February « 2012 « American Go E-Journal

Yuan Zhou 7D to Represent U.S. at WAGC in China

Monday February 13, 2012

Yuan Zhou 7D, a popular teacher and frequent competitor in top U.S. tournaments, will be the U.S. representative to this year’s World Amateur Go Championship, which will be held in Guanzhou, China in May. “I am excited to represent the U.S. and play in the WAGC,” Zhou (at right) told the E-Journal. “It took me lots of hard work and many tough matches to earn the right to become the U.S. representative. The competition will be very severe. All WAGC players are strong, and there will be no easy matches.”

This is just the third time in the 33-year history of the WAGC that it will be held outside Japan, “signifying a changing international go scene,” reports Thomas Hsiang, the American Go Association’s representative to the International Go Federation, where he’s vice president. “It’s expected at least half of all future WAGC will be sponsored by a non-Japanese city and it’s not out of the question that we may have it in North America one day.” The venue of this year’s WAGC, the Guangzhou Qiyuan, is a “magnificent, huge, board-game center where the mind-sport competitions of the 2010 Asian Games were held,” Hsiang adds.

The E-Journal will provide full onsite coverage of the event, thanks again to generous support from the IGF, providing the AGA membership glimpses of the venue, along with stories and game records of the event.

Categories: U.S./North America,World

AGA Chapters List Returns

Monday February 13, 2012

The American Go Association Chapters List is back up and running, reports Steve Colburn. “Anyone can join and I added all current chapters today,” Colburn said Monday night (2/13). “This is a great new system that will help support chapters in the coming years,” Colburn added. “Please join the list so your message can be promptly posted to the group.” Questions about the list can be sent to lists moderator Arnold Eudell at chapterservices@usgo.org

Categories: U.S./North America

Euro Go Congress Set for Germany

Monday February 13, 2012

The 2012 European Go Congress is scheduled for July 21 to August 5 in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany. Nearly 300 have already signed up for the 2-week Congress, which will take place in the Bad Godesberg municipal hall and the city offers all kinds of stores as well as bars, restaurants and hotels, with the Rhine River just a few minutes walk. Several main tournaments and lots of side events, plus pros, local sight-seeing and more.

Categories: Europe

EuroGoTV News: Jan. 20 thru Feb. 11

Monday February 13, 2012

Spain: The La Carboneria, a class C tournament, played on 2/11 in Sevilla, Spain, was won by Raul Aguilera 7k; Result table.
Romania: The 3rd Radu Baciu Grand Prix – stage 2, a class A tournament, played 2/4-5 in Giarmata, Romania, was won by Viorel Arsinoaia 2d. (photo Alice Trifu 5k place 4 of 25 ) Result table. The TrSeverin- Romanian Cup under 9 kyu, a class C tournament, played 2/3-5 in Drobeta TrSeverin, Romania, was won by Ionut Galbenu 9k; Result table. The Drobeta Tr.Severin- Romanian Cup- preliminaries group C, a class C tournament, played from 1/20-22 in Drobeta Tr.Severin, Romania, was won by Vasile Grecu 15k; Result table.
Italy: The Trofeo Milano 2012 – 1a Tappa, a class C tournament, played on 2/4 in Go Club Milano, Italy, was won by Francesco Marigo 4d. Result table.
The Netherlands: The Club Championship, a class A tournament, played from Jan 2 to Feb 6 in Utrecht, Netherlands, was won by Bram Koster 4d; Result table. The Jubileumtoernooi Seki, a class A tournament, played from 2/4-5 in Voorburg, Netherlands, was won by Zeno van Ditzhuijzen 4d; Result table. As he did last year, Alex Ketelaars 1d ruled and won all his games and so became the 2012 Dutch Youth Champion Under 18. Yuki de Groot (photo at left) won the 2012 Dutch Youth Championship 2012 Under 12.
Germany: The Emder Hausboot-Turnier 2012, a class A tournament, played from 2/4-5 in Emden, Germany, was won by Willem-Koen Pomstra 5d; Result table.
France: The winner of the 27th Antony tournament and then 40th Paris Tournament is DAI Junfu 8D, Paris Go School Club.
Latvia: The Gosente mini handicap tournament, a class C tournament, played on 2/4 in Riga, Latvia, was won by Dmitrij Kravchenko 4k; Result table.
Ukraine: The Winter`s sonata, a class A tournament, played from 1/28-29 in Kherson, Ukraine, was won by Kostiantyn Pozharov 5k; Result table.
– excerpted from reports on EuroGoTV.com

Categories: Europe

2012 U.S. Go Congress Update

Friday February 10, 2012

(updated 2/10 11a) Contrary to our previously-published report, registration for the 2012 U.S. Go Congress is NOT YET open, according to Directors Paul Celmer and Peter Armenia. Please stand by for further updates as they become available.

