A Japanese player of the traditional board game called “Go” has won a tournament in which contestants from across the globe competed for the top spot.
Japan’s Ichiriki Ryo faced China’s Xie Ke in the Ing Cup World Professional Weiqi Championship Finals. The Japanese player won the first two matches of the best-of-five showdown.
Ichiriki was in a tough spot toward the end of the third clash in Shanghai on Sunday.
But he seized on an opportunity to go on the offensive and turned the tables, collecting his third straight victory.
The Nihon Ki-in, an association that organizes major title tournaments of Go in Japan, said this is the first time in 19 years that a player representing the country has reached the pinnacle of a prominent international tourney.
The association added this is also the first time that such a player has prevailed in the Ing Cup World Professional Weiqi Championship Finals. The competition takes place once every four years.
Ichiriki is one of the best Japanese players of Go, currently holding three major domestic titles.
The 27-year-old said he was in a bind in the third match and found it very difficult to get off the hook. But he said he was determined to hold on until the end.
Ichiriki said he is now relieved and really happy to have won the championship. He added that he wants to convey his gratitude to his supporters in Japan.