American Go E-Journal » 2013 » August

Takemiya Masaki 9P & Chihiro Chujo 1P Teach at Seattle Go Center

Friday August 23, 2013

During the week following the U.S. Go Congress, Takemiya Masaki  9p from the Nihon Ki-in and Chihiro Chujo 1p from the Kansai Ki-in each taught three times at the Seattle Go Center.  Ms. Chujo was an enthusiastic go teacher, and an eager student of the English language.  Her English vocabulary increased notably during her week-long visit. In his first lecture, Takemiya gave commentary on two of his games; one from the beginning of his career in 1969 and one with his friend and competitor Cho Chikun from 1988.  Takemiya’s second lecture was for kyu players, and stressed that “those who play where they want lose more games but get stronger faster”.  He admitted that sometimes there is only one move on the board, and showed an example of this situation, but he reassured the audience of 22 players that usually there are options to try out.  Both Chujo and Takemiya played simultaneous games on Tuesday, Aug. 14,  the busiest day of the week at the Go Center.  Two of Takemiya’s games with strong players were recorded and broadcast on KGS, and then shown in the kitchen with a digital projector.  At one point there was a roar from the kitchen when the internet connection was temporarily lost, puzzling the players in the main room who did not know what had happened.  The games are posted in the news section of the Go Center website, along with the two games Mr. Takemiya presented in his lecture.

There was also time for sight-seeing, and for good seafood dinners.  Miss Chujo went for a canoe ride, while Mr. Takemiya had a fine round of golf, with three birdies, and also went tango dancing after one of his lectures.  Top photo: Takemiya Masaki; bottom: Chihiro Chujo. Report/photos by Brian Allen

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GoGameGuru to Sponsor KGS Meijin August Qualifier

Friday August 23, 2013

GoGameGuru – which just celebrated its third birthday — will be sponsoring the August qualifier for the KGS 2013 Meijin tournament. GoGameGuru’s August round has 34 entrants thus far, with ranks up to 8 dan. The single-elimination tournament will take place August 24-25, the registration is still open; see the tournament web page for more details.

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EuroGoTV Update: Russia, Poland, Sweden

Friday August 23, 2013

Vladimir Open 2013Russia: Less than ten days after his victories at the 2013 European Go Congress, Ilja Shikshin 7d (left) conquered the Vladimir Open in Suzdal on August 18. Igor Nemlij 5d placed second and Dmitrij Surin 6d came in third. Poland: The Summer Go School – Jerzy Sacharewicz Memorial tournament in Przystanek Alaska also finished on August 18 with Cezary Czernecki 3d in first, Stanislaw Frejlak 4d in second, and Marek Kaminski 4d in third. Sweden: Fredrik Blomback 6d bested Yaqi Fu 6d at the Stockholm Open on August 18; Klas Almrot 4d came in third.
— Annalia Linnan, based on reports from EuroGoTV, which include complete result tables and all the latest European go news

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Everyone’s A Winner at NAMT Board Auction

Thursday August 22, 2013

The Hu family won twice on the night of the North American Masters Tournament final when Alex Hu, father of 2013 NAMT winner Zi Yang (Matthew) Hu was the winning bidder at the NAMT board auction at the U.S. Go Congress awards banquet. The senior Hu had narrowly lost out last two years ago when  Rachel Small and Eileen Hlavka outbid him for the board on which Matthew Hu defeated Curtis Tang, and clearly came prepared this year, outlasting a hot bidding war for the 2-inch kaya board (confirmed by 2013 Lasker winner Richard Dolen’s nose) donated by Katherine and Sidney Yuan of Yutopian, with the proceeds going to the American Go Foundation. With American Go E-Journal Managing Editor Chris Garlock serving as fast-talking auctioneer — ably assisted by AGF President Terry Benson and AGA President Andy Okun — more than half a dozen bidders vied for the board, which had been signed by both players – Matthew Hu and Mingming (Stephanie) Yin – as well as by professionals Takemiya Masaki 9P and Myung-wan Kim 9P, who had provided live commentary on the game for hundreds of U.S. Go Congress attendees, as well as hundreds more watching on KGS. A last-minute surge pushed the bidding over  $1,000 but in the end Alex Hu’s all-time record $1,300 winning bid guaranteed that he and his son would be taking the historic board home while supporting the American Go Foundation’s many projects to help youth go.”The AGF and the AGA have been very good for my son and I want to give something back,” said an elated Hu.
– photo (l-r): Garlock, Kim, Takemiya, Alex Hu, Okun, Yin, Benson and Zi Yang Hu; photo by Phil Straus

 

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Categories: U.S. Go Congress
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Go Spotting: Seattle Asian Art Museum

Thursday August 22, 2013

These go players are part of a new display at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Thanks to SAM curator Pam McClusky  for passing this along.

