E-J Youth Editor Paul Barchilon reporting live from Romania.
China is at the head of the pack in this year’s World Youth Go Championship, in Bucharest, Romania, with a first place lead in the Junior Division, and a finalist in the top 4 in the Senior. Round 2 saw Liao Yuanpei 5d (China) take an early lead by defeating Shibano Toramaru 6d (Japan) in the Junior Division (under 12), while Ke Jie 2P (China), Koyama Kuya 6d (Japan) and Cheng Cheng-Hsun 7d (Chinese Taipei) all won their games in the Senior division. Yuanpei continued his lead in rounds 3 and 4, by defeating Chinese Taipei and Korea in the Junior, while Cheng-Hsun pulled a surprise upset in the Senior Division, by defeating 13-year-old Chinese pro Ke Jie, but then lost to Japan’s Kuya in Round 4, who in turn was defeated by Ke Jie in round 5. The top four in each bracket are now set for the finals: China, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei in the Senior; China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, and the US in the Junior, which will be held Wednesday Aug. 17th. American Junior contestant Aaron Ye 4d won entry into the finals by a stroke of luck – he drew China as his first opponent, a game he lost, but then gained three wins in a row by competing against other kids who had lost, narrowly edging Shibano Toramaru 6d (at left, in photo below, in his match against Singapore’s Yi Fei 3d).
For full results visit the WYGC website. The E-J is partnering with EuroGoTV to provide coverage, and we are broadcasting games on KGS daily. Records of many games are here, and we are providing live video streaming of several boards as well. The players will all take a break tomorrow, for the traditional day-off sightseeing trip, which will take us to Bran Castle, one of several that can claim some connection with Vlad Tepes, the real person behind the legend of Dracula. We will also visit Peles Museum and castle, and visit scenic Gradistei in Brasov. Assuming no parties are lost to vampires while we are gone, the finals will commence on August 17th, at 9 am GMT+2. Look for live broadcasts on KGS from EuroGoTV1-4, with a corresponding video feed if possible. Photos and story by Paul Barchilon: Top: I am dubbing Yuanpei , at left, “the boy with too much time on his hands.” Having recorded almost all of his games, I have noticed he barely uses any of the time on his clock, while his opponents, like Lee Ye-Chan 4d, at right, tend to run out of it. Aside from playing faster, Yuanpei seems to play better as well, and is the only player at this event to be undefeated. Bottom: neither of these boys made it to the top 4, but I felt this photo captured the spirit of the event.
For full results visit the WYGC website. The E-J is partnering with EuroGoTV to provide coverage, and we are broadcasting games on KGS daily. Records of many games are here, and we are providing live video streaming of several boards as well. The players will all take a break tomorrow, for the traditional day-off sightseeing trip, which will take us to Bran Castle, one of several that can claim some connection with Vlad Tepes, the real person behind the legend of Dracula. We will also visit Peles Museum and castle, and visit scenic Gradistei in Brasov. Assuming no parties are lost to vampires while we are gone, the finals will commence on August 17th, at 9 am GMT+2. Look for live broadcasts on KGS from EuroGoTV1-4, with a corresponding video feed if possible. Photos and story by Paul Barchilon: Top: I am dubbing Yuanpei , at left, “the boy with too much time on his hands.” Having recorded almost all of his games, I have noticed he barely uses any of the time on his clock, while his opponents, like Lee Ye-Chan 4d, at right, tend to run out of it. Aside from playing faster, Yuanpei seems to play better as well, and is the only player at this event to be undefeated. Bottom: neither of these boys made it to the top 4, but I felt this photo captured the spirit of the event.