June « 2012 « American Go E-Journal

North America Dominates Transatlantic Youth Match

Monday June 11, 2012

Top players from the US and Canada scored an impressive 8-2 victory against their counterparts in Europe, in the 4th annual Transatlantic Youth Team Tourney, held on KGS June 3rd. Ironically, USYGC champions Calvin Sun 7d and Vincent Zhuang 6d were the only North American players who didn’t win, losing out to Pavol Lisy 5d and Mihai Serban 5d respectively. The other players from the Americas dominated though, for a convincing finish, with the top board drawing over 300 spectators. Europe won last year, but North America won the two years prior. The event was organized and run by Lawrence Ku. – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.

Winners Report: (first player listed is from North America; second is from Europe); (W) Hugh ZHANG d. (B) Alexander VASHUROV; (B) Andrew LU d. (W) Stepan POPOV; (W) Peter ZHANG d. (B) Alexandru PITROP; (B) Aaron YE d. (W) Silvestru STATE; (W) Andrew ZHOU d. (B) Valerii KRUSHELNYTSKYI; (B) Calvin SUN lost to (W) Pavol LISY; (W) Bill LIN d. (B) Lukas PODPERA; (B) Jianing GAN d. (W) Mateusz SURMA; (W) Vincent ZHUANG lost to (B) Mihai SERBAN; (B) Andrew HUANG d. (W) Yurii MYKHALIUK.

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

Children’s Art Contest Deadline July 13

Monday June 11, 2012

The second International Children’s Go Art Contest is still accepting submissions. Organizer Siddhartha Avila urges kids to send their paintings as soon as possible. “Last year, almost all the entries arrived on the last days, making organization harder…we have received entries from Singapore, Argentina, Japan, and Mexico so far,” reports Avila. The pieces will be exhibited at the U.S. Go Congress in North Carolina this summer. The event is sponsored by the Mexican Youth Go Community and the AGA, in honor of the International Go Symposium. Organizer Siddhartha Avila says “the contest will feature children’s artwork, in which they will be free to express their visions, emotions and ideas about go through painting. Its purpose is to make go culture flourish among children, and promote it through a creative exchange.” Last year’s contest drew submissions from Japan, the Phillipines, India, the US and Mexico. Submissions must be received in Mexico City by July 13th. Complete information, including the submission forms and event details, can be found on the Go Symposium site. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

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

Still Room for Young Players at AGA Summer Go Camp

Monday June 11, 2012

There’s still time to register for this year’s AGA Summer Go Camp. Camp directors Nano Rivera and Amanda Miller welcome all campers from the ages of 8 to 18 to join them for a week of go-playing and fun. This year’s professional teacher is Mingjiu Jiang 7P, who will be giving group lessons on a daily basis throughout the week. The camp also offers many other go-related activities, such as camp tournaments, and this year’s unique location will afford the camp with access to hiking trails and open outdoor areas for playing games, so everyone will be getting lots of fresh air! Currently, the camp has registered campers between the ages of 6 and 18 and within a strength range of 22-kyu to 1-dan. Need-based scholarships are still available, and parents are even welcome to attend with their children, if they’re not comfortable sending them alone. The camp will take place the week before the U.S. Go Congress from July 28 to August 4 and will be held at the same location at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. For more information, you can visit the camp website or e-mail the camp directors at agagocampeast@gmail.com. – Story and photo by Amanda Miller, Go Camp Director.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

AGA Seeks Female Players for 2012 WMSG in France

Monday June 11, 2012

The American Go Association is looking for women who are interested in representing the USin the 2012 World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) in Lille, France, reports Tournament Coordinator Karoline Burrall. The WMSG’s go competition will begin August 13 and end August 23rd, and will not overlap with this year’s US Go Congress. Travel and accommodation expenses will not be provided by the WMSG or the host country. Players must have been continuous AGA members (full or youth) since January of 2011 and be US citizens to be eligible to participate. “At this point, there are still at least two seats specifically open for women,” Burrall tells the E-Journal. Anyone interested must email tournaments@usgo.org by Tuesday, June 18. “Should more players express interest than we have open seats, playoff games will be organized to select the representatives.” If you’re not interested or eligible, but know a female player who might be, Burrall urges you to pass this along to her.

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

Your Move; Readers Write: All in the Family

Monday June 11, 2012

“The picture on the AGA website (Champagne Celebrates Go Congress Contest Win) is interesting in several ways,” writes None Redmond. “Not only is Nakayama there (at the 2006 US Go Congress in Black Mountain, NC) but also Yoshi looking over his shoulder on the right. My daughter in law, XianXian Niu herself a strong professional player is also placing stones on Nakayama’s right and their children are looking on. Mr Nakayama styled himself the girls’ Japanese grandfather since the American and the Chinese ones were so far away. Every time I look at it I remember how frail human lives are.”
Click here for details on the 2012 U.S. Go Congress in Black Mountain, NC August 4-12; rates increase June 15.

