseo vs Park Junghwan Baduk Super Match“ has been a highlight in the go world, not only in Korea but also worldwide. Korea’s top two players, 1st ranked Shin Jinseo 9p and 2nd ranked Park Junghwan 9p, were seeded to play a match of seven games. Each of these games were played in selected locations around the beautiful Namhae island, the major island of Namhae county in South Gyeongsang Province. This event was characterized by the combination of scenic and cultural landmarks and the highest level of Korea’s human go players.

The first game of the Super Match series took place on October 19th and the last on December 2nd 2020. The venues for the tournament were situated across Namhae island, where beautiful sites were chosen as stages for each of the individual games: the Gwaneumru pavilion, Sangju Eunmore Beach, the German village, the Namhae Bridge, the Nodo Island of Literature, the Seolri Skywalk, and the Namhae Exile Literature Museum.

The event was sponsored by Namhae county. Jang Chung-nam, the head of Namhae County, has a close relationship with Shin Jinseo’s father, both having grown up in the same town called Daegok-ri, Namhae. When Shin Jinseo became a world class go player, interest in go increased among the people of Namhae. So, Jang thought that despite the county’s limited financial resources, it would be a great idea to bring Shin Jinseo and Park Junghwan to Namhae for the benefit of the local people, to promote their amazing island and its special products throughout the country, and of course for the benefit of the global go community.

At the opening ceremony of the Super Match, Namhae County Head Jang Chung-nam said, „The world’s citizens are suffering from Covid-19. In the midst of this, it makes a lot of sense to hold a Super Match on Namhae, the South Sea treasure island of Korea. Especially the games of world class professionals will give great hope to many citizens, residents of Gyeongsangnam-do, and go enthusiasts worldwide.“

Shin Jinseo and Park Junghwan

Before the Super Match started, both players said they didn’t see this competition as a confrontation between two top Korean players, but they promised to play their best go. Shin Jinseo said, „I am grateful to the many people who worked hard to make this event possible, and especially to the head of Namhae County. To honour holding such a wonderful tournament, I will work hard myself and present the best go, this way I want to contribute to the success of the tournament by providing beautiful games.“ Park Junghwan, after crediting Namhae County and everyone involved in the tournament organization, said: „Shin Jinseo is at the peak of the current go season. It seems like a great opportunity to learn something.“ He promised to show good games of go.

The Super Match was declared to be a tournament of seven games, where all have to be played irrespective their outcome. They are counted as official competition games and allow the winner of each game to receive 15 million Won (about 11,000 EUR / 13,000 USD). The loser was to receive 5 million Won (about 3,700 EUR / 4,400 USD) per game. For thinking time, each player is given 90 minutes main time plus five periods of one minute byoyomi.

The Super Match confirmed that the throne of the Korean go world has passed from Park Junghwan to Shin Jinseo. Shin Jinseo, who was in competition with Park Junghwan for the top spot since the year before, had reached number one in the go rankings in January 2020.

However, the go world was hesitant to give him the title of “Number One” as he couldn’t properly surpass Park Junghwan. In 2019 Shin Jinseo was far behind Park Junghwan with a 4–15 win/loss record. Shin Jinseo was defeated by Park Junghwan in the final of the 2nd Yongseong Battle and the Masters of Baduk TV. But this year, in 2020, the relationship between the two has reversed.

Shin Jinseo defeated Park Junghwan 2–0 in the final of the LG Cup in February and won his first major world championship, followed by defeating Park Junghwan 3–0 in the 1st Korean Strongest Players tournament. In addition he won the 3rd Korean Yongseong, beating Park 2–0. These were five wins in a row for Shin Jinseo against Park Junghwan, summing to a total of 8–1 before the Super Match. Of course, Park Junghwan is an excellent player showing strong results in many tournaments. Therefore, they have established as a pair of rivals. At the time of writing, Shin Jinseo’s performance in 2020 was 81–10, a winning rate of about 90%.

In fact, before the Namhae Super Match, most of the go world predicted that no matter who wins, the tournament would likely result in a split of 4–3 or 5–2. Instead, the outcome of the competition was Shin Jinseo’s one-sided victory. Namhae Super Match referee Baek Sung-ho 9p said: „Park Junghwan may have lost a lot to Shin Jinseo lately, but he still shows overwhelming ability against other professionals.“

With his 7–0 win against Park Junghwan in the Namhae Super Match, Shin Jinseo established himself as „Number One“ in terms of win record and rank. This book tells the story of these seven games.

***

This book is somewhat of an experiment, which was enabled by the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the world of go. There is a tradition that game commentaries have long been provided by professionals only. In the western world strong amateurs then began, often based on professional input, to provide commentaries on pro games. Today, given the availability of AI, any amateur can review professional games in a new way. However, they may still need guidance from stronger players in order to elaborate on the hidden aspects which even an AI may not clearly reveal.

The presentation of the games in this book is based on available game commentaries by professionals who have been supported by one AI or another. In many cases it’s not clear which AI has actually been used. I added my own research, done with the most popular open source AI today, KataGo, to create an easily digested presentation of the games.

Throughout the book I draw no distinctions between the various AIs, their types and versions, which have with or without credit contributed to the commentaries, and will just refer to „the AI“. Like humans, AIs may disagree with each other. Hence, I took the approach to take the average of their final score estimation in case they differed slightly. Where they differed by a lot, I gave preference to one of them based mostly on my own subjective reasoning.

