The Belgian team faced a tough opponent in Round 3 of the Pandanet Team Championship, falling 3-1 to Austria. Despite the defeat, Vincent's resilience on Board 4 kept Belgium from being swept, preserving a measure of pride in a hard-fought contest. The lineup for this round featured Lucas, Lucman, Kevin, and Vincent. Here's how the matches unfolded:
Board 1: Lucas Battles Viktor Lin in a Close Contest
Lucas (White) went up against Austria's top player, Viktor Lin, in a highly anticipated matchup. The two had faced each other several times before, with Viktor holding a slight edge in their rivalry.
This game lived up to expectations, delivering a complex and dynamic battle. Both players avoided large-scale territory, opting instead for intricate fighting with small groups spread across the board. By the midgame, Lucas found himself trailing by 9 points after his group on the left was surrounded. However, he there was potential for a comeback. To succeed at reducing his opponents influence in the centre while ensuring the survival of his group.
The game came down to a critical ko fight initiated by Lucas. If successful, he could turn the tables. But Viktor played it safe, ignoring the initial threat and forcing Lucas to settle for capturing a few stones. This wasn’t enough to close the gap, Lucas resigned.
Board 2: Lucman Fights Hard but Falls Short
Lucman (Black) took on Peter Neubauer in their first recorded match. He opened with his favorite joseki in the southeast, but this time, Peter came out ahead, securing an 8-point lead early on.
The game transitioned into a moyo-building phase, with Lucman looking for opportunities to regain ground. He launched an invasion at move 49, and white did an invasion by saving the stones at P8. But even after the trades and ko, Peter's lead remained intact.
Despite Lucman's best efforts to apply pressure across the board, Peter held firm. He secured life for his groups in the center and west, while creating a significant moyo in the northwest. In the end, Peter converted his early lead into a decisive victory, winning by more than 15 points.
Board 3: Kevin Falls to Relentless Pressure
Kevin (White) faced Lisa Mayer in a game that was evenly balanced through the opening stages. By move 49, Kevin had successfully reduced Black's potential in the south.
A sequence in the northwest weakened Kevin’s groups on the left, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Lisa capitalized on this, launching a series of relentless assaults. Kevin managed to secure a good result locally in the east, but Lisa used the momentum to invade the north and split Kevin's groups.
Unable to defend everything, Kevin ultimately lost a key group in the north and resigned. It was a well-executed game by Lisa, who maintained pressure throughout.
Board 4: Vincent Saves Belgium’s Pride
With Belgium down 3-0, Vincent (Black) stepped up to face Valentin Hauer, determined to prevent a sweep. Vincent played a solid opening, prioritizing the safety of his groups and creating a stable foundation.
White’s invasion at move 42, however, triggered chaos. Valentin applied maximum pressure on the east, but Vincent responded with calm and precise defensive moves. When the dust settled, Vincent emerged with a 10-point lead, having cut off White’s stones and established strong shapes.
As the game progressed, White attempted to build a massive central territory. Vincent saw the opportunity to exploit a weakness, launching a deep invasion and sacrificing a single stone to reduce White’s potential significantly. With White unable to close the gap, Vincent secured the win, salvaging a point for Belgium.
Final Score: Austria 3 – Belgium 1
While Austria walked away as the better team this round, Vincent’s victory ensured Belgium avoided a sweep. Congratulations to Austria on a well-deserved win.
For those eager to review the games in detail, the records are available on the Pandanet website.
