PENG WINS MGA WINTER TOURNEY: Haijing Peng 2D won the January 10 Massachusetts Go Association’s Winter Tournament in Somerville. 26 players ranging from 2 dan to 20 kyu participated. Winner’s report: 1st: Haijing Peng 2D; 2nd: Doug Franz 12k; 3rd: Eric Reid 4k. (reported by TD Eva Casey)
JUJO GAMES BROADCAST LIVE: The EJ team partnered with KGS to broadcast from last weekend’s Jujo Jiang Tournament in San Francisco, CA. “The top games of the Jujo tourney attracted hundreds of observers from all over the world,” reports KGS Senior Administrator Akane Negishi. “The last round got over 480 observers at one point, overall it was a great turn out! The EJ’s Chris Burg did a wonderful job as a recorder, keeping the audience excited and curious, and everything went very smoothly. Here at KGS we were very happy to see that many people enjoyed and appreciated the broadcasts.” See attached for the game record of the tournament’s top-board final round: look for more game records to be posted online soon.
AGHS SCHOOL TEAMS TOURNEY: Registration is now open for the American Go Honor Society (AGHS) School Team Tournament. Modeled on the team tournaments featured in Hikaru no Go, the popular event is now in its 9th year; over 200 youth, from 70 different schools, entered last year. All games will be played on the KGS Go Server, and the deadline to enter is Feb. 2. The AGA and the AGF are providing $3,000 in gift certificates distributed among every team that completes the tournament, with extra prizes for the winners in several different brackets. Teams can be formed by any school with at least three go players, and by home-schooled kids who want to play together. Youth go clubs in alternative schools or part time schools are also allowed, as are teams from youth at public library clubs. The competition begins on the first weekend of March and continues for 8 weeks afterwards. Rounds lasts for two weeks, during which time each player on a team must complete one game against their assigned opponent. For more information, and to register, go to the AGHS website.
U.S. CONGRESS SITE LAUNCHED: The website for the 2010 U.S. Go Congress has been launched, reports AGA webmaster Steve Colburn. This year’s U.S. Go Congress runs July 31 – August 8, 2010 in Colorado Springs, CO at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
SEATTLE GO CENTER NOW TAX-DEDUCTIBLE: After a three-year effort by the Seattle Go Center board and staff, the Seattle Go Center can now receive tax deductible contributions. “Just before the holidays, the Center received notification that IRS had approved a status change to a 501(c)(3) public charity,” reports Go Center organizer Deborah Niedermeyer. “At a celebratory year-end fundraiser, the Go Center raised $2800 in donations. An additional $2100 will come from matching grants by donors’ employers.” photo: Deborah Niedermeyer with Board member John Hudson. report/photo by Brian Allen.
AGF DRIVE NETS FUNDS FOR GO PROJECTS: The American Go Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign is in high gear. “Seventy three donors have answered the call,” says AGF President Terry Benson. “We’re especially grateful to the sixteen current and former AGA members who gave for the first time during such challenging economic times.” The funds are needed to support an increased level of activity: the AGF sent more than 120 free Classroom Starter Sets to new youth programs in schools, libraries, after-school programs, 30% more than last year. Business is also picking up in The AGF Teacher Store, which opened last year with a $20,000 inventory; traffic has been so brisk that another shipment is on the way. More new programs mean greater use of matching funds, equipment grants and other resources, so the AGF is counting on more donations before the drive is over. “We’re trying to fill the gap caused by the loss of funding from the Ing Foundation. We need support to keep building the American community and maybe even find the next Michael Redmond,” Benson said. “The web makes it easy to help.”