Categories: U.S. Go Congress

New State Team Tourney Planned for Go Congress

Sunday June 10, 2012

Yet one more reason to attend this year’s U.S. Go Congress is a brand-new state team tournament. The Wisonet Cup State Team Go

Tournament (WCSTGT) will feature six teams playing a 5-round tournament during the upcoming Congress in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Each team will have six players, including three dan-level players, two kyu-level players and one supplemental player between 5k and 4d, captained by a dan-level player. The tournament is sponsored by Wisonet Inc., which specializes in the design, development and sale of Pentominoes puzzles. The teams will compete for $1,500 in cash prizes and each player will receive a free “Super Pentominoes” puzzle. Six teams will be invited based on Go Congress registration by state as of June 15, “since there are often many players who register just before the rates increase,” says AGA Tournament Coordinator Karoline Burrall. Players should send any questions to tournaments@usgo.org.

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

How You Can Help American Go

Sunday June 10, 2012

“It’s been an exciting year for American go and you can help make the next one even bigger,” says Edward Zhang, Volunteer Coordinator for the American Go Association (AGA). “We currently have some key volunteer positions open and invite you to join us and serve our community.” Highlights of the past year include the new professional system, more online tournaments and a greater variety of services to members of the AGA. “As little as a couple hours a week can make a huge difference,” says Zhang. If you have skills or interests in any of the following areas, click here and Zhang will follow up to match your skills and available time to the organization’s needs: public relations, assistant tournament director, website, news writer, photography, translation, ratings, accounting, chapter services, awards. In addition to being part of helping improve the national go organization, volunteers receive rewards for contributing their time and energy.

Categories: U.S./North America

2012 Cotsen Overview: Reports/Games/Commentaries

Saturday June 9, 2012

The 2012 Cotsen Open/AGA-Tygem Pro Qualifier was held April 28-29 in Los Angeles, CA. One of the major tournaments on the American Go Association’s annual calendar, the event is sponsored by Eric Cotsen and this year major organizational support was provided by Myung-wan Kim 9P and Andy Okun; Chris Sira was the Tournament Director. Cho Hunhyun 9P topped an impressive list of professional go players in attendance, and top boards were broadcast by the American Go E-Journal (see “In Appreciation” below for complete credits).

Reports:
Calvin Sun Wins ’12 Cotsen
2012 Cotsen Open Crosstab (includes top-board game records; see below for commentaries)
Pro System Launch “Monumental Moment” for U.S. Go, says Cho Hunhyun 9P
Cotsen Open Day 1
In Appreciation: The 2012 Cotsen Open Team
Two Kims Add to Cotsen Pro Line-Up
Cotsen Drawing Record Crowd in L.A.
Cotsen Open Set for this Weekend in L.A.
Cho Hun-Hyun 9P ‘s Message to American Go Players
Cotsen Open Registration Nearing Triple Digits
KBA to Award Certificates to Dan Players at Cotsen
Cotsen Open to Feature Legendary Cho Hun-hyun 9P & Other Top Pros

Game Commentaries (downloadable sgf files)
Exhibition: Cho Hun-hyun 9P vs. Yilun Yang 7P Commentary by Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P
Round 1 Board 1 Commentary by Kim Myung-wan 9P
Round 1 Board 2 Commentary by Kim Myung-wan 9P
Round 2 Board 1 Commentary by Yilun Yang 7P
Round 4 Board 1 Commentary by Yilun Yang 7P
Round 5 Board 1 Commentary by Kim Myung-wan 9P and Janice Kim 3P
photos by Chris Garlock

Categories: Cotsen Open,U.S./North America

Andy Okun Appointed President of AGA; Ted Terpstra is Executive VP

Wednesday June 6, 2012

West Coast go organizer Andy Okun (left) was appointed President of the American Go Association (AGA) by the AGA Board of Directors at its June 3 meeting. Ted Terpstra (right) of San Diego was appointed Executive Vice President. Their two-year term will begin on September 3rd. “Andy will be a great President,” said outgoing AGA President Allan Abramson, “and Ted is a welcome addition as EVP.” Okun has chaired the Board since 2010 and is a longtime organizer in the Los Angeles area. “In the decade since I took up this wonderful game, the American go community and the new friends I’ve made have enriched my life tremendously,” Okun told the E-Journal. “This is a chance for me to give back a little. My thanks to my fellow board members for their confidence.” Ted Terpstra, president of the San Diego Go Club for the last five years, has been playing off and on since learning the game in the early 1970s and has taught many people to play in schools, after-school programs and even a Buddhist temple. He has been a NOAA meteorologist and worked in plasma physics research at Princeton and then General Atomics.

Categories: U.S./North America

U.S. Invited to Send Team to World Mind Sports Games; Contributions Sought

Monday June 4, 2012

The U.S. has been invited to compete in five tournaments at the 2012 World Mind Sports Games in Lille, France. “This is a great opportunity for our players to participate in such a high-profile event,” said American Go Association President Allan Abramson. Because expenses are not covered, Abramson is asking “every adult AGA member to consider donating $30, or the equivalent of one year’s membership dues,” to support the U.S. Mind Games team. The second such event, the 2012 World Mind Sports Games is limited to amateur players — professionals competed in the previous edition — and the go competitions will be held August 13-23 so as not to conflict with the U.S. Go Congress. The U.S. has been invited to compete in the Men’s Individual, Women’s Individual, Pair Go, Team and Youth events. “Please be generous and act soon, as we must name our team members by the end of the month so that they can make travel arrangements,” Abramson urged. Click here to donate.

Categories: Europe,U.S./North America

American Go E-Journal » 2012 » June