AIs analyse several moves and pick one of them as the preferred, just like humans do. The rejected moves may only be slightly inferior, by fractions of a digit in the estimated final score. These inferior moves may not necessarily be bad ones. Having said this, it should be clear that AIs still allow for a lot of liberty in playing, allowing us to make different choices, explore our own paths, and deploy our own styles. You will see how the two Korean top players adopt modern moves and at the same time discard some of the post AI joseki. The result of such liberty in playing is a variety of different and unique games. However, in some situations the wrong choice of a move can turn the game. Here, the use of AI analysis helps to identify these dramatic moments of a game.

This book provides variation diagrams, but in low numbers. So, not every question the reader may have will be answered with the accompanying diagrams. The reader should not just take note of the diagrams given, but be encouraged to activate their own thinking. Furthermore, I recommend the reader to replay the games on a proper board. This may sound old-school, but it’s still an acknowledged method of successful learning. Take your time to enjoy these games!

ONE: A Peaceful Game

Shin Jinseo

Park Junghwan

Date: 2020/10/19

Venue: Gwaneum-ru Pavilion, Yi Sunshin Sunguk Park

Time: 90 min plus 5 × 1 min, Komi: 6.5

Gwaneum-ru Pavilion

Moves 1–5

In pre AI times the approach of 5 at A was a modern move, while the even more traditional way was building a shimari at B. Before AI, Park himself chose to play A in two of his games against Shin. Nowadays, the main choices are split between the two large shimari 5 and C, but the regular shimari at B is also back in use.

Move 6

This is a common approach to the corner. The low approach would be possible here as well.

Moves 7–12

The high extension at 12 is a common move to settle this joseki and enable a follow up extension at A, which would at the same time be an approach to the shimari on the upper side. The low extension is rarely seen in this position.

Move 13

There is no preference shown by AI towards which 3–3 invasion, A or 13, should be played here. Either is fine.

Moves 14–15

Both sides are good to block, with AI giving a slight preference for the actual move 14 played.

Variation

White could also block on the other side as in this variation.

Moves 16–17

White 16 is a simple way to finish the corner and take sente.

Move 18

AI’s influence has made this shimari very popular, which is a big change from recent practice. White protects his only corner in this game. Occupying a point like A on the left side does not comply with modern opening play anymore. In the past it was common sense to extend from the wall in the lower corner.

Move 19

A good point to prevent a white move here. A or B would also be reasonable moves to establish a base on the left side.

Move 20

White is happy to take the extension on the right hand side.

If White plays the approach at A first, Black will not defend at B but instead play the checking extension at C. It’s probable that Park did not like that scenario.

Move 21

Very peaceful move establishing a sound base on the left. Black is not waiting for White to take the initiative here and force Black into one direction or another. AI also considers the immediate invasion at A. However, the difference is marginal. So the choice seems a matter of taste or style. Shin opts for a peaceful development.

Move 22

Biggest point now.

Move 23

Interesting defensive move, but it is not unique as it has been seen in other professional games already. The common move to protect the corner here is A. Shin may not have liked that White could play the keima at B to force Black to add another defensive move.

After the double approach from two sides, the choice of kosumi may in the future become established as a new way to defend the large corner enclosure.

Move 24

As the corner cannot be invaded anymore, White plays the contact move from the outside. He wants to make Black overconcentrated and at the same time make his own side thicker.

Moves 25–26

If Black just extends to the edge, the exchange would be good for White. Hence Black is not going to play this way.

Moves 27–29

Black doesn’t protect the corner territory, avoiding investing too many stones there. The group has sufficient shape already. Instead he chooses an active play: the shoulder hit against the shimari.

Move 30

White at A would be a normal continuation, but White ignores that to play the tiger mouth instead.

Move 31

Black ignores White as well.

Move 32

White jumps out to separate the groups. This is a bit heavy. White should play the keima at A, allowing a follow up as in the variation.

Variation

White shouldn’t be worried that Black would push at A and cut.

Move 33

Black comes back to reinforce his corner group.

Moves 34–37

AI analysis prefers to omit the 34–35 exchange and instead help the group at the top with A. At this point Black has a very small lead.

Move 38

This move is protecting the corner against a large keima at A.

Moves 39–40

Park decides to support his group with 40. AI still prefers A.

Moves 41–42

Connecting with 42 as shown in the variation would be too slow.

Variation

Moreover, Black may take advantage of the remaining weakness and attach at 4.

Move 43

If Black would jump one line further down it would trigger tougher action by White against the corner, e.g. beginning with A. This may not fit into Black’s plan for a large-scale attack.

Moves 44–47

The white 44–black 45 exchange is necessary to help the three stones. This exchange could also have been played earlier, e.g. before 18.

Move 48

AI analysis has shown that this move is a slight loss. Common feeling would be attaching at A. White is probably worried that Black can press harder with B against White’s group. At this point Black leads by about two points.

Move 49

Black aims at sealing White in, as shown in the variation.

Variation

Black’s position would get very thick and White may not really try to escape with the cutting stone by extending to A.

Moves 50–51

White cannot play at A anymore, as Black would ignore it to push at 50. This move aims at exploiting the weakness in the corner.

Moves 52–60

White decides to sacrifice a single stone with 52 to prevent Black from connecting.

Move 61

Black feels an invasion at the side to no longer be possible due to the strong position above. Hence he probes with the attachment. This may also be seen as a preparation for attacking the center group.

Moves 62–72

Black 65 is an interesting move in the center. It aims at attacking both of White’s groups. Just taking solid territory at the bottom is not good enough for Black. The lower side is not so valuable right now.

Move 73

This move is a probe to see how White will answer. It was a big surprise for the game observers that Shin actually hit the move the AI was recommending.

End of sample chapter. In the book, this game is commented to the end.