American Go E-Journal » 2014 » September

US Go Congress Tournament Ratings Expected to be Posted Soon

Monday September 29, 2014

The 2014 US Open Masters tournament has now been rated, and the other Congress tournaments are expected to follow suit soon. “We are2014.09.29_US-Open-2014-DSC_0095
cleaning up the last few membership issues and glitches in the data,” said AGA President Andy Okun.  “I hope to have the games from the US Open rated within the coming week, with the Die Hard, Self-Paired and Midnight Madness very close behind.  I am grateful for everyone’s patience.” Okun said that the kinds of issues that sometimes delay ratings “…errant digits in AGA ids, getting everyone’s renewals and new memberships processed, handling overseas guests and the like…” are amplified in a tournament with more than 300 players like the US Open. Watch the EJ for news about Congress ratings.
photo of the 2014 US Open main playing area by Chris Garlock

 

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Ge “Johnny” Wang Tops Emory University Chinese Student/Scholar Tournament

Monday September 29, 2014

Ge “Johnny” Wang took the high-dan first place honors at the fourth annual Emory University Chinese Student/Scholar Go 2014.09.29_Emory Children GroupTournament on September 27 in Atlanta, GA. “Johnny has attended the tournament every 2014.09.29_Emory High Dan Division Winners and othersyear and this was his year to shine,” said TD Jeff Kerlagon. “This is a great event at a wonderful location,” Kerlagon added. “The Atlanta Go Club is very appreciative for Emory University for hosting us for the fourth year.”  

Seventeen players attended the Emory tournament. Matthew McCawley took 1st place in the Kyu division. “Matthew has been improving all year and he took control for top honors this year,” said Kerlagon. “The real highlight of the tournament was a fine showing of Atlanta youth in the Children’s Group. These young men are the champions of the future. Brandon Zhou is a strong young player. The rest of the group was attended by Ethan Zhou, Edwin Lin, Alex Lin, and Daniel Luo. Currently they are studying with Frank Luo. We look forward to their progress and wish them luck in next year’s tournament.”
photos: right: Emory children’s group (right; bottom left to right,  Alex & Ethan Zhou; top left to right, Edwin Lin & Daniel Luo); left: Emory High Dan Division winners  (Front row, left to right, Edwin Lin & Daniel Luo; Top row left to right, Darrell Speck, 2nd Place Feijun “Frank” Luo, 1st Place Ge “Johnny” Wang, 3rd Place Huan Tan, Tony Cha).

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Categories: U.S./North America
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The Power Report: Kisei Leagues; Kono Takes Lead in Meijin Title Match; Women’s Meijin League; Ichiriki Wins 39th King of the New Stars Title

Monday September 29, 2014

by John Power, EJ Japan Correspondent

Kisei Leagues: One game was played in the 39th Kisei A League on September 11. Takao Shinji 9P (B) beat Kono Rin 9P by resignation. 2014.09.29_Murakawa DaisukeBoth players are now on 2-2 and will be fighting to keep their places in the league in the final round. Incidentally, this was Takao’s second win against Kono in four days. Kono has gone into a bit of a trough after his winning streak of 19 games came to an end. A game was played in the B League on September 18. Kobayashi Satoru 9P (B) beat Murakawa Daisuke 7P (right) by resig. This game has an effect on the standings. Murakawa missed his first chance to win the league and is now tied on 3-1 with Kobayashi and Yoda Norimoto 9P. However, if he wins his final game, Murakawa will still win the league, thanks to his number-one ranking. If he loses, however, Yoda is next in line: if he wins his final game, he will win the league regardless of Kobayashi’s result, as he is ranked number two. If both Murakawa and Yoda lose and Kobayashi wins, he will win the league. Pairings in the final round are: Murakawa vs. Cho Chikun 9P (1-3), Yoda vs. Cho Riyu 8P (1-3), and K
obayashi vs. Yuki Satoshi 9P (1-3).