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Categories: Go Spotting
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Go Classified: New York Go Center Items Looking for another “Go” Home

Monday August 19, 2013

The NYGC building is being sold by the Nihon Ki-in (Nihon Ki-in to Use NY Go Center Sale Proceeds to Benefit Go in North America 6/27 EJ) and needs to be cleared. The go sets and go books will be kept, but there is much of value which can’t be stored. In particular there are perfect, custom go tables:  narrow, low, two boards wide, and chairs that slide under them. Ideal for go clubs. 15 tables and at least twice that many chairs. There are also: 10 other plastic chairs, a coffee table, two desks and two desk chairs, a desk lamp, filing cabinet, 3 printers, a router, some dish TV equipment, an old cash register, an old tv, and a full size clothes washer and  dryer. Donations accepted but not required. Any money received will go toward the expenses of closing the Go Center. Please emailMhershberger@gmail.com  with any interest. Note: All items must be picked up by August 31st. (Pick up time and details to be arranged.)

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Categories: Go Classified
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Go Spotting: Japan Woodworker Catalog Features Go Board

Monday August 19, 2013

A custom-made go board is featured on both the July 2013 edition cover of The Japan Woodworker Catalog and the August 2013 Woodcraft catalog. A post on the Woodworking Adventures blog describes both the construction of the board and the game of go. “This is a great family project and game piece,” says the blog. “Great for all ages to keep your minds sharp, worthy of ‘Spock’ like mentality. Head to your woodshop, build one of these, learn to play, live long and prosper, but most of all, ‘GO’…have some fun!” Thanks to David Doshay for passing this along.

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Mind Sports Olympiad Under Way in London

Sunday August 18, 2013

A 10-day “Festival for the Mind”, the 17th Mind Sports Olympiad (MSO) opened in London on Friday 16 August, hosting a myriad of mind sport competitions, including the Creative Thinking World Championship, Hare and Tortoise, Chess – and variations on it, some novel such as Diving Chess – and last, but not least, go.

There will be a free introduction to go on the morning of Saturday, August 24, followed by the 13×13 competition that afternoon. The next day will see the all-day 19×19 go tournament, a 4-round McMahon, 40 minutes each main time + 30 moves in 5 minutes overtime.

Entry is £10 per event (single session) or £15 (double session) and it is being held at the University of London Union, Malet St, London, United Kingdom, WC1E 7HY. Click here for a full schedule of events.

Tony Collman, British Correspondent for the E-Journal. Photo: Mind Map, courtesy of MSO website.

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“Play More Go” Releases Two More Videos

Sunday August 18, 2013

The Play More Go project has released two more videos, What is it about? and Master the Game. Professionally produced by Sven and Lars Walther, the brief videos are designed to provoke interest in the game by a broader audience.  All three of the videos are good introductions to go and would be suitable for posting on a go club’s website or Facebook page. “It’s not a game,” the narrator says in “More than a Game,” Play More Go’s first video. “It’s a feeling. An experience. It’s an art. A science…a sport…a craft. “ In “What is it about(left) the narrator says “It’s not about power. It’s not about experience. Nor wealth, nor education…what is it about? Find out. Play it. Go.”  And in the latest, “Master the Game” (right), he says “Know yourself. Master the game. Just go.” While the commercial-like videos have generated some criticism from viewers who feel there’s “not enough go” the general consensus seems to be that they’re effective at making go more accessible to the general public. “I just showed these to my wife, and she thought they were lovely,” said one commenter on GoGameGuru. “’But go IS about friendship!’ she said.”

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Categories: Europe,Go Art
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EJ Archive Project Underway

Sunday August 18, 2013

The project to extend the searchable E-Journal archives to the entire 14-year history of the EJ is now underway. Thanks to the work being done by volunteers Roy Hatcher and Corey McQuarters, our current searchable online archives now go back to January 2010. E-Journals prior to that are available online but are not yet searchable. Anyone interested in joining the team – experience with WordPress is helpful but not necessary – can email journal@usgo.org. Volunteers will be eligible to receive recognition and a stylish EJ cap.

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Categories: U.S./North America
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