WOC 2014 Results

Compliments to the Thailand Othello Association for a perfect 38th World Othello Championship! Want to see some of the games? Tables 1 - 5 were broadcasted by webcam.

November 6th, round 1 - 7

round 1 - 3

After 3 rounds, 8 players with 3 points: Yan Song {CHN}, Francesco Marconi {ITA}, Makoto Suekuni {JPN}, Ben Seeley {USA}, Roel Hobo {NLD}, Kazuki Okamoto {JPN}, Siew Kun Yap {MYS} and Ching Wuen Chew {SGP}. The 3 former World Champions, Okamoto, Seeley and Suekuni are still undefeated. Nicky van den Biggelaar {NLD}, last year's #4, started the tourney with a 30 - 34 loss against Jacky Fu. Piyanat Aunchulee {THA} lost in round 2 against Romy Hidayat {IDN}.

BERG Matthias 28 - 36 VORACEK Miroslav
38th WOC, round 1

start of first round

AUNCHULEE Piyanat 26 - 38 HIDAYAT Romy
2014 WOC, round 2

Romy Hidayat - Piyanat Aunchulee

round 4

SEELEY Ben 40 - 24 OKAMOTO Kazuki
38th WOC, round 4

Lots of delay at the tourney because of a discussion about a missflip at table 1. In the end the game was restarted with a 5 sec. penalty for Seeley. After Kazuki's move Ben stopped the clock again, I think there was again a complaint about an incorrect placed disc. Ben asked if he could place his 2 final discs and then flip the discs, this was not allowed. The rule states you have to flip your discs after each move. Ben choose to move H4, H8 instead of the other way round. This meant he lost 5 discs but kept him in time. Watch the webcam video at 6:45:33

Four players still undefeated after 4 rounds: Ben Seeley {USA}, Roel Hobo {NLD}, Ching Wuen Chew {SGP} and Makoto Suekuni {JPN}. Highest ranked lady is Siew Kun Yap {MYS} with 3 points.

Ben Seeley - Kazuki Okamoto, round 4

round 5

WZebra analysis Seeley - Suekuni (above zero black leads, below zero white leads)

SEELEY Ben 30 - 34 SUEKUNI Makoto
38th WOC, round 6

Makoto Suekuni {JPN} and Ben Seeley {USA} both at 5 points after round 5. They played against each other in round 6. It was a 30 - 34 win for Makoto Suekuni.

round 7

CHEW Ching Wuen 37 - 27 OKAMOTO Kazuki
38th WOC, round 7

SUEKUNI Makoto 49 - 15 HOBO Roel
38th WOC, round 7

Makoto Suekuni {JPN}, WOC in 1997, runner-up in 2003, 2004 and 2006 and third place in 2009 is the best of the 64 players at the end of day 1. Best lady is Joanna William.
Ben Seeley, WOC in 2003 and 2004 and semifinalist in 2002 and 2006 lost only 1 in round 6 against Makoto Suekuni. Ben's comment -"my first day of the World Othello Championship went fairly well... my win streak stopped at 32 wins, but I've won 6 out of 7 games and that is a good day in this very strong tournament".
Francesco Marconi {ITA}, third place in 1992 won 5 out of seven. It would be great if he could make it to the semifinals again, 15 years later.
Kazuki Okamoto {JPN} , runnerup in 2012 and WOC in 2013 shares a fourth place with 10 other players who have 5 points.
Piyanat Aunchulee {THA}, second place in 2013 and 2011 and third place in 2010 has 4 points.
Matthias Berg {DEU}, semifinalist in 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 also has 4 points.
Nicky van den Biggelaar {NLD} won't be very happy with his results so far. He made it to the semifinals in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and is now way behind the top field with 3 points. The two other Dutch players, Jan de Graaf and Roel Hobo both have 5 points. Roel's comment - "Day 1, 5 out if 7 wins, only losses against Ben Seeley and Makoto Suekuni. Trying to continue this flow tomorrow."