April « 2012 « American Go E-Journal

13-year-old Yang Dingxin 3P Wins Ricoh, Plus World Go News Round-Up

Tuesday April 10, 2012

This month in the world of professional go… April 7: 13-year-old Yang Dingxin 3P is in the news in China after defeating Piao Wenyao 9P to win the 12th Ricoh Cup. Yang, born October 19, 1998, set a new record as the youngest domestic title holder in China. He may well have broken other records too. Any record buffs out there? Write in and let us know! Elsewhere, China’s Wang Chenxing, extended her winning streak in the 2nd Huang Longshi Cup to eight consecutive games and was consequently promoted to 5P. The Huang Longshi Cup is an international win and continue tournament for women and Wang (almost single handedly) knocked out all of the Korean team and most of the Japanese team before Japan’s Xie Yimin 6P finally put a stop to it. Unfortunately for Xie, she was then left in the position of having to take on China’s four remaining players by herself. In the next game she was defeated by another youngster, Yu Zhiying 2P, and China took the Cup for a second year on April 9. Meanwhile in Japan, the Judan (10 dan) title match is underway, with title holder Iyama Yuta 9P leading Cho U 9P 2-1 in the best of five match. Iyama is defending the title after taking it from Cho last year. The next game is on April 18 in Osaka, Japan. On a lighter note, Choi Cheolhan 9P just won Korea’s Sipdan title (equivalent of the Judan). He took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend, Yun Jihee 3P, on April 10. Choi had planned earlier to formally propose after winning the Maxim Cup in March, but his ambitious plan was foiled by Park Junghwan 9P. More about Choi Cheolhan and Yun Jihee here. Coming up this week, expect some exciting games as the BC Card Cup enters the round of 16 on April 12 and don’t forget about the Judan. See the professional go calendar for more details.
– Compiled by David Ormerod. Photo: 13-year-old Yang Dingxin 3P wins approx $40,000 USD in the Ricoh Cup.

Categories: World

KBA to Award Certificates to Dan Players at Cotsen

Monday April 9, 2012

In case the free food, shoulder massages, sunny weather and tough competition at the upcoming Cotsen Open are not enough of a draw, as many as six Korea Baduk Association (KBA) rank certificates will be awarded to dan players between 1d and 6d, courtesy of Kim Myung-wan 9p and the KBA. The April 28-29 tournament also features a visit by Cho Hun-Hyun 9P, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P and KBA Secretary General Yang Jae-ho 9P, who will be commenting, teaching and observing the opening phase of US pro certification process. Click here for complete details and to register – free lunch for all who register by 4/23 –or contact Andy Okun at sponsorship@usgo.org with questions. “Surfing conditions at the end of April are expected to be good,” promises Okun.
photo: Tang Wenhua 6d [r] receives his 6d KBA certificate at the 2010 Santa Monica Coffee Cup from Myung-wan Kim 9P (l); photo courtesy Andy Okun

Categories: Cotsen Open

Highland Park Tops School Teams Tourney

Monday April 9, 2012

The American Go Honor Society’s 13th annual School Team Tournament (STT) concluded on KGS last month. Over 150 avid go players duked it out in 54 teams from 40 schools in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Teams were sorted by their average rank, in four divisions, and played four rounds. Co-sponsored by the AGA and the AGF, the STT has become the largest national youth tournaments in the US. Leading the pack in the Varsity Division was Highland Park High School (NJ), who were undefeated. The school has participated in several past tournaments. “We finally achieved good results this year,” said team captain Yang Xu 5d, “we’ve played in the tournament a few times in the past but lacked a consistent team.” Xu, who is also a part of the AGHS’s Future Leaders Immersion Program (FLIP), describes his school’s victory largely as a culmination of hard work and dedication, adding “this year, we were able to play with an overall higher average rank and I think that helped us a lot….hope to be able to participate in this again next year!” Following up in 2nd and 3rd place were Neo Fineart Learning Center and Joaquin Miller Middle School, both from CA. In the Junior Division, Tzu Chi Chinese School (CA) took 1st place with Richard Montgomery High School (MD) and Manlius Pebble Hill School (NY) following in 2nd and 3rd. Albert Einstein High School (MD) took 1st place in the Intermediate division, with Richard Montgomery High School (MD) taking second once again and Cary Chinese School (NC) taking third. In the novice division another team from Cary Chinese School, one of the major go playing schools in the country, took first place. Molalla High School (OR) came in 2nd and Manlius Pebble Hill School (NY) was a close 3rd. Prizes ranging from plaques to equipment were given out, with schools that had good participation also receiving rewards. AGHS Co-Vice President, Justin Teng says “a big thanks to everyone who participated, and to the volunteers, including Hugh Zhang, Monsoon Shrestha, and the AGHS officers who helped make this tournament a huge success. We hope everyone had fun and is looking forward to growing their clubs for next year’s tournament!” The next AGHS event will be a casual gathering on KGS on April 22nd at 4pm ET for pair-go. Keep up with the AGHS on their website. –Eric Chen, AGHS Co-Vice President, with Paul Barchilon.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

