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American Go E-Journal » 2011 » May
1st-Round Winners in Wisonet Cup
Monday May 23, 2011
Winners in the recent first round of Wisonet Cup Go Tournament were Minshan Shou (defeated Forest Song); Xinyu Tu (d. Xiruo Liu); Kevin Huang (d. Benjamin Lockhart); Andy Liu (d. Qiyun Zhu). Stay tuned for details on when Round 2 will be held.
– Ronghao Chen, TD
Stony Brook Hosts First-Annual Tourney
Monday May 23, 2011
The Stony Brook (NY) University Go Club hosted its first annual 
tournament on May 7. The 4-round tournament attracted 28 players and was held during Stony Brook University’s Sakura Matsuri celebration, which included a number of other Asian cultural events which tournament goers were able to enjoy between matches. Anthony Garcia won the tournament. The tournament boasted free entry, AGA sanctioned games and $250 worth of prizes. “If all goes well, the SBU Go Club will host another tournament at the same time next year,” reports SBU Go Club President-Elect Sean Burton.
NAIM Qualifier in DC-Baltimore Set for June 17-18
Monday May 23, 2011
The Capital Go Club and Greater Washington Go Club (GWGC) will host a North American Ing Masters (NAIM ) qualifier in the DC metro area June 17-18. The opening round will be on Friday 6/17 in the evening at the GWGC in Bethesda, MD, and the remaining three rounds on 6/17, so that players do not have to squeeze four games into one day. Email agatd1@gmail.com to register. All levels are welcome to watch and/or play free or rated games. Stay tuned for details.
– Zhiyuan ‘Edward’ Zhang, NAIM Co-Director
NAIM Online Qualifier 1 Registration Deadline 5/28
Monday May 23, 2011
The first online NAIM tournament qualifier will be held on June 4-5. It will be a 4-round online tournament and there will be two rounds (12 PM EST, 6 PM EST) each day. Email tournaments@usgo.org to register. Please inform TD of your status (Skype ID, KGS ID, AGA ID, Green card holder or US Citizen) when you register. The deadline for registration is 8 PM EST May 28. Online qualifier 2 will be on KGS during June 25-26, and the deadline for registration is June 10.
– Tengxiao Yang, NAIM Online Qualifier Co-director
Evanston Go Club Gets Animated
Monday May 23, 2011
The Evanston Go Club taught over 100 people to play go May 21-22 at Anime
Central at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. Anime Central (ACen) is Chicago’s and the Midwest’s largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention. Last year it attracted over 15,000 attendees. “This is our favorite event of the year!” said club president Mark Rubenstein. “We teach beginners on 9×9 boards, while more experienced players play 13×13 or 19×19. We even have a 9×9 tournament at the end of the day. Some of the kids love it so much, they stay for hours.” The Evanston Go Club has been teaching Go at ACEN for the past 5 years, and also teaches at local Japanese festivals and schools.
Kids Get Ready For Go Camp
Monday May 23, 2011
As summer beckons, young go players across the country are looking 
forward to the annual Youth East Coast Go Camp. AGF Scholarships to the Camp are still available. “If I get really strong at go camp I might be able to place in Go Congress… maybe even be an insei and then a pro. Who knows? I also want to meet old friends, and make new ones,” wrote Chance Reimer in a previous scholarship essay. “It was a great experience being around players as interested in go as I am,” wrote Matt Palumbo, “It was great to meet a pro too! I liked all the people there, and made a new friend who I continue to keep in touch with.” Parents like camp too: “The happiness he brought back from camp was radiating all over as soon as we picked him up from the airport, and his happiness is our happiness too,” wrote one parent after the event. The AGA East Coast Go Camp will be held at the Madison Suites Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey, July 23-30. Mingjiu Jiang 7p and Yuan Zhou 7d will be the primary teachers. For more information, visit the camp page here, or e-mail Mangual at agagocampeast@usgo.org.
-Paul Barchilon, EJ Youth Editor. Photo: Campers and staff at the 2009 Go Camp.
forward to the annual Youth East Coast Go Camp. AGF Scholarships to the Camp are still available. “If I get really strong at go camp I might be able to place in Go Congress… maybe even be an insei and then a pro. Who knows? I also want to meet old friends, and make new ones,” wrote Chance Reimer in a previous scholarship essay. “It was a great experience being around players as interested in go as I am,” wrote Matt Palumbo, “It was great to meet a pro too! I liked all the people there, and made a new friend who I continue to keep in touch with.” Parents like camp too: “The happiness he brought back from camp was radiating all over as soon as we picked him up from the airport, and his happiness is our happiness too,” wrote one parent after the event. The AGA East Coast Go Camp will be held at the Madison Suites Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey, July 23-30. Mingjiu Jiang 7p and Yuan Zhou 7d will be the primary teachers. For more information, visit the camp page here, or e-mail Mangual at agagocampeast@usgo.org.-Paul Barchilon, EJ Youth Editor. Photo: Campers and staff at the 2009 Go Camp.
Iyama Yuta Wins Bosai Cup for Japan
Wednesday May 18, 2011
Iyama Yuta 9P has surprised many in the Go world, defeating first Lee Sedol 9P and then Gu Li 9P, to bring the Bosai Cup home for Japan.
The 1st Bosai Cup was an invitational even held in Chongqing, China. The format is similar to the Super Meijin, with one player from each of China, Japan and Korea being invited. Three matches were played to determine the winner.
In the first match, Iyama beat Lee in 205 moves, to take his place in the final. Gu then knocked Lee out of the competition and challenged Iyama. On May 18, Iyama continued his good form, winning the tournament in 208 moves.
Is this the final step in Iyama Yuta’s rise to the top? Japanese go players and Iyama’s fans around the world certainly have something to celebrate today. Congratulations Iyama Yuta!
For more details, visit: Iyama Yuta defeats Gu Li, Japan wins Bosai Cup at Go Game Guru.
– David Ormerod; compiled from the reports on Go Game Guru. Photo: Iyama Yuta 9P on top of the world, receives the Bosai Cup.
Local Attractions Draw Families & Non-Players to U.S. Go Congress
Monday May 16, 2011
This year’s U.S. Go Congress at beautiful beach-side UC Santa Barbara has attracted many families with events for non-players and families, as well as players who want an afternoon off from the go board. Events for this year’s Congress – July 30-August 7 — include local Santa Barbara attractions, such as a golf excursion on Monday and buses to the local art fair, as well as trips to LA attractions like the La Brea Tar Pits and tours of Hollywood. “Santa Barbara is such an attractive vacation spot, we really wanted to give families a reason to come and enjoy themselves!” say Congress Organizers Lisa Scott and Andrew Jackson, “Of course, everyone will benefit more from future price discounts prices if they register early, so we are encouraging people to register before June 1 for the best price.”
2011 NAIM Online Qualifiers Scheduled
Monday May 16, 2011
Two online qualifying tournaments for the North American Ing Masters have been set for June 4-5 and June 25-26. “The event will be similar to previous ones,” says National Tournament Coordinator Edward Zhang, noting that this year players will be required to use a web camera. Email tournaments@usgo.org to register. Similar to local qualifiers — Andy Liu 7d and Curtis Tang 7d have won two local qualifiers in Boston, MA and Alhambra, CA — the online qualifier winners will each be guaranteed a place in the NAIM main event. “Professional players in U.S. and Canada should also email tournaments@usgo.org to let us know your playing status in the 2011 NAIM,” Zhang added.