Korea-China-Japan baduk players to compete at Lunar New Year holiday

Kim Ji-seok, 9 dan, will play as Korean representative at the Hase Cup during Lunar New Year`s holidays. Hase is a baduk competition that the China Central Television holds every year by inviting three masters from Korea, China and Japan. This year, which marks its second, will be held from Friday to Sunday in Beijing. Chinese player this year is Tuo Jiaxi, 9 dan, and Japanese Murakawa Daisuke, 7 dan.

Last year, Chinese player Shi Yue, 9 dan, won, and Kim is cautiously expected to win this year. Kim beat Jiaxi in all four games with him, and is first playing with Daisuke. Jiaxi has one loss against Daisuke.

The competition will be in a reverse tournament. The loser by default is decided by drawing lots. The remaining two play round 1 (Friday) and the loser plays round 2 with the loser by default (Saturday). The loser by default disqualifies if he loses at round 2. Last year, Lee Se-dol picked loser by default card, and lost at round 2, to rank third. Round 3 (Sunday) is between round 1 winner and round 2 winner.

Winner award is similar to that of regular competitions. The winner gets 800,000 yuan (127,303 U.S. dollars), second place player 400,000 yuan (63,651 dollars) and third ranker 200,000 yuan (31,826 dollars). Dum is 7.5 points based on China`s baduk rule.