All Things Go

Go Seigen 5P vs Honinbo Shusai Meijin (9P)

In Summer 1933, Go Seigen and Kitani Minoru got together to create the Shin-Fuseki, which translates to "New Opening". Shin-Fuseki emphasized the concepts of thickness and moyo. While Komoku (3-4 point) had been the standard first move in a corner area, Go Seigen chose to play star points (4-4) and 3-3 points and switch to the sides and center before adding a second stone to make corner enclosures. In this game a young Go Seigen shows a boldly original opening in his game against the leader of the Japanese professional Go community.

Honinbo Shusai was the tenth and final Meijin in the traditional system that had lasted roughly 300 years. In the Edo era, a Meijin was not the winner of a yearly tournament (as is the case in modern times) but was chosen by the professional community as the strongest player. Meijin was a life-long title. After playing a number of high-profile matches, Shusai became Meijin in 1914, and was a central founding member of the Nihon Kiin (Japanese Go Association) in 1924.

This game was arranged and sponsored by the Yomiuri newspaper. Go Seigen was the winner of the Japan Go Championship, also sponsored by Yomiuri newspaper. This was a special match against Honinbo Shusai Meijin, who had not participated in that tournament.