Professional Players' Go Styles

"Here is a list I've published before. It looks like a candidate for Sensei's Library if someone wants to copy it there (making room for additions, of course). The views are not mine, but are collated from pro commentaries or the players' own assessments." (John Fairbairn, RGG, January 12, 2002)

• Awaji Shuzo: Especially tenacious once behind, likes to fight.
• Cao Dayuan: Solid fundamentals, thick, unhurried play, a little timid but not submissive, perhaps weak at attacking. Similar to Shao Zhenzhong.
• Chen Jiarui: Master of attack, good at finding unexpected plays.
• Chen Linxin: Pays special attention to shape; similar to Ma Xiaochun.
• Chen Zude: Daring, main proponent of Chinese fuseki.
• Cheng Xiaoliu: Prefers to take territory and shinogi.
• Chino Tadahiko: Orthodox.
• Cho Chikun: "My game consists in bringing everything together without using set patterns of play. This absence of style is my style." Experiments in the opening. "My failing is that I tend to make extensions that are too wide." Dislikes large-scale josekis.
• Cho Hun-hyeon: Master of technique and quick, fighting jabs leading to a roundhouse knockout.
• Daigo Hisakichi: Admires Shuei.
• Fujisawa Hideyuki: Idiosyncratic with penchant for large-scale, thick moves. Known for blunders (poka - careless oversights).
• Fujisawa Hosai: Powerful fighter.
• Go Seigen: Devotee of Shusaku 1-3-5 until 5-dan, then switched to fast-paced style, trying to settle corners with a single move. Co-founder of Shinfuseki. Amorphous style, often making trades based on intuitive assessment of the position.
• Hamajima Hisayoshi: Admires Segoe.
• Hane Yasumasa: Original and large-scale.
• Haruyama Isamu: Fast-paced.
• Hashimoto Shoji: Aggressive and tenacious. Noted for spending bulk of time on opening.
• Hashimoto Yoshimi: Orthodox.
• Hayase Gendo: Likes sharp fighting; admires Shusai.
• Hayase Hiroshi: Orthodox.
• Hayashi Yutaro: Solid; nicknamed Little Shusaku.
• Hisai Keishi: Orthodox.
• Honinbo Genjo: Similar to Takemiya.
• Honinbo Shuei: Strong in all departments but preferred, when he had a choice, quiet moves to fighting moves. Especially early in his career, when he had Black, it was noticeable that he won many games by slender margins. Master of miai.
• Hua Yigang: Steady, relying on ordinary moves.
• Ishida Yoshio: Good at counting game and accurate yose; nicknamed The Computer.
• Ishige Kakuo: Sober (shibui), using thickness to attack.
• Ishigure Ikuro: Large-scale.
• Ishii Kunio: Sharp, famous for brute strength.
• Ishii Mamoru: Power.
• Iwamoto Kaoru: Bean-scattering go.
• Iwata Tatsuaki: Solid and tenacious; gentle, aji-leaving style.
• Izutani Minoru: Orthodox; admires Shuei.
• Jiang Mingjiu: Good at managing the centre.
• Jiang Zhujiu: Sharp, stubborn fighter. Forte is the middle game.
• Jin Qianqian: Brave fighter, willing to take risks.
• Kada Katsuji: Famous for taking a long time in the opening.
• Kageyama Toshiro: Solid and good at counting.
• Kaji Kazutame: Fast-paced.
• Kajiwara Takeo: Best player for sharpness of local perception. Famous for Drill Strategy and direction of play. Proponent of kyudo - "seeking the way" school of go.
• Kamimura Kunio: Orthodox.
• Kang Dongyun: territory oriented style
• Kano Yoshinori: Steady, and good in large-scale positions.
• Kataoka Satoshi: steady yoritsuki (using thickness to harrass enemy groups and so make profit). Maybe too laid back.
• Kato Masao: Nicknamed "The Assassin"; powerful attacker, especially early in his career. About 1990 changed to a style that earned the nickname "Endgame Kato".
• Kim In: Slow thick moves like his teacher Kitani.
• Kinoshita Takao: Admires Shusai.
• Kitani Minoru: Most startling changes in style of any player. Originally powerful fighter. Then as co-founder of Shinfuseki emphasised centre. Shortly after switched to favouring territory and like most things, experimented it to the extremes. Did not like knight's moves. Ultra-stubborn.
• Kobayashi Izumi: Initially closer in style to her father Kobayashi Koichi, now shifting towards her husband Cho U's style.
• Kobayashi Koichi: Ferocious in attack (1976), precise "knows what he wants" style. A territory oriented player.
• Kobayashi Satoru: Changed in 1997 to a more territorial game but still underpinned by his original placid/broadminded (ooraka na) style.
• Kodama Kunio: Orthodox.
• Kono Yukio: Admires Jowa.
• Kuroda Yukio: Admires Segoe and Iwamoto.
• Kusaka Kaneo: Thick.
• Kuwahara Munehisa: Theoretical.
• Liu Xiaoguang: Fierce "straight-line" fighter, tight-rope walker, admires Kato Masao, deep and accurate calculator.