Kono Takes Lead in Meijin Title Match: Kono Rin has shown that he is going to give Iyama Yuta a real run for his money. After losing the opening game, Kono (left) won the next two to take the lead in the 39th 2014.09.29_Kono RinMeijin best-of-seven title match. The second game was played at the Chokoro inn in Hawai Hot Spring in the town of Yurihama in Tottori Prefecture on September 18 & 19. The game featured fierce fighting from the start, with almost no fuseki. In the midst of a center fight, Iyama (B) played a move he regretted, and the game started to tilt in Kono’s favor. He cut off a large black group that couldn’t get two eyes, so Iyama resigned on move 200. Picking up your first win in a two-day game is important for your self-confidence. Perhaps that was reflected in Kono’s play in the third game, which was held in Jozankei Hot Spring, Sapporo City, Hokkaido on September 25 & 26 (the name of the venue has 14 characters in it and I have no idea how to read it).
Playing black, Kono secured a resignation after 169 moves. In the middle game, Iyama seemed to make a miscalculation about the importance of a ko he let Kono set up: he thought he could handle it more easily than turned out to be the case. This turned the game in Kono’s favor. He now has the initiative in the match. The fourth game, scheduled for October 6 and 7, will be very important
for Iyama’s chances of keeping his sextuple crown.

Women’s Meijin League: The 27th Women’s Meijin League is close to the halfway mark, with all but one game in the third round having been played. Two players are undefeated: Mukai Chiaki, Women’s Honinbo, who has played three games, and Mannami Nao 3-dan,
 who has played two. Recent results: (Sept. 18) Aoki Kikuyo 8P (W) beat Chinen Kaori 4P by 3.5 points. (Sept. 24) Mukai Chiaki (B) beat Ishii2014.09.29_Ichiriki Ryo Akane 2P by resig. (Sept. 25) Suzuki Ayumi 6P (B) beat Kato Keiko 6P by resig.

Ichiriki Wins 39th King of the New Stars Title: Ichiriki Ryo 7P (right) has set another record, becoming, at 17 years three months, the youngest player to win the King of the New Stars title. The previous record, 17 years five months, was set by Yoda Norimoto 31 years ago. (If you are wondering about Iyama, he never won this title; he disqualified himself at the age of 16 by winning the Agon Kiriyama Cup and earning promotion to 7-dan). Ichiriki defeated Shida Tatsuya 7P 2-1. Only players under 7-dan qualify for this tournament, so this was the last chance for both players (they were promoted during the current term). Game 1 (Sept. 11). Ichiriki (B) by half a point. Game 2 (Sept. 17 ). Shida (B) by resig. Game 3 (Sept. 25). Ichiriki (B) by resig. 

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Categories: Japan,John Power Report
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Lee Sedol Wins Historic Jubango Against Gu Li

Sunday September 28, 2014

The most anticipated go event in decades concluded on September 28, when Lee Sedol 9p (right) defeated Gu Li 9p in their historic jubango, winning 2014.09.28_MLily-Gu-Lee-Jubango-Game-8-t-300x300the eighth game by 2.5 points. The 350-move game was the longest in the series, and took place in Gu Li’s hometown, Chongqing, China. With this victory, Lee Sedol took the lion’s share of the 5,000,000 RMB prize money (more than $800,000 USD), and cemented his place in go history. The final score for the series was 6-2 in Lee’s favor, although this statistic belies how tightly fought several of the games were.

As with the previous seven games, Go Game Guru will release a detailed commentary soon; in the meantime, you can find all the commentaries and videos from the match on GGG’s jubango page and click here to see An Younggil 8p’s preliminary comments on Game 8. Once completed, all eight commentaries will form the basis of a book about the match.
– based on reporting by Go Game Guru

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Categories: Korea,World
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Park Junghwan Breaks Chen Yaoye’s China Korea Tengen Streak

Sunday September 28, 2014

Chen Yaoye 9pKorea’s Jeju Island hosted the 18th China Korea Tengen from September 23 to September 26. Defending champion China’s Chen Yaoye 9p (left) has won the tournament for the past three years. With four total wins, Chen matches the accolades of Gu Li 9p and Lee Changho 9p. However, Park Junghwan 9p seemed determined to seek revenge for fellow Korean player Park Younghun 9p who was unable to stop Chen in last year’s tournament. As the only person to defeat Chen at the Tengen in the past, the pressure on Park Junghwan was high but he prevailed. Park won games one and two by resignation and restored the game record for overall wins to 9-9.

