Day 3

WOC 2013 Results

Kazuki Okamoto (JPN) is 37th World Othello Champion
Katie Wu (FIN) is Female Champion

October 26th: Semifinals, Playoff 3rd / 4th place and Finals

Semifinal 1:

Kazuki Okamoto 33 - 31 Takashi Yamakawa
Takashi Yamakawa 28 - 36 Kazuki Okamoto

Semi-final 2:

Nicky van den Biggelaar 29 - 35 Piyanat Aunchulee
Piyanat Aunchulee 34 - 30 Nicky van den Biggelaar

OKAMOTO Kazuki 33 - 31 YAMAKAWA Takashi
WOC 2013, semifinal game 1

BIGGELAAR Nicky van den 29 - 35 AUNCHULEE Piyanat
WOC 2013, semifinal game 1

YAMAKAWA Takashi 28 - 36 OKAMOTO Kazuki
WOC 2013, semifinal game 2

AUNCHULEE Piyanat 34 - 30 BIGGELAAR Nicky van den
WOC 2013, semifinal game 2

I have known Roel for many years now, but it seems I always mispronounced his last name, Sorry Roel Hóbo.

WOC 2013 Trophies, how many boards do you see?

and the trophy went to Kazuki Okamoto

Ben Seeley and Michele Borassi made it even more interesting to watch the final games. Their comments added a lot to the "othellistic" experience.

YAMAKAWA Takashi 36 - 28 BIGGELAAR Nicky van den
WOC 2013, playoff 3rd / 4th place

Playoff 3rd / 4th place:

The impression that most players had was that Nicky was ahead in the game, but he allowed himself to get very poisoned and lost 36 - 28.

Nicky van den Biggelaar qualified for the semifinals of the WOC for the third time in a row. That in itself is a major achievement. WOC debutant Takashi Yamakawa finished 3rd at his first WOC. We hope he will return to the WOC next year. Many players were impressed by his style of play.

Comment by Takashi Yamakawa: "Actually, it was a tougher tournament than any Japanese one. I enjoyed the WOC and staying in Stockholm so much. I'm not so satisfied with the result, 3rd place, but at the same time I was relieved that I can play close games with world top players.
Before the tournament, I couldn't imagine how the WOC is at all, and couldn't prepare for it appropriately. Next year, I will aim more seriously to win the WOC by considering the experience of this year. See you at the WOC 2014!"

Annual WOF Meeting, lunch and games at Pub Engelen

Finals

Ladies final and final game 2

Katie Wu 32 - 32 Caroline Odsell

A very exciting game in which Katie was really pressed for time in the endgame. She gave away a + 24 position but managed to keep the draw. As Caroline chose the colour, the draw-win victory is Katie's. Congrats Katie!!!!!

For both ladies it was their second ladies final at a WOC. Katie was runner-up in 2006 and Caroline in 2007

Lari was very nervous and tried to watch the game but little Coby kept distracting him at every crucial move. But they sure were a proud and happy family when all was done.

Female Final:

WU Katie 32 - 32 ODSEL Caroline
WOC 2013, Ladies Final

Katie's comment: I did better than expected, very happy about it. Sooooo much fun we had for this year's WOC!!! You guys are the best!!! Thanks to the amazing people for organizing such a great event! It has always been so enjoyable to spend time with you guys, we really love our Othello family.

Main Final:

Happy team Japan after game 1

Kazuki Okamoto 43 - 21 Piyanat Aunchulee
Piyanat Aunchulee 30 - 34 Kazuki Okamoto

Congrats Kazuki, a well deserved victory!!!!!!! He was runnerup at the WOC in 2012, but this time the trophy is his. He won the final in 2 - 0.
First and Third place for Japan and again Best Team.

Piyanat Aunchulee played and excellent tourney. After a third place at the WOC in 2010 and a second place at WOC 2011, he had an "off" year in 2012 as he did not qualify for the semifinals. He came back strong this year.

OKAMOTO Kazuki 43 - 21 AUNCHULEE Piyanat
WOC 2013, Final game 1
Black took the advantage at midgame, let white have 3 corners and won

AUNCHULEE Piyanat 30 - 34 OKAMOTO Kazuki
WOC 2013, Final game 2
Kazuki played a losing move at move 50, G1 instead of D1 which would have been a draw. But Piyanat then played 50: A6, a losing move where A5 (A6 B7 A8 A7 B8 A1 D1) was a 33 - 31 win for black.

Kazuki Okamoto's way to the top

Day 1: rounds 1 - 7
Kazuki Okamoto 61 - 03 Pavel Radzivilovsky
Roy Arnold 02 - 62 Kazuki Okamoto
Kazuki Okamoto 34 - 30 Oskar Eklund
Piyanat Aunchulee 32 - 32 Kazuki Okamoto
Kazuki Okamoto 46 - 18 Yuji Miyazaki
Takashi Yamakawa 37 - 27 Kazuki Okamoto
Kazuki Okamoto 40 - 24 Ben Seeley

Day 2: rounds 8 - 13
Nicky van den Biggelaar 27 - 37 Kazuki Okamoto
Kazuki Okamoto 48 - 16 Miroslav Voráček
Marc Tastet 22 - 42 Kazuki Okamoto
Michele Borassi 30 - 34 Kazuki Okamoto
Kazuki Okamoto 36 - 28 Brian Rose
Sky Chong 26 - 38 Kazuki Okamoto

Award Ceremony

see you next year!!!!!

Thanks to Matteusz Sosnowski, my partner at the WOC Media Desk, and his partner Pia Malmgren, for making my stay in Stockholm such a fun event.

Thanks to the table judges on table 1 - 3, who did a great job: Martin Fransen, Niklas Wettergren and Simon Ingelman-Sundberg

Thanks to Stéphane Nicolet and Emmanuel Lazard for all their help.

Thanks to all the players and all the WOF and Swedish staff. Last but not least, thanks to Bengt Steentoft, Head Tourney Director. Hope to see you next year!