Chinese Go League Championship Prospects: Hangzhou Most Favorable, Beijing and Chongqing Face Tough Battles
The 2009 "Gionee Mobile Cup" Chinese Go League has only two rounds left, and the championship contenders are becoming clearer. The title will likely come down to a battle between the teams of Supor Hangzhou, CITIC Beijing, and Chongqing Lengsuanshen, with Supor Hangzhou holding the most advantageous position.
The newly promoted Supor Hangzhou team has already created a miracle in the league. After defeating the traditional powerhouse Guizhou Bailin in the 18th round, they climbed to the top of the standings. In previous years, newly promoted teams in the league often struggled for survival rather than daring to dream of leading the pack. However, this year's league started off unusually, with the two reigning champions, Chongqing Lengsuanshen and China Mobile Shanghai, both trapped in slumps. By the end of the first phase, Chongqing was ranked ninth, while Shanghai was on the verge of fighting for survival at the bottom. Another strong contender, Guizhou Bailin, led by superstar Lee Sedol 9-dan, suddenly announced he would take a break from competition, which severely affected their form and dashed their hopes for the championship. Each of these traditionally strong teams faced its own unique set of challenges.
Young teams like Sichuan Jiaozi and Supor Hangzhou have taken turns leading the pack. It seems that "youth reigns supreme" has become an irreversible trend in the league. Surprisingly, Sichuan Jiaozi, a team without any star players, led the league for six consecutive rounds; soon after, Supor Hangzhou took over the lead. Except for Liu Xing, 7-dan, who ranks third in the national rating system, the other four players on the Hangzhou team are relatively low-ranked, with Wang Lei, 6-dan, being the highest among them at 23rd place, Jiang Weijie, 5-dan, at 36th place, and Wang Tao, 3-dan, at 71st place.
Before the 20th round, Hangzhou, with 38 points, had the most favorable situation for winning the championship, leading CITIC Beijing and Chongqing Lengsuanshen by four points. A victory against Shanghai Mobile would almost guarantee Hangzhou the title two rounds early, reminiscent of the 1998 Bundesliga fairy tale where the newly promoted Kaiserslautern won the championship. However, Hangzhou paid the price for their youth when they faltered just as the trophy was within reach. Their main player, Liu Xing, led for most of his game against Hu Yaoyu but lost due to an ill-advised ko fight. Jiang Weijie and Wang Tao also suffered defeats, causing Hangzhou to narrowly miss out on glory.
Chongqing Lengsuanshen and Shanghai Mobile demonstrated their deep experience during crucial moments. Even when their leader, Gu Li, lost early, the other three players on Chongqing calmly secured victories in their matches, leaving Shandong Unicom disappointed. Meanwhile, despite being in relegation danger, Shanghai Mobile continued to display their prowess against stronger teams, defeating Guizhou Bailin, CITIC Beijing, and Supor Hangzhou one after another. Against Guizhou Bailin, they triumphed 4-0 convincingly; against CITIC Beijing, they came back from losing the main match to win 3-1; and against Supor Hangzhou, they quickly established a 3-0 lead to secure the win. Each team had its own way of winning, but the result was always the same: snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
With only two rounds remaining, Supor Hangzhou's opponents will be CITIC Beijing and Yunnan Shangri-La. Since Yunnan has already been relegated, the Hangzhou vs Beijing match will largely determine the champion. Hangzhou holds the advantage in this decisive showdown and is closest to claiming the title. CITIC Beijing will face Chongqing Lengsuanshen in the final round, and if Hangzhou can win the penultimate round, they can sit back and watch the Beijing-Chongqing showdown in the last round.
Seven-time champions Chongqing Lengsuanshen will face the toughest test of their championship mettle. They must play Shanghai Mobile in Round 21 and CITIC Beijing in the final round. These are their strongest opponents waiting for them at the end. In other words, if Chongqing is to win their eighth title, it will indeed leave other teams with nothing but admiration. Their strength is evident, though a bit of luck will help too.
On December 12, Supor Hangzhou will host CITIC Beijing at their home venue. Hangzhou is known as "Paradise," and the Supor Hangzhou team is now standing right at the gates of paradise.