January « 2012 « American Go E-Journal

Choi Jung Wins Female Myeongin at 15

Tuesday January 31, 2012

On January 26, 2012, Choi Jung 1P defeated Kim Miri 2P in Korea’s 13th Female Myeongin. At only 15 years of age, Choi also became the youngest female title holder in Korea – just 18 months after turning pro. En route to the final, Choi defeated the likes of Park Jieun 9P and Cho Hyeyeon 9P, but lamented the fact that she was unable to challenge Rui Naiwei 9P, because Rui recently to returned China. The cheeky youngster even went so far as to joke that Rui had run away from her. The Myeongin is Korea’s equivalent of the Japanese Meijin title. Choi’s next goal for 2012 is to get selected by a team to play in the popular Korean Baduk League. Congratulations Choi Jung!

– Jingning; Games and photos are available in her original article: Choi Jung makes her breakthrough in the 13th Female Myeongin. Photo: Choi Jung 1P (pictured) plays against Kim Miri 2P in the 13th Female Myeongin final.

Categories: World

Tags: Choi Jung, Kim Miri, Myeongin

Huiren Yang 1P Wins N.A. Ing Cup Selection Tournament

Monday January 30, 2012

Huiren Yang 1P defeated Janice Kim 3P and Feng Yun 9P last weekend to win the right to represent North America at this

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year’s Ing Cup World Professional Goe Championship. Yang, taking White, beat Kim on January 28 (see below left for game record) and then, taking Black, defeated Feng Yun on January 29 (game record at right). The knock-out North American Ing Cup Selection Tournament was held on IGS. Established in 1988, the Ing Cup was the first worldwide international professional tournament. With $500,000 in prizes, it has the largest prize of any international tournament. Every four years, 24 top players from around the world are invited to play.

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Categories: U.S./North America,World

Chunlan Cup Spots Still Available; Deadline Thursday, Feb. 2

Monday January 30, 2012

Spots are still available in the Chunlan Cup 2012 Selection Tournament for professionals and amateurs 6-dan and stronger. U.S. citizenship is required. Registration closes at midnight on Thursday, February 2nd. To register for this tournament, email tournaments@usgo.org. Click here for full details on the tournament schedule, rules and procedures.

Categories: U.S./North America

Sun Wins U.S. Youth Go Championships

Monday January 30, 2012

Fourteen-year-old Calvin Sun 7d reasserted his position as the strongest youth player in America this past weekend. He entered the double elimination finals for the US Youth Go Championships as one of four finalists, in the Senior Division, but went on to win every game in a dynamic show of force. Andrew Lu 6d was the only player to beat Sun in the qualifiers, also scoring a win against Hugh Zhang 7d, which gave him the top slot as the finals began. Lu started out well, defeating Zhang again in the first round of the finals, while Sun beat Matthew Harwit 4d. Round 2 saw Zhang knocking out Harwit, while Sun got even with Lu for his earlier defeat. Next Lu and Zhang squared off, but Zhang was determined not to lose a third time to Lu, and knocked him out in a strong third round showing. Zhang was now aiming for Sun again, the two boys have been rivals for years, competing in the Redmond Cup and other events since they were both small children. Sun stood his ground yet again though, knocking Zhang out in the exciting final match – and claiming the championship. The games drew over 200 spectators on KGS, and a great deal of enthusiasm from US youngsters who had competed in the qualifiers the week before. Sun will go on to represent the US at the World Youth Go Championships this summer. In the Junior Division, Aaron Ye 4d and Jeremy Chiu 4d faced off against Daniel Liu 3d and Justin Ching 1d. Ching was knocked out, setting the stage for a showdown between Liu, Chiu, and Ye. As all three boys live in the Bay Area, they will compete live at the BAGPA ratings tourney on Feb. 11. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo by Brian Allen: Calvin Sun at the US Go Congress.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

Vincent Zhuang 6D Wins Jin Chen Memorial Tournament

Monday January 30, 2012

Fifteen year old Vincent Zhuang 6D won the 2012 Jin Chen Memorial Tournament on Jan. 8. The annual tournament attracted 42 players, and was the largest AGA-rated event at the Seattle Go Center in several years.

Zhuang is a 10th grader living in Portland, Oregon. He won the 19×19 Iwamoto Youth Tournament at the Seattle Go Center two and a half years ago, when he was rated as a 1 kyu. This time he bested several 7 dans in the open section.

The total prize money was $1,000, thanks to a matching donation from the Ourjin Foundation. Winners in the Open Section were: Vincent Zhuang – 1st, Dong Baek Kim – 2nd, Edward Kim – 3rd, Jon Boley – 4th, Dong Ho Kim – 5th. “A” Handicap section: Chris Kirschner – 1st, Daniel Top – 2nd, Takehito Furuyama – 3rd. “B” Handicap section: Peter Christensen – 1st, Larry Eclipse – 2nd, Frank Brown – 3rd. “C” Handicap section: Bill Thompson – 1st, Gaurav Oberoi – 2nd, Yuriko Miyake – 3rd.
– report/photo by Brian Allen

Categories: U.S./North America

Yearbook Contributors Wanted

Saturday January 28, 2012

If you’d like to help put together the 2011 American Go Yearbook, email journal@usgo.org Experience with InDesign preferred. Be part of the team producing the annual collection of the best material from the American Go E-Journal.

