50 Years aGO

The month began with the opening of the Hong Kong Nihon Ki'in Chapter.

But the month truly belonged to senior Kitani disciple Ōtake Hideo 9d. In the midst of his ongoing Meijin challenge against title holder and junior disciple Ishida Yoshio he also contested Ishida in the Ōza title. He won the first game of the best of three series on November 6, and clinched the title in the second game on November 17.

Ōtake Hideo (right) wins the Ōza title from Ishida Yoshio (left).

In the middle of that contest, the final game of the Meijin title took place on November 12. As you will recall, the match was knotted at 3-3. Holding white, Ōtake, normally considered far more formidable with black, won by 4 points to take the title. After go commentators and declared the coming of the "Ōtake-Rin Age," Ōtake had fallen behind Rin in accomplishments. However, with this win, Ōtake entered a period where he was nicknamed "The Meijin Man." John Power, in the Go Player's Almanac, explains that he would justify this sobriquet by "appearing in 9 out of 10 Meijin matches from 1975 to 1984."

Ōtake Hideo (top) wins the Meijin title.

Game records courtesy of SmartGoOne, photos from Go Review.