The 2012 U.S. Go Congress is set for August 4-12 in Black Mountain, NC. The largest go activity in the United States, the annual Congress happens once a year and spans a full week. Events include the US Open, the largest annual go tournament in the US, professional lectures and game analysis, continuous self paired games, and all kinds of go related activities from morning to midnight. “Come for the go, come for the camaraderie of old friends, come for the relaxing mountain air,” say organizers. “Whatever your reason, we are looking forward to seeing you there!” The 2012 site now includes links to previous Congresses going back to 2006, including links to tourney results, game records and more. photo by Bob Felice

Categories: U.S. Go Congress,U.S./North America

KGS Announces Meijin Tourney

Monday February 6, 2012

Beginning this year, KGS will crown one player as the KGS Meijin annually. January through October, there will be monthly qualifying tournaments on KGS. Each month the qualifiers will be at a different time and will have a different setup, some qualifiers will be open signup, others will require an established rank on KGS. In each tournament, one or more participants will earn eligibility for the Finals. The Finals will run November through December. The final KGS Meijin winner will receive a cash prize and a special Meijin icon. The February Qualifier will be held on February 25th & 26th, in American daytime “and we would like to encourage as many AGA members to join,” says KGS admin and Meijin Qualifier TD Akane Negishi (sweety). Click here for tournament details.

Categories: U.S./North America

Go Photos: At the San Diego Go Soiree

Monday February 6, 2012

The winter 2012 San Diego Go Soiree attracted 23 go players to the home of San Diego Go Club President Ted Terpstra January 29 for seven hours of informal games. Players ranked from beginners to San Diego’s only go professional, Shirley Lin, attended. Two visiting 7-dans from Japan were honored guests. Several members of the UCSD Go Club also attended, including Tyler Oyakawa, 2 dan, who beat many higher ranked players.
photos: right: Mr. Kohmoto (l, from Japan) and Tyler Oyakama (r, UCSD) overlooking Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean; left: part of the assembled crowd. Photos courtesy Ted Terpstra.

Categories: U.S./North America

Mexico Schools Portland

Monday February 6, 2012

Four teams of elementary school kids in Portland OR and Mexico City, competed against each other in a friendly inter-school match on KGS, Jan. 21st. The kids from Mexico attend Pipiolo Art Institute, and are taught by Siddhartha Avila, who is building a vital Mexican Go community around his youth programs. In Portland, Peter Freedman is workingwith kids at the Irvington School Chess and Go Club. Each school fielded two teams of three kids, the youngest player was 6 years old. The Mexican kids have been playing longer, and won an impressive 10 out of 12 games. “The kids on both sides were really, really, excited,” reports Freedman. “They chatted nicely with each other as they played: ‘How old are you?’ ‘You won. You are better than me.’…We Skyped at the same time, so the kids could see each other. We made introductions, saw Sid’s classroom…it was very, very cool,” added Freedman.
– Paul Barchilon, EJ Youth Editor. Photos: top: Peter Freedman and the Irvington School kids; bottom: Siddhartha Avila with the Pipolo students

Categories: U.S./North America,World,Youth

Redmond Cup Open for Registration

Monday February 6, 2012

Young American go players can now sign up for the 19th annual Redmond Cup Tournament. Preliminary games will be played on the Internet, courtesy of IGS-PandaNet, and the four finalists will be invited to the 2012 US Go Congress to play the final games. There are two divisions in the Cup; the Junior league for kids under 12 years old, and the Senior league for those under 18, on August 1st 2012. Competitors in the Senior League must have an AGA rank of 1 dan or higher, in the Junior 5 kyu or stronger. The participants must be members of the American Go Association or the Canadian Go Association and either residents of the U.S., Canada or Mexico, or citizens of the United States living anywhere in the world, provided that they are also members of the AGA. The tournament director for the Redmond Cup is Michael Bull; Ing rules of Goe for all games. To register e-mail youth@usgo.org with your name, phone #, date of birth, AGA rating, IGS ID, and citizenship. The registration deadline is March 8, 2012. The Cup is sponsored by Michael Redmond 9P and his family, the American Go Association and the American Go Foundation. Photo: 2011 finalists, Aaron Ye 4d (l), and Sammy Zhang 3d(r) compete at the US Go Congres in Santa Barbara. – Paul Barchilon, Youth Editor.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

CGA Re-Issues KGS Leagues Invite

Monday February 6, 2012

A second invitation to play in the Canadian Go Association KGS Leagues has been issued to AGA players before the start of the next round on February 15th. “We have about 20 American go players so far from beginner to 8+ dan for a total of about 75,” reports Chuck Elliot. “We would welcome more.” The League games provide an excellent opportunity for players to play serious games year-round, meet friends, and get stronger. Last year’s prizes totaled $450, which Elliot hopes will grow to $2000 in 2012. Visit the League website for more information, and to see the posted rounds. Click on Current Round to see the previous round; click on Annual League Schedule to see all. When you register, send an email saying “Chuck, I’m in” to Elliot at ChuckBrenda@shaw.ca. This offer will be open all year.
– Karoline Burrall, AGA Tournaments Coordinator

Categories: U.S./North America

American Go E-Journal » 2012 » February