The China Korea Tengen is an annual tournament where the winners of Korea’s Chunwon and China’s Tianyuan play a best of three match. For more information about this year’s Tengen including photos and game records, please visit Go Game Guru.
Annalia Linnan, based on a longer article by Go Game Guru; photo courtesy of Go Game Guru

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EuroGoTV Update: Romania, Russia, Switzerland

Sunday September 28, 2014

RomSylvain Praz 1dania: The 5th Radu Baciu Grand Prix — stage 6 Sibiu finished on September 14 with Adrian Nedan 1k in first, Alexandru Acsinte 4k in second, and Sorin Padurariu 3k in third. Russia: Igor Nemlij 5d bested Andrej Kulkov 6d at the Russian Championship Semifinal in Moscow on September 21. Grigorij Fionin 5d placed third. Switzerland: Also on September 21, Sylvain Praz 1d (left) took the Veyrier-Ko Go Club 2014. Behind him were Semi Lee 3d in second and Sebastien Ott 2d in third.
– Annalia Linnan, based on reports from 
EuroGoTV, which include complete result tables and all the latest European go news; photo courtesy of EuroGoTV

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Chile-Ecuador-Mexico Youth Tourney

Saturday September 27, 2014

 

Screen Shot 2014-09-27 at 6.04.46 PMChile, Ecuador, and Mexico held their first ever three country online tournament for youth on July 27th, reports Chilean organizer Sebastian Montiel. Dubbed “Las Tres Águilas” the matches were held on the OGS go server. Ecuador took first and second places, while Chile finished third. Diego Albuja organizer of “La Piedra en el Lago” Academia de Go reports “go in Latin America has taken shape recently for youth, but it’s imperative to develop a study system. Playing online tournaments is a way for under-18 players to test their skills. ‘Las Tres Águilas’ tournament is the first initiative to match children in Latin American countries in a friendly and competitive spirit. We’re delighted for the success of the tournament, especially because now Ecuador’s players have worthy opponents in other countries. Finding people who share the idea that the future of go is in youth, enhances our go teaching activities.”

Screen Shot 2014-09-27 at 6.05.09 PMThe matches were organized by Sebastien Montiel of Club de Go Aonken (Chile), Siddhartha Ávila of Gimnasio de Go (México), and Diego Albuja of Academia de Go (Ecuador). Winners Report: 1. Joaquín Proaño (Ecuador); 2. Mateo Mena (Ecuador); 3. Benjamín Mimiza (Chile); 4. Matias Nicolás Salinas (Chile); 5. Axel Fematt (México); 6. Dante Zavala (México); 7. Samuel Suástegui (México); 8. Maximiliano Lobos (Chile); 9. Agustín Madrid (Ecuador); 10. Vicente Ignacio LH (Chile); 11. Jorge Luis Girón (Ecuador). -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

 

 

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AGF College Scholarship Applications Due Nov. 1st

Saturday September 27, 2014

AGF-logo-smallApplications are now being accepted for the American Go Foundation(AGF) college scholarshipThe program  recognizes high school students who have served as important youth organizers and promoters for the go community . To apply, download and complete the application form here.  Applicants should describe their accomplishments and volunteer work in a short essay. Letters of recommendation may also be included. Applicants whose enthusiasm and ambition have helped spread go in under-served areas will be given special consideration. Strong players who spend much of their time voluntarily teaching will also be considered, although the award focuses on promoters and organizers who have made substantial contributions during their go career.  Applications are due Nov. 1st this year, a change from last year. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Editor’s note: an earlier version of this story accidentally listed the wrong date, and provided an incorrect link. 

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8th — And Possibly Final — Game in Lee Sedol vs Gu Li Jubango Tonight

Saturday September 27, 2014

Live coverage of the eighth round in the MLily Gu vs Lee Jubango starts Saturday night at 9pm PST (midnight Sunday morning EST). It takes2014.09.27_Gu-Li-Lee-Sedol-Jubango place in Gu’s hometown, Chongqing, and with the score currently at 5-2 in Lee’s favor this game is a kadoban for Gu and might be the last of the match. Commentators on Baduk TV  will replay and analyze the game from the beginning and Go Game Guru’s An Younggil 8p will translate and discuss the game with Baduk TV Live viewers. Access to the game costs $2.70 with a Baduk TV Day Pass. If you plan to watch the game from the very start, remember to subtract three hours from the times given above. Baduk TV starts the coverage three hours later because the games go for so long.
Go Game Guru

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Categories: Korea,World,Youth
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Go Spotting: 13 Assassins Play Go?

Saturday September 27, 2014

“Recently I was watching the movie 13 Assassins,” writes Cylis Dreamer. “Around the 42 minute mark the two main characters mention playing2014.09.03_13-assassins go together. There might have been more times it was mentioned, but I missed them. I didn’t see a board or stones either.” The 2010 Japanese film was directed by Takashi Miike

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Categories: Go Spotting
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