The future of go
This business of making special efforts to match other countries is a live topic in many ways in all the major go-playing countries. The particular focus of the debate at the moment is the observation that Korean tournaments are relentlessly getting shorter, mainly in response to the demands of sponsors and television.
As is ever the case with the vast army of Chinese pros who are now not good enough to challenge for titles and so who act as coaches, they are analysing
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The older Chinese players have become shrewd analysts on behalf of the youngsters |
Specifically, of the top fifteen Korean tournaments, including the league, only two still have time limits of 3 hours each (the GS Caltex Cup and the Kuksu). Two have 2 hours each (the Kangwon Land Cup and the Ch'eonweon). Two have 1 hour each, and the rest are fast to blitz games, all with differing initial time allowances and byoyomi periods. The Osram Cup is a breathtaking 5 minutes each and three 30-second byoyomi periods.
One doesn't have to be too old fogeyish to assume this type of game favours the youngsters trained on computer games. The older Korean and Chinese pros are now so out of it that there has been a steady stream of events in both countries aimed specifically at veterans. The usual age limit to define a veteran seems to be 40, although 25 might be fairer!
In Japan the situation is more complex. Sponsors there by and large do not depend on television. The major events still attract far bigger prize funds (and in a far more stable environment) than in Korea and China. The top Japanese pros know which side their bread is buttered. They have not fared too well in recent international events, but a popular explanation for that is that Japanese events still mostly have long time limits. Some even retain the two-day title matches. Long games tend to favour a safer style of play, with much reliance on the endgame, than seems to work in fast international events. With bigger prizes on offer, the Japanese pros naturally stick to the style of play that works for their own events. In other words, they are really much, much stronger than their international results suggest.
Not everyone agrees with that analysis, but there are a couple of pointers that favour it. One is that the youngsters who are capable of playing in the international style (such as Iyama Yuta) are finding it hard to make real headway in the longer-limit domestic events. Another is that the shrewd Chinese take a lot of notice of the big Japanese games. There is still a feeling that this is go at its best, even if not in its most exciting form. It is also noticeable that many young Korean and Chinese pros seem to disappear early on. No doubt military conscription explains some of the Korean experience, but in general burn-out does seem to be a problem. What will these youngsters do once they realise that they've forsaken a university education, can't win tournaments and coaching places are already taken?
The future of go is truly hard to fathom.
TV has even changed the orientation of the modern go board in Korea