This game was played on 21 July 2006 at the Chinese Promotion Tournament in Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province. Liao Xingwen was Black. His opponent was Zhang Hongjie. Komi was 3.75 (Chinese rules). The commentary is by Xingwen.
1 ~ 50
White 20 is seldom seen in pro games. I feel it's not a very good move. It should have been at A. If Black answers at 21, White links up the two groups with 22. This result would be better than the game.
After Black 21, the five white stones are not in a very good position.
Up to Black 29, the result favours Black on the right side.
White 30 would be better at B as a probing move to see how Black will react before deciding where to play in the lower left corner.
Black 31: Black's stucture on the lower side is good. He can be satisfied with this result.
I feel White 40 is not a very good move. Perhaps White wants to get sente, but this move is helping Black to settle himself.
The invasion of White 42 is severe.
I feel Black 43 is a bit passive, but I couldn't find a better move, and I still can't.
There was a better choice instead of playing Black 45 - he could play C. If White connects at D, Black comes out at E and White has been separated. This result favours Black. If White answers at E when Black plays C, Black will play F, which makes solid shape in the centre and restricts White's left side from a distance.
51 ~ 100
If Black 57 ataris at 58, the endgame will be decisive. 57 leads the game to a fight.
White 76 is questionable. He should have played 80 first, Black connects at A, White B, then White plays 76 after these exchanges.
Black 81 is sharp.
Black 83: the fighting favours Black.
Black 89: Black's group on the left side is in no danger, because Black can play C, White A, Black D, White E, Black F to capture the three marked stones whenever necessary.
White 90: A strong move.
Black 99 is a bad move. It should have been at G as in the diagram below. This is a simple way for Black to win.
Variation for Black 99
White 100: good move.
101 ~ 150
Black 107: Black is expecting White to capture at 109, then Black A, and the two good points of 108 and 111 will be miai for Black.
White 108 chose to defend at the top.
Black 113: Black has just got three big moves - 109, 111 and 113 - he is winning.
Black 115 is a bad move. It should have been B, to clear the bad aji in the upper right corner. It would be a simple way to win for Black.
White 116: White is stirring up trouble.
Black 119 Black chose a simple way to play because of his feeling of being in the lead.
White 124: After this, the game has become very close. Because both Black and White were running short of time, both made many mistakes in the end game. I luckily won by 0.75 point at the end. This is the most difficult game I won in the Promotion Tournament.
235 moves played - the rest are omitted here but are in the GoGoD database with a large selection of other games by Xingwen, including others from this event and his first games as a pro.
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