American Go E-Journal

On the heels of the successful Tygem Pro Test Tournament, which wraps up Saturday, the AGA has just announced another new fully-sponsored tournament.  The inaugural Pandanet-AGA City League will officially kick off during the 2012 US Go Congress, which begins this Saturday in Black Mountain, NC. “This an exciting new event and we expect it’ll become an important part of the American tournament scene,” said AGA President Allan Abramson. Funded by Pandanet, the tournament is formatted similarly to the Chinese and Korean City Leagues: each team consists of three active players, one alternate and one captain, representing a city or region in North America.  Players may be either pros or amateurs.  The top six teams are placed into an “A” League and will play a double round-robin with each other throughout the year on the International Go Server (IGS).  Other teams are placed into a “B” League and possibly a third, “C” League.  The top finisher in the B League moves up to the A League after each season, replacing the bottom A League team.  In addition to generous cash prizes provided by Pandanet, teams are encouraged to seek their own local sponsors to provide the team with travel, training, celebration and community events, and game-fees. “The primary goal of the City League is to provide a new opportunity for pros and strong amateurs to play,” reports AGA Tournament Coordinator Karoline Burrall. “A second goal is to generate regional interest and build up small, grassroots support for go in the North America. Watch for further announcements during the Go Congress and start organizing your own team now!”