Categories: U.S./North America

Lu and Chiu Top USYGC

Monday January 23, 2012

The United States Youth Go Championships (USYGC) pulled in almost 70 players this past weekend on KGS. Kids and teens competed in five different bands, with players ranging from 7 dan to the double digit kyus. Dan level kids were also competing for entry into the four player finals, and the right to represent the US at the World Youth Go Championships this summer. Fifteen-year-old Andrew Lu 6d (at left) finished first in the qualifiers for the Senior Division (under 16) while nine-year-old Jeremy Chiu 4d (at right) placed first in the Junior (under 12). The finals are double-elimination, and the first two rounds were held Sunday. The finals continue next week on KGS for the Senior Division, while Jr. Division kids will square off in person on Feb. 11th, at the BAGPA ratings tourney in Menlo Park CA. For full qualifier results, go here; for schedule and results in the finals go here. Senior finalists are Andrew Lu 6d, Hugh Zhang 7d, Calvin Sun 7d and Matthew Harwit 4d; Junior finalists are Jeremy Chiu 4d, Justin Ching 1d, Aaron Ye 4d, and Daniel Liu 3d. Winners Report: 1st place Sr. 5-8 dan: Andrew Lu 6d; 1st place Jr. dan: Jeremy Chiu 4d; 1st place Sr. 1-4 dan: Matthew Harwit 4d; 1st place Sr. 1-5 kyu: Anurag Varma 3k; 1st place Jr. 1-5 kyu: Austen Liao; 1st place Sr. 6-10 kyu: Louie Liu 7k; 1st place Jr. 6-10 kyu: Raymond Liu 6k; 1st place Sr. 11-15 kyu band: Kalinda Fraser 12k; 1st place Jr. 11-15 kyu band: Bryan Tan 12k. The tournament was run by Paul Barchilon and Karoline Burrall. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

School Teams Tournament Registration Opens

Monday January 23, 2012

Are you enrolled in a go club at school? If so, this is your chance to challenge other go clubs from all over North America. Registration is now open for the American Go Honor Society’s (AGHS) 13th annual School Team Tournament. On March 17th and 24th, go clubs from the United States, Canada, and Mexico will compete for $3,000 in prizes, with some for every club. Which club will take home the glory of being North America’s strongest go club? Register from now to March 1st to take your shot at being the best. Gather your team mates and play in various divisions ranging from Novice to Varsity level. Teams must be composed of three people who are in high school or below and are all younger than 20. Each member of each team must be enrolled in the same school or learning institution, and each school/learning institution can enter a maximum of 3 teams for the tournament. For more information and registration, go to www.aghs.cc or contact us at aghsregister@gmail.com. -Viral Kotecha, AGHS Tournament Coordinator

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

EuroGoTV-News: December 31-January 17

Sunday January 22, 2012

Poland: Kamil Chwedyna 4d (photo) won the Black Stone tournament, played 1/7-8 in Katowice, Poland. Click here for results. Lithuania: Gytis Vasiliauskas 1d was the winner at the 1/17 Trys Karaliai tournament in Vilnius, Lithuania. Click here for results. Spain: Sabina Rodriguez 9k topped the La Carboneria tournament played 1/7 in Sevilla, Spain. Click here for results. Croatia: Mladen Smud 1k won the Silvester tournament, played 12/31in Velika Gorica, Croatia. Click here for results. Zvonko Bednjanec 3k took first place in the Velika Gorica tournament 1/7 in Velika Gorica, Croatia. Click here for results. Upcoming European Tournaments: France: The 27th annual Antony Tournament, which also this year includes the 40th Paris Tournament (Antony is a Paris suburb) is set for 2/4-5. Romania: the Shusaku Tournament is scheduled for March 30 thru April 1 and features strong Chinese pros as guests, many strong players and, say organizers, “is well known for its parties.”
– Excerpted from reports – including full results — on EuroGoTV

Categories: Europe

Nihon Ki-in Releases Tsume-go App

Sunday January 22, 2012

The Nihon Ki-in has launched a tsume-go (life-and-death) app for iPhone and iPad users called Nihon Kiin Tsumego Master. “There are 400 tsumego problems for levels from beginners to dan players,” the Nihon Ki-in’s Tomotaka Urasoe tells the E-Journal. “More than 100 problems are original, specially-made for the Tsumego Master app by young professionals who are noted tsumego creators.” Urasoe, who’s in charge of the overseas department at the Nihon Ki-in, notes that one of Japans top players, Yamashita Keigo 9P, current Meijin and Honinbo, “strongly recommends Tsumego Master to all amateur players and we want to introduce the app to American go players as well because these are really good problems that will help them to get stronger.” Urasoe adds that “We will continue to add more problems to the app.”
NOTE: as with all go tools, from apps and software to books and equipment, we’re interested in your opinions; email journal@usgo.org with your comments/reviews on this and other go tools.

Categories: Tools: books, software & hardware

American Go E-Journal » 2012 » January