American Go E-Journal » 2012 » August

Gangsheng Shi (far left) defeated Jianing Gan Saturday morning to become the second US-certified professional in the AGA-TYGEMGO Pro Finals that concluded today in Black Mountain, NC. Shi and Andy Liu won professional certification and $1,500 each in prize money.

“You both played beautifully and really earned this honor,” American Go Association President Allan Abramson (second from left) said at a special welcoming ceremony Saturday afternoon with tournament organizer Myungwan Kim 9P (second from right) and TD Jeff Shaevel (center). Kim outlined the rights and responsibilities of a professional go player to the newly-minted professionals as they sipped organic green tea from US-made cups. “You’re eligible to play in major Korean tournaments as well as other tournaments where US pros are invited,” Kim said. He also discussed the “high expectations” of professional go players, noting that “You are not individual go players any longer, you are now representatives of the AGA and the US go community.” The two nodded solemnly, looking a bit overwhelmed.

“It sounds very exciting,” Liu said, “the KBA has been so very generous to us all.” Added Shi, “I’m very happy for the opportunity to play and I hope that our success will influence more people to play go.” TD Jeff Shaevel agreed, saying that “A lot of people, including right here at the Congress, are looking up to you now. It might seem like the same as a few days ago, but everything’s changed now.”

Here’s the final set of results from the AGA-TYGEMGO Pro Finals, including all standings and prizes. For latest standings and game records, click here and scroll down to Results.

Morning games (8/4):

Promotional League:
7A (Game 2): GANSHENG SHI (W, PRO), Jianing Gan (B, Seed)

Exhibition League:
Game 1: Curtis Tang (W), CALVIN SUN (B)
Game 2: SOOIL KIM (B), Matthew Burrall (W)
Game 3: YUAN ZHOU (B), Edward Kim (W)
Game 4: BILL LIN (B), Andrew Lu (W)
Game 5: JUSTIN TENG (W), Ned Phipps (B)

Final standings and prizes

Promotional League:
PROS: Andy Liu, Gansheng Shi ($1500, each)
SEEDS: Jianing Gan, Eric Lui ($800 each)
ALTERNATES: Jing Yang, Hugh Zhang ($400 each)

Exhibition League:
1st (Final score: 6 points, $300 each) : Curtis Tang, Calvin Sun, Bill Lin
4th (4-4.5 points, $175 each): Andrew Lu, Sooil Kim, Yuan Zhou
7th (3-3.5 points): Justin Teng, Edward Kim, Matthew Burrall, Ned Phipps
11th (2 points): Ben Lockhart

photos: top right: Shi and Liu receive pro certificates from Myungwan Kin 9P and AGA President Allan Abramson as TD Jeff Shaevel looks on (photo by Chris Garlock); middle left: Shi and Liu meet with Kim for a special welcome ceremony  (photo by Chris Garlock); bottom right: the entire AGA-TYGEMGO Pro Finals group; photo by Nik Gonzales, Second Camera, The Surrounding Game

Andy Liu defeated Gansheng Shi on Friday morning to become the first US certified go professional, prevailing 2-1 in the final match of the AGA-TYGEMGO Pro tournament. Shi then defeated Jianing Gan Friday afternoon by 1.5 points in the first round of the three-game match to determine the other US certified professional. The second round will be held at 9a Saturday morning, with the third round (if necessary) to be held Saturday afternoon. Both games will be broadcast – with live commentary by Myungwan Kim 9P– on TygemGo Korea1 Server and on KGS. “This was a really exciting Final,” an exhausted Kim told the E-Journal. “All the top finalists were young players, which bodes well for the future of the new American pro system. This Final was not the end,” Kim added. “There’s a lot to do, both domestically and internationally, now that our first two US certified pros have joined the ranks of American professionals.” 

Here are the full results of Friday’s games from the AGA-TYGEMGO Pro Finals. The name in ALL CAPS is the winner (color played, next match). For latest standings and game records, click here and scroll down to Results.

