First Meijin Tournament
Encyclopedia
The First Meijin Tournament was a landmark go competition held in Japan in 1961 and 1962. Taking more than 18 months to complete, it was a round-robin
(league) format event, featuring 13 top players. It arguably assembled the strongest field ever of players to compete in an all-play-all event. The structure, which produced in Fujisawa Hideyuki the first modern-era Meijin
and initiated the titleholder system
annual competition for that title, was never repeated. Subsequent Meijin Leagues have been round-robins for nine players, followed by a best-of-seven challenger match. (http://gobase.org/games/jp/meijin-old/1/ Crosstable at Gobase.)
The result was in doubt until the last game was finished, on 5 August 1962; the first games had been on 18 January 1961. The sponsors had held back the key games in the scheduling, to maintain the tension. The result was in the end something few could have predicted. Under the competition rules, komidashi
was 5 points; if that made the game a jigo, it would be awarded to White. This has the same effect as komi of 5.5, except that as a tiebreak, White’s jigo wins were to count less than full wins. The final day featured the games between Fujisawa Hideyuki and Hashimoto Shoji, and Go Seigen
and Sakata Eio. Fujisawa lost, and disappeared from the Nihon Ki-in
building in Fukudaya, where the other game was in progress. When the only result that could have made Fujisawa the winner, a jigo win with White for Go Seigen, actually happened, Fujisawa had to be sought out to inform him that he was after all the first Meijin since Honinbo Shusai
had died in 1940. According to Go Review, Fujisawa had to be brought back from a bar where he was drowning his sorrows.
The 78 games were each played over two days, with ten hours each on the clock.
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
(league) format event, featuring 13 top players. It arguably assembled the strongest field ever of players to compete in an all-play-all event. The structure, which produced in Fujisawa Hideyuki the first modern-era Meijin
Meijin
Meijin , literally translated, means "Brilliant Man." It is the name of the second most prestigious Japanese Go Tournament. It also refers to a traditional Japanese title given to the strongest player of the day during the Edo period.- The tournament :...
and initiated the titleholder system
Titleholder system
The titleholder system is the most common type of structure used in professional tournaments in the game of go. In practice these events almost always are based in East Asian countries with a professional system: China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan...
annual competition for that title, was never repeated. Subsequent Meijin Leagues have been round-robins for nine players, followed by a best-of-seven challenger match. (http://gobase.org/games/jp/meijin-old/1/ Crosstable at Gobase.)
The result was in doubt until the last game was finished, on 5 August 1962; the first games had been on 18 January 1961. The sponsors had held back the key games in the scheduling, to maintain the tension. The result was in the end something few could have predicted. Under the competition rules, komidashi
Komidashi
in the game of Go are points added to the score of the player with the white stones as compensation for playing second. Black's first move advantage is generally considered to equal somewhere between 5 and 7 points by the end of the game. Standard komi is 6.5 points under the Japanese and Korean...
was 5 points; if that made the game a jigo, it would be awarded to White. This has the same effect as komi of 5.5, except that as a tiebreak, White’s jigo wins were to count less than full wins. The final day featured the games between Fujisawa Hideyuki and Hashimoto Shoji, and Go Seigen
Go Seigen
Wu Qingyuan , generally known in the West by his Japanese name Go Seigen, is considered by many players to be the greatest player of the game of Go in the 20th century and of all time.-Biography:...
and Sakata Eio. Fujisawa lost, and disappeared from the Nihon Ki-in
Nihon Ki-in
The Nihon Ki-in , also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for Go in Japan, overseeing Japan's professional system and issuing diplomas for amateur dan rankings. It is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.Nihon Ki-in was established...
building in Fukudaya, where the other game was in progress. When the only result that could have made Fujisawa the winner, a jigo win with White for Go Seigen, actually happened, Fujisawa had to be sought out to inform him that he was after all the first Meijin since Honinbo Shusai
Honinbo Shusai
is the professional name of Hoju Tamura, also known as , who was a Japanese professional Go player.- Biography :He was born in Shiba, Tokyo, son of Tamura Yasunaga, a retainer of the shogun. He learned go at age 10 and joined the Hoensha in 1883, then under the leadership of Murase Shuho. He was...
had died in 1940. According to Go Review, Fujisawa had to be brought back from a bar where he was drowning his sorrows.
Final standings
With each player having played 12 games, the results were:- 9 wins, Fujisawa Hideyuki 9, winner on tie break, Go SeigenGo SeigenWu Qingyuan , generally known in the West by his Japanese name Go Seigen, is considered by many players to be the greatest player of the game of Go in the 20th century and of all time.-Biography:...
- 8 wins, Sakata Eio
- 7 wins Hashimoto Shoji, Kitani Minoru, Handa Dogen
- 6 wins Fujisawa Hosai
- 5 wins Miyashita Shuyo, Sugiuchi Masao, Shimamura Toshihiro
- 4 wins Iwata Tatsuaki
- 3 wins Hashimoto Utaro, Takagawa Kaku
The 78 games were each played over two days, with ten hours each on the clock.