Iyama Yuta defends his Meijin Title!
2010-10-08
Expert: 
This year he
was challenged for the Meijin Title by Takao Shinji 9p, the winner of the 46th
Judan Title and the youngest player to reach 700 wins (in 2009).
The first
game of the 35th Meijin Title (sponsored by Asahi Shimbun) was played on
September 1st and 2nd, in Suita (Osaka). Iyama Yuta won the game by 6,5 points
(he was White).
In the second
game, played on September 16th and 17th in Ehime, Iyama won again, this time
playing as Black (B+5,5). As expected, the odds were in his favor.
The 3rd round
was played in Kaminoyama (Yamagata), on September 22nd and 23rd. Iyama Yuta won
the game by resignation after 170 moves. He was then only one game away from
defending his Meijin Title.
Finally, in
the 4th game, played on October 6th and 7th in Kanagawa, Iyama Yuta was able to
win again and defend his Title with the perfect score of 4-0! He was the youngest player to win the Meijin
Title (in 2009), and he now, at the age of 21, defended it for the first time.
His results are very impressive!
The final
game was fun and you can see it here. Iyama Yuta killed a huge group in the
center and Takao Shinji ended up resigning after move 265. (For the record, if at the end of the game White tries N6, Black can connect at O5, White P8 atari, Black O9 connects, White Q9, Black P7 atari, White P9 connects,
Black O6 atari.) Enjoy the
game! :)
The winner’s prize is ¥37,000,000 (about 500,000 USD). Congratulations to Iyama Yuta for winning the 35th Meijin Title!