Stomping Grounds

Ichiriki Ryo has brought a huge victory for Japan by winning the ING Cup, marking the country’s first major international tournament win in 19 years. The last time Japan took home a major title was in 2005, when Cho U defeated China’s Yu Bin 3-1 in the LG Cup. This win is monumental for Japan, not only breaking the long drought but also reigniting hope for young Japanese players who are aspiring to achieve future victories.

Ichiriki Ryo's victory is also historic as it’s Japan’s first-ever ING Cup title. He won in spectacular fashion, securing a 3-0 sweep against Xie Ke of China. This marks the first 3-0 victory in the history of the ING Cup finals. even under the pressure of the penalties that came from the ING Cup’s unique timing rules, Ichiriki Ryo still dominated the series. In the previous ING Cup, Korea’s Shin Jinseo was close to a similar feat but couldn’t secure a 3-0 win due to the format being a Bo3 for the last ING Cup finals, resulting in a 2-0 victory.

I remember watching the start of Game 3 last night, but unfortunately, I had to stop midway due to the late hour. Xie Ke seemed to gain a significant advantage early on, making it look difficult for Ichiriki Ryo to make a comeback. However, as it turns out looking at the game this morning, Ichiriki Ryo fought back with incredible tenacity, ultimately winning in convincing fashion by killing Xie Ke's groups across the board.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been too surprised by Ichiriki Ryo's result. If you look at the first and second games of the series, it’s clear that both players were fighting not just to win, but to prove their superiority. Each game was filled with major board battles, and even when Ichiriki was behind, he consistently came out on top. Xie Ke, on the other hand, seemed determined to take risks rather than settling for smaller leads, making these finals thrilling to watch. I highly suggest checking out the games as they really show the value of the rivalry between two of the best regions in the world of go.

You can check out the English commentary by NAGF professional 1dan Michael Chen here. Please show him some support by following his content on youtube or his twitch.

While I was rooting for Xie Ke to do well, I’m thrilled to see Japan secure such a decisive victory after nearly two decades. Were you excited to see Japan win the tournament in such sweeping fashion?

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