Celebration of long life
Our own Queen here in London has just been celebrating her 80th birthday, and in the same week we came across a rare problem by another octogenarian.
Sugiuchi Masao 9-dan was born in 1920. In December 2004, at the age of 84, he became
the oldest player to achieve 800 career wins. His record at that point was
800 wins, 561 losses and 12 jigos.
His nickname is Go no Kamisama, which makes it rather appropriate that we mention him here, as it means Go God. He should be our patron saint!
Go has been much discussed for its life-enhancing properties during old age over the past few years - one Japanese recently made 6-dan at age 100, and the former Diet Member Wada Kosaku earlier this year celebrated his 99th birthday with a 4-stone game against Otake Hideo. He lost by only 12.
Sugiuchi's problem (next page) was first published in Kido in 1950. But as you will see once you've solved it, it is truly a celebration of long life.