His name is Xie He (born in 1984). He is one of the representative players of China who defeated 4 strong representative players of Korea and China. Xie He of China won his 4th consecutive victory in the 11th Nongshim Cup.

The game 7 of the 11th Nongshim Cup World Ring Contest between Xie He 7p and Yamada Kimio 9p was held in Nongshim Hotel in Busan from 2pm on Jan. 20th.

Kim Jisuk 7p, commentating on the game on the Internet, made a short comment about Xie He. "I have played baduk with Xie He only once so I don't know Xie He's sytle of play in detail. One thing for sure is that he was very composed. What's special about him is that he doesn't spend much time considering how composed he is. He is not a slow and deep-thinking player. His moves are usually made at once."

Making moves quickly can be interpreted as reading moves quickly and also accurately. His skills were not overstated when Lee Sedol pointed him out as the Chinese player who made him feel the most uncomfortable to play with.

The game on the Jan. 20th was Xie He (Black)'s profits versus Yamada Kimio's chase backed up by the influence. About the time that it went more than about 100 moves, Park Younghoon 9p, one of the representative players of Korea, said, "it is easy to black." Kim Jisuk 7p estimated that "white is also thick so it's still worth trying."

Yamada Kimio's resistance that was worth trying because white was thick failed at the reading-battle in the center. Yamada Kimio was overpowered by the great force with which Xie He put black's head out in the center and head-butted white's nose (nose attachment). About the time that both made a trade after the battle in the center ended, the gap widened irreparably.

Kim Jisuk 7p remarked, "It was dangerous for Xie He to start a fight in the center from the 115th move. Yamada has had several chances to win in the air battle but he lost them all. Now that all battles were settled, it appears that Xie He will win."

As Yamada resigned after 181 moves having made sure of the gap, Xie He added 4 consecutive victories to the record of the Chinese representative team. So far Xie He won 4 straight games in this event and the consecutive-win prize of 20 million Won. In the Nongshim Cup, every time that the number of consecutive-win is added after 3 consecutive victories, the winner is given extra 10 million won.

An interview with the winner was followed as soon as Xie He 7p finished the game review at about 5:10 pm on Jan. 20th. Here is the interview.

Q. How was the game today?
A. It was unfavorable for me as it went to the middle game but as the player Yamada didn't make the best move, the trouble was resolved well.

Q. What do you mean by the best move?
A. Instead of playing at W142, if white played at 143, it would become very difficult. If he played this way, I would have been in danger. (Commentating on the game, Kim Jisuk 7p also pointed out W142 as the last losing move.)

Q. How did you spend time in the last evening?
A. (This answer was not interpreted but given directly by the CEO of Chinese baduk website Eweiqi, Mr. Lee.) I will answer to this question for myself. Xie He 7p bought dinner for the players to celebrate on winning the consecutive-win prize. We ate Bulgogi and steak. Haha. He didn't study baduk.

Q. Do you have confidence to win all games in the 2nd round?
A. (Smiling bashfully) No, I do not have confidence like that.

Q. The next Korean player is likely to be Yun Junsang 7p. Do you know the player Yun Junsang very well?
A. I haven't met him in any official matches. We have played in baduk exchanges but I cannot say I know him very well.

Q. Do you have a plan to go sightseeing in Busan?
A. I have gone to a beach in Busan. I am in the middle of matches now, though. It does not seem very easy to make time for it (laughingly).

- Cyberoro.com