American Go E-Journal

This weekend’s 2015 Southern California Go Championship will boast support from the largest Chinese language newspaper in the US as well as a cultural non-profit, it was announced at a press conference Tuesday.  “The promotion of go is in line with goals of the World Journal,” said World Journal President James J. L. Guo.  “We want to support Chinese culture, and also promote a game that stimulates the potential of children and sustains the character of adults.  As Chinese media in North America, we are happy to see the growth of the go community here.” The tournament is being held in a spacious room in the World Journal’s Monterey Park offices, according to tournament organizer Kevin Chao of the host chapter, Orange County Go Club.  The tri-lingual press conference held by Guo, Chao, AGA President Andy Okun and Los Angeles resident pro Kim Myungwan 9p was reported in, among other media outlets, the World Journal itself and a local Korean TV news show.  “Shirley Lin 1p and strong player/teacher Evan Cho were also in attendance,” Okun told the EJ. “The history of newspaper support for go tournaments is a long and wonderful one, so we are delighted and heartened by the World Journal’s participation.”   The two-day, five-round tournament is also receiving significant support from the American Asia Culture Exchange Association and its president, Jay Zheng, a long-time go player and businessman and recently an AGA volunteer.  The prize pool is $3,000 with a prize of $700 for first place in the open section, and NAMT qualifying points for top finishers.  Click here for more information. photos courtesy the World Journal.