• Ma Xiaochun: Light and floating style and so hard to attack, but will slug it out if opponent picks a fight. Richly imaginative.
• Matsumoto Tokuji: Orthodox.
• Matsuoka Teruo: Severe.
• Matsuura Yoshihiro: Rich in originality.
• Mimura Tomoyasu: Attacking from thickness.
• Miwa Yoshiro: Good at powerful fighting.
• Miyamoto Yoshihisa: Thick style, preferring to catch up from behind after the middle game.
• Miyashita Shuyo: Fond of direct attacks.
• Miyazawa Goro: Violent style leading to wild fighting makes him popular with go fans.
• Mori Toyokazu: Admires Shuei.
• Nakagawa Shinji: Nimble.
• Nakamura Yutaro: Solid; nicknamed New Stars Killer.
• Nakaoka Jiro: Territorial.
• Nie Weiping: All-round player but especially good at fighting, likes sharp, double-edged contests and attacks strongly.
• O Meien: Famous for original opening moves, called "meienisms"
• O Rissei: Plays overly tight with Black.
• Oeda Yusuke: Orthodox.
• Ohira Kenji: Admires Jowa.
• Ohira Shuzo: Known as especially strong on the side.
• Okubo Ichigen: Flexible.
• Otake Hideo: Quick to see things, best player for sharpness of perception; stability increasing with experience (1976). Fond of good shape and abhors vulgar style. His style has been called the "Otake Aesthetic". Superb at fast play. Most games prefers komoku, but occasionally tries sanrensei.
• Ozaki Harumi: Admires Shuho.
• Ozawa Mitsugoro: Very similar to Honinbo Shuho.
• Pak Yeong-hun: Peaceful, with a very strong endgame and positional judgment.
• Qian Yuping: Good at luring opponent into traps. Does not let up even when ahead. More peaceful later in career.
• Rin Kaiho: Originally a territory-oriented player, but later became more aggressive and influence oriented. Said to have become less accurate/confident in counting game late in his career.
• Rui Naiwei: Aggressive fighter. Prefers the Mini-Chinese opening.
• Sakai Michiharu: Solid.
• Sakai Yasuo: Admires Suzuki Tamejiro.
• Sakakibara Shoji: Powerful.
• Sakamaki Kosuke: Admires Shuho.
• Sakata Eio: Sees so many variations that it gives him the confidence to play lines out even in complex situations. Often effects trades based on calculation. Good at getting out of tight situations and so likes to grab territory and then play shinogi.
• Sanno Hirotaka: Admires Shusaku.
• Segawa Yoshio: Thick.
• Seo Pong-su: A gambler, enjoys even the most nerve-wracking fights, does not worry about pure shape.
• Seo Hisashi: Thick.
• Shao Zhenzhong: Pragmatic and patient, willing to ignore standard go theory, cool and detached, friendly style. Good at guiding the game and grasping opportunities. Flexible. Quiet style emphasising full-board vision and positional judgement to counter attacks.
• Shi Ding'an: Seizes the initiative by retaliation then keeps up pressure.
• Shimamura Toshihiro: moderate, style called ibushi-gin (oxidised silver = shibui).
• Shirai Matsumi: Admires Sakai Michiharu.
• Shiraishi Yutaka: Will never make an overplay even when behind.
• Sometani Kazuo: No showing off.
• Song Xuelin: Good at turning games around; reserved.
• Sugiuchi Masao: Theoretical.
• Sumino Tsunehiro: Territorial; admires Shuho.
• Suzuki Goro: Territorial.
• Takagawa Kaku: Changed from powerful "rustic go" (Shusai's term) in early career to beautifully balanced style, with fondness for simple moves such as caps. Liked thick play even though this led to thick games.
• Takeda Hiroyoshi: Straightforward, no tricks.
• Takemiya Masaki: Famous for Cosmic (he prefers Natural) style, accentuating moyos (not necessarily deliberately). Has best understanding of play in the four or five lines round the centre point.
• Tanimiya Teiji: Highly flexible.
• Tozawa Akinobu: Hard fighter.
• Tsujii Ryosuke: Orthodox.
• Ukita Masayuki: Admires Shuwa.
• Ushinohama Satsuo: Natural and poised.
• Wimmer, Manfred: Grinding power go.
• Wu Songsheng: Original thinker, gentle Taiji style, creates many original lines in standard openings.
• Wu Yulin: Honest, good at shape but nervous in tournaments.
• Xie Yimin:Agressive style
• Yamabe Toshiro: Free-running, naturally gifted.
• Yamada Kimio: Solid, no showiness, plays a long game. Perhaps not greedy enough. Similar to Yamashiro Hiroshi.
• Yamazaki Masuo: Powerful.
• Yang Hui: Likes high positions that favour fighting.
• Yang Jinhua: Solid fundamentals, thick play.
• Yi Ch'ang-ho: Sober, emphasises sabaki while taking territory; accurate at counting game. Natural (that is, no unnatural moves).
• Yoda Norimoto: Had to overcome a certain brittleness to reach the top.
• Yoshida Yoichi: Focuses on influence.
• Yu Ch'ang-hyeok: Artistic, attacks using thickness.

You may find your own style here: http://style.baduk.org/

Also see: WhichProDoYouMostPlayLike