American Go E-Journal » 2010 » November

US GO CONGRESS ARRANGES AIRLINE DISCOUNTS

Monday November 29, 2010

To make the 2011 U.S. Go Congress in Santa Barbara, CA easier — and more affordable — for those attending from far away, the Congress has contracted discounts with major airlines. Discounts of 5-10% are now available with American Airlines and United Airlines for anyone flying into Santa Barbara — and in some cases LAX — within three days of the start or end of the July 30-August 7 Congress.  Additionally, rental car discounts of up to 20% are available when booked at the time of flight reservations.  Arrangements have also been made for those interested in flying on Southwest for any groups of 10 or more with the same itinerary.  Look for sign-ups for airports coming soon and check out the 2011 Congress website for more details.
– reported by Lisa Scott, 2011 Go Congress Co-Director

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THE TRAVELING GO BOARD: A FLOWER BLOOMS IN THE JAIL YARD

Friday November 26, 2010

It has now been almost a year since I first visited the Federal Correctional Institute in Englewood, CO, and I am pleased to report that they now have a weekly go club with regular attendance of 10 to 20 inmates. My first article on this program sparked a tremendous outpouring of support from the go community:  Slate and Shell donated over 20 books for the inmates, Yellow Mountain Imports sent a treasure trove of nice playing sets and books, SmartGo donated free licenses for the full version of their program,  Janice Kim sent more copies of the Learn to Play Go series, and of course the AGF provided free sets and matching funds as well.  All of these resources have been put to good use by the inmates, who are making steady progress.  I have been able to visit the prison every few months, and have had a warm reception every time. Continue reading…)

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REGGINOS WINS 2010 CYPRUS CHAMPIONSHIP

Wednesday November 24, 2010

Dimitris Regginos 1d (r) is the 2010 Cyprus Champion, a title he’s held since 2003 when the Cyprus Go Association was formed, with only exception being in 2008. In second place was Argyris Fellas 3k and in third place Nurman Aylanc (l). The Championship was held November 20-21 at the English School Old Boys and Girls Association Clubhouse in Nicosia, Cyprus.
– Nicholas Roussos

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Categories: Europe
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NY GO CENTER FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Monday November 22, 2010

The New York Go Center will close its doors this Sunday after fifteen years of operation on East 52 St. in Manhattan, according a message sent to their mailing list last Friday. The Center began operations in 1995, in a building donated by Kaoru Iwamoto 9P with the mission of promoting go in New York. In a letter informing the Center of the intent to close, the Nihon Kiin declared their “desire to continue to promote go in the New York area even after the sale of the Center.” Representatives of the Nihon Kiin will fly to New York next week to begin plans for this occur. For the immediate future, the Center intends to operate as a “Go Center without walls,” getting to know other groups of players in the New York area, so that the Center can become a common ground for all the playing communities in the world’s most diverse city when the Center regains a permanent home, hopefully some time next year. This Sunday November 28, the Center will open at 1p, and there will be a “closing/holiday party” in the evening. Dinner will be available for a small donation.  Please RSVP to manager@nygocenter.org if you plan to attend, so the chef knows how much to cook.

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Categories: U.S./North America
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GO CLASSIFIED: Webmaster Wanted

Monday November 22, 2010

WANTED: AGA webmaster! Please submit statements of interest and qualifications to Andrew Jackson, VP, Operations at operations@usgo.org with a copy to president@usgo.org by Tuesday, November 30.

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Categories: Go Classified
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ZHAO JU TOPS TACOMA TOURNEY

Monday November 22, 2010

After a two-year hiatus, the Tacoma (WA) Go Club hosted a four round, Thanksgiving/Veterans’ Day tournament at the Seattle Go Center on November 21, attended by 13 participants. Zhao Ju, 5d, took first place in the dan/high kyu players division. Daniel Top, 2k took 2nd place, and Peter Mooyman, 4k took third place. Ken Masutomo, 11k took first place in the lower kyu division. Job Betcher, 8k took second place, and his brother, Jordan Betcher, 8k took third place.
– Gordon Castanza

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Categories: U.S./North America
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SYRACUSE FALL RATINGS TOURNEY

Monday November 22, 2010

The Syracuse Go Club hosted its Fall Ratings Tournament at the Betts Branch Library on Saturday, November 20. Seventeen players participated in this event, and although some were more successful than others over the goban, all players departed at the end of the day with new go books presented as door prizes, thanks to Slate and Shell.
– report/photo by Richard Moseson; photo: Ben Gonnella (foreground left) plays Jared Beck and Nick Jerge plays Jim Howard

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Categories: U.S./North America
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HUAXIA CHINESE SCHOOL HOSTS MINDSPORTS EVENT

Sunday November 21, 2010

The Huaxia Chinese School in West Windsor-Plainsboro, New Jersey is organizing its first mindsports games competition on December 5. The competition — open only to students, parents and teachers at Huaxia – already has about 200 players registered for half a dozen events, including chess, go, xiangqi (Chinese Chess), checkers, bridge and gobang. Feng Yun 9P is coordinating the event and Kevin Huang 7d is one of the favorites, reports organizer Rulin Sun. The largest school of its kind in the United States, Huaxia consists of 19 branches, serving over 7,000 students in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut areas.

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Categories: U.S./North America
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WHY DID MY RATING CHANGE?

Saturday November 20, 2010

How can your rating change even if you haven’t played any games? When an earlier tournament is submitted after more recent tournaments have been rated, we go back and recalculate all tournaments starting with the newly submitted one, explains Ratings Coordinator Jonathan Bresler. This may cause some ratings to move in non-intuitive ways. If there’s a path of played games from you to at least one player from the earlier tournament, your rating will change as a result of the newly submitted tournament. This ensures that the ratings system is not held up by delayed tournament reports. You can check your current rating here where you can also check the list of rated tournaments. You can also review your own tournament history or that of other players — in the American Go Association Go Database.

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Categories: U.S./North America
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YOUR MOVE/READERS WRITE: How to Fix A Board?

Saturday November 20, 2010

How to Fix A Board? The Boise Go Club recently acquired a lovely but badly damaged 3″ floor board. Refinishing all six sides and the feet is necessary. We have access to tools and skills to remove the surface with abrasives or planes. Which might be better? Once we strip and smooth this great block of wood, we must apply a grid and I’d rather not do it with a black Sharpie; should I try to find someone with a CNC plotter? Anyone used laser etching? Perhaps readers of the E-Journal can help us with some advice or point us toward some resources. David Bogie dbogie@idahopower.com

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Categories: U.S./North America
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