AGA Go Camp Registration Open

Monday April 9, 2012

Registration for the AGA East Coast Go Camp is now open. Pricing and details can be found on the 2012 Camp Website here. For the convenience of the campers and their families, payments for the camp can be made online, although some forms must still be mailed directly to the organizers. The camp will take place the week before the Go Congress from July 28 to August 4 and will be held at the same location, the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. “The AGA Summer Go Camp welcomes campers from the ages of 8 to 18 to attend for a week of go-playing and fun,” says director Amanda Miller. AGF needs based scholarships are again available for players who can’t afford the full cost, and youth who played in the USYGC are eligible for a $400 scholarship to camp. More details on AGF scholarships can be found here. – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo by Amanda Miller: Campers playing relay go.

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

Sedgwick Kids Learn Go

Monday April 9, 2012

“I presented the game of go to almost 100 elementary students in Sedgwick’s Annual Discovery Day event,” writes Wenguang Wang. “The kids seemed to enjoy the fun go facts and the several games they played.” Sedgwick Elementary School is in Cupertino, CA; Wang brought his “Let’s Play Go” event to four sessions of third-grade students on April 3rd. “In each of the half-hour session, the students learned some fun facts about go, the basic rules, and had a chance to play several games on 9×9 boards,” adds Wang. – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo by Karen Hersh: Wang, at right, instructs a table of students.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

Daniel Chou 6D Leads Field at NOVA Cherry Blossom

Sunday April 8, 2012

Daniel Chou 6D led a field of 43 at the NOVA Cherry Blossom tournament on Saturday, March 31 in Arlington, VA. Tournament Director Allan Abramson tested OpenGotha and reports that “The pairing software worked without a hitch” and urges other TDs to “try it for yourselves,” and send any comments to him at allango1@verizon.net.

Winners Report: First place: Daniel Chou, 6D, (4-0); Craig Nelson, 3D; Ray Hunley, 1D; Joseph Lee, 4K; Baifu Li, 5K; Bob Bacon, 6K and Raymond Yeh, 6K (tied); Gary Smith, 10K, (4-0); Seung Yoon Oh, 18K (4-0); and Ash Abbas, 20K. Second place: Andrew Jackson, 4D; Hongchun Liu, 3D; Kevin Chin, 1K and Pascal Platteborse, 1D (tied); Joey Phoon, 4K; John Gipson, 5K, and Sam Zimmerman, 5K (tied); Mohan Sud, 8K (4-0); Anderson Barreal, 13K and Tariq Khan, 17K (tied); and Stephen Preston, 20K

Categories: U.S./North America

North America & Europe Among Early Outs at Chunlan Cup

Wednesday April 4, 2012

North American representative Jing Yang 8D and European representative Alexandre Dinerchstein 3P were among the 16 players eliminated in the first two rounds of the 9th Chunlan Cup, which wrapped up on April 30. Now only 8 players remain. In Round One, Yang drew Choi Cheolhan 9P, a top Korean pro known as the ‘venomous snake’ because of his aggressive fighting style. Yang fought hard and gave Choi a difficult game, but eventually resigned in the early endgame (see game below). The Chunlan Cup is an invitational Go tournament for 24 top players from around the world, which uses a knockout format. Yang qualified as the North American representative in February this year. The quarter-finals will be held in late 2012, with no specific date set yet.
– David Ormerod; based on his original article: Just 8 players left in 9th Chunlan Cup at Go Game Guru. Photo: Jing Yang (left) plays Choi Cheolhan.

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Categories: U.S./North America,World

Go Classified: DC Go Player Seeks Room

Wednesday April 4, 2012

25-year-old male, AmericanUniversity graduate student, avid go player, looking for room to lease for either 6 months or a year in the DC/VA/MD area beginning mid-August. Ideal room will have private bathroom, rent under $1000, available parking, relatively close to AU, and easy access to the metro. I’m a very laid back person, no smoking/drugs, modest drinking, sociable, clean, no pets aside from a small fish tank, and will be busy completing my graduate degree and also working part-time. If you have an available room, please contact me at joshlee.grad@gmail.com.

Categories: Go Classified

Go Classified: 2 Classic Go books for Sale

Wednesday April 4, 2012

The Breakthrough to Shodan – $30; The Go Player’s Almanac 2001 – $25. Please add $5 shipping per book. Contact Anton Ninno, AGA #554, at anton(nospace)ninno@yahoo.com

Categories: Go Classified

Your Move: Go in American Samoa?

Wednesday April 4, 2012

“I will be a volunteer in American Samoa from July 2012 through to June 2013,” says David Stephenson. “I’m wondering do you know of any go activity over there? – I can’t detect any from igolocal or other google searches. It would be good to find some over-the-board players.” Email journal@usgo.org

Categories: Your Move: Readers Write

American Go E-Journal » 2012 » April