Morning games (8/3):

Promotional League:
4A (Game 3): ANDY LIU (B, PRO), Gansheng Shi (B, 7A)

Exhibition League:
Game 1: CURTIS TANG (W), Andrew Lu (B)
Game 2: CALVIN SUN (W), Sooil Kim (B)
Game 3: BILL LIN (B), Hugh Zhang (W)
Game 4: EDWARD KIM (W), Justin Teng (B)
Game 5: MATTHEW BURRALL (B), Ben Lockhart (W)
Game 6: NED PHIPPS (W), Yuan Zhou (B)

Afternoon games:
7A (Game 1): GANSHENG SHI (B), Jianing Gan (W)

Saturday’s (8/4) schedule:

Morning game:
7A (Game 2): Gansheng Shi, Jianing Gan

Exhibition League
Game 1: Curtis Tang, Calvin Sun
Game 2: Sooil Kim, Matthew Burrall
Game 3: Yuan Zhou, Edward Kim
Game 4: Bill Lin, Andrew Lu
Game 5: Justin Teng, Ned Phipps

Afternoon schedule:
7A (Game 3, if needed): Gansheng Shi, Jianing Gan

photo at right: TD Jeff Shaevel congratulates Liu; photos (left) by Nik Gonzales, Second Camera, The Surrounding Game

Here are the full results of Thursday’s games from the AGA-TYGEMGO Pro Finals. The name in ALL CAPS is the winner (color played, next match). NOTE: Myungwan Kim 9P is doing live daily game commentaries at 10:30a and 5:30p EST on the TygemGo Korea1 Server; some games are also being broadcast on KGS. For latest standings and game records, click here and scroll down to Results.

Morning games:

Promotional League:
4A (Game 1): ANDY LIU (W), Gansheng Shi (B)
6A (Game 1): Eric Lui (B), JIANING GAN (W)

Exhibition League:
Game 1: Jing Yang (B), CURTIS TANG (W)
Game 2: CALVIN SUN (B), Yuan Zhou (W)
Game 3: Sooil Kim (W), BILL LIN (B)
Game 4: Edward Kim (W), ANDREW LU (B)
Game 5: MATTHEW BURRALL (B), Ned Phipps (W)
Game 6: Ben Lockhart (B), JUSTIN TENG (W)

Afternoon games:

4A (Game 2): Andy Liu (B), GANSHENG SHI (W)
6A (Game 2): Eric Lui (W, Seed), JIANING GAN (B, 7A)

Exhibition League: SURPRISE EXTRA ROUND!
Game 1: CURTIS TANG (W), Bill Lin (B)
Game 2: CALVIN SUN (W), Hugh Zhang (B)
Game 3: SOOIL KIM (B), Edward Kim (W)
Game 4:, ANDREW LU (B), Justin Teng (W)
Game 5: Matthew Burrall (W), YUAN ZHOU (B)
Game 6: Ben Lockhart (W), NED PHIPPS (B)

Tomorrow AM:
4A (Game 3): Andy Liu, Gansheng Shi
(+Exhibition games TBD)

Photo: Professional Maeda Ryo gave lectures and played simuls with players in Boulder and Denver, Colorado this week before continuing to the Go Congress later this week; photo courtesy Karen Jordan

Results of Wednesday’s games from the AGA-TYGEMGO Pro Finals. The name in ALL CAPS is the winner (color played, next match).

Wednesday morning (8/1): 3B (Game 3): GANSHENG SHI (B, 4A), Hugh Zhang (W, Exhibition)

Wednesday afternoon: Exhibition League
Game 1: Ned Phipps (B), JUSTIN TENG (W)
Game 2: Edward Kim (W), CURTIS TANG (B)
Game 3: BILL LIN (W), Yuan Zhou (B)
Game 4: Matthew Burrall (W), SOOIL KIM (B)
Game 5: CALVIN SUN (B), Ben Lockhart (W)

Thursday, 8/2 AM schedule:

Promotional League:
4A (Game 1): Andy Liu, Gansheng Shi
6A (Game 1): Eric Lui, Jianing Gan

Exhibition League:
Game 1: Jing Yang, Curtis Tang
Game 2: Calvin Sun, Yuan Zhou
Game 3: Sooil Kim, Bill Lin
Game 4: Edward Kim, Andrew Lu
Game 5: Matthew Burrall, Ned Phipps
Game 6: Ben Lockhart, Justin Teng

Thursday, 8/2 PM schedule:
4A (Game 2): Andy Liu, Gansheng Shi
6A (Game 2): Eric Lui, Jianing Gan