American Go E-Journal » Cotsen Open

“My Father’s Last Game” Translated into Chinese; Cool Players; “Liking” Iwamoto’s Go Centers; Cotsen Correx

Wednesday May 9, 2012

“My Father’s Last Game” Translated into Chinese: Betsy Small’s Traveling Board column in the March 29 E-Journal, “My Father’s Last Game”  has been published in China, on the sina blog and major go websites, as well as in the publication Sports Fan, which has a circulation of about 150,000. “Some readers told me they were in tears after reading the story,” Simon Guo, who translated the article, tells the E-Journal. “Me too.”

Cool Players: “I could be mistaken, but the men in that photograph (Go Photo: Cool Game 4/22 EJ) look like Igor Grishin (left) and Maksim Tikhomirov (right) from the Russian Go Federation,” writes Nikolas. “ Alexandre Dinerchtein sent me more photos of them” on the All About Go blog.

“Liking” Iwamoto’s Go Centers:
Noting that “The Seattle Go Center is in serious jeopardy because the Nihon Ki-in has decided to sell the building that has housed it since its inception” and that “the unilateral manner in which the decision was made raises questions regarding the future of all of the Iwamoto Go Centers,” NY Go Center Board member Roy Laird is urging go players to “like” any or all of the three Iwamoto Go Centers that have Facebook pages: The Seattle Go CenterThe New York Go Center and The European Go Cultural Centre. “This public groundswell of support could open the door to a more effective partnership between the Nihon Ki-in and Western Go,” suggests Laird.

Cotsen Correx: Myung-wan Kim is 9P (not 3P as mistakenly reported in our 5/2 post In Appreciation: The 2012 Cotsen Open Team), Chris Sira was the Tournament Director. Our apologies for the error and oversight.

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In Appreciation: The 2012 Cotsen Open Team

Wednesday May 2, 2012

It may not take quite a village, but it definitely takes a good-sized team to pull off a tournament like last weekend’s Cotsen Open. 

Tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen’s team this year included Tournament Organizer Jenna Stewart, lead coordinator Hunter Knight, Noah King, David Fein, Maile Fulton and masseuses Nini, Priscilla and Cindy. 

The tireless and always cheerful staff at the Korean Cultural Center, led by Director and Consul Jaewon Kim and Vice Director and Consul Jongmoon Kim, included Program Manager Tammy Chung, Facility Manager Seunghoan Roh, Sports Manager Sungwoo Park, Tech Manager Jaewoo Kim, along with Aryf Hussain, Miguel Hernandez and Domingo Hernandez.

AGA leaders and volunteers who lent a hand included AGA President Allan Abramson, who flew in from Virginia, Tournament Director Chris SiraJeff Shaevel from Texas, AGA Board Chair Andy Okun (who lent a whole more than a hand) and of course Kim Myung-wan 9P, who played a key role coordinating the tournament planning.

Others who pitched in were the Bay Area Go Club’s Roger Schrag, who set up the tournament registration page, Wende Mate, who designed the tournament banner, Jay Chan, who brought in additional clocks, along with Paru Maheta-Sargon, Shih-peng Sun and Robert Schrader (who helped moved stuff late Friday night), as well as Wenguang Wu, James Kim and Yixian Zhou.

Professionals who did simuls and lectures included  Cho Hun-hyun 9P, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P, Yang Jae-ho 9P, Kim Myung-wan 9P, Yang Yilun 7P, Janice Kim 3P, Kim Hyo-jung 2P and, online from China, Wang Qun 8P.

Sponsors this year were the Korean Baduk Association, the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles, Vitaave.com, Choi Gun-ho and the LA Go Club, and Hinoki Press, which donated a big pile of books.

Last but never least was the E-Journal’s crack team, which broadcast an astounding 25 games – plus half a dozen pro commentaries – live on KGS over just two days. Assisting EJ Managing Editor Chris Garlock were KGS Liaison Akane Negishi, who flew down from Portland, lead game recorder Solomon Smilack from Denver, and locals Richard Dolen, Joe Cepiel and Dustin Pluta, with assistance from Jim Woh.
Collage: Registration (top left photo, clockwise): Chris Sira, Jenna Stewart, tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen, Noah King, Hunter Knight and Andy Okun; Pairings (top right): Chris Sira (l) & Okun; Please Massage: masseuses (need names); Game Recorders: middle bottom: Solomon Smilack (front, with goatee), Richard Dolen (left, in suit) & Dustin Pluta (right, in blue); far left: Chris Garlock recording Cho-Yang pro-pro game. 

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Calvin Sun Wins ’12 Cotsen

Sunday April 29, 2012

Calvin Sun won the 2012 Cotsen Open, sweeping all five rounds and earning an invitation to the AGA’s first-ever professional certification tournament, which will be held at the US Go Congress this summer in Black Mountain, NC. Runner-up Curtis Tang also collected an invite to the pro certification tournament. Click here for the tournament crosstab with links to top-board game records.
Other top Cotsen winners in the Open section were Chun-hong Chen (3rd), Deuk Je Chang (4th), Daniel (Dae Hyuk) Ko (5th) and Joey Hung (6th). The Santa Monica Go Club won the team prize, collecting the $1,000 prize. Other winners: Section A: 1st: Sang-suk Kim; 2nd: Anthony Chen; 3rd: Gary Shen. Section B: 1st: Yunxuan Li; 2nd: Ho-byun Young; 3rd: Jeremy Chiu. Section C: 1st: Jinming Pan; 2nd: Michael Wanek; 3rd: Daniel Liu. Section D: 1st: Jack Cai; 2nd: April Ye; 3rd: Wait-to Char. Section E: 1st: Sang-chul Lee; 2nd: Sum Kim; 3rd: In-soo Hwang. Section F: 1st: Jiayue Li; 2nd: Gary Huang; 3rd: Yongqiang Chen. Section G: 1st: John Ye; 2nd: Hong L Bach; 3rd: Scott Nichols. photo: Cotsen winner Calvin Sun (2nd from right) with tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen (far left), AGA Board Chair Andy Okun (2nd from left) and AGA President Allan Abramson (far right). photo by Chris Garlock.

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Pro System Launch “Monumental Moment” for U.S. Go, says Cho Hunhyun 9P

Sunday April 29, 2012

For a guy whose nickname is “The God of War” and who has amassed over 1,000 career wins, Cho Hunhyun 9P in person in actually pretty mild-mannered. In Los Angeles this weekend to help launch the American Go Association’s (AGA) nascent professional certification system at the Cotsen Open AGA-Tygem Pro Prelim, Cho took a few minutes out of a jam-packed schedule Saturday at the Korean Cultural Center to sit down for an interview with the American Go E-Journal. “This is a monumental moment for the AGA,” Cho said, “and I wanted to be here, on behalf of the Korean Baduk Association, to show our support.” Saying that he’s “very impressed” by the American effort and enthusiasm for go, Cho said that simply by launching the American pro system “You have taken the most important step.” But, like the game of go itself, Cho encouraged American players to settle in for a long road ahead. “China dominated this game for 5,000 years,Japan dominated it for 500 years and Korea has been on top for just 30 years, so for American players to compete on a world level, it’s going to take a long time, 10, 20, maybe even 50 years.”  Developing a professional system is absolutely key to building the strength of American players, Cho said, because it creates the necessary financial incentives and infrastructure and ultimately will make it possible to have a career as an American professional go player. But because it’s impossible to predict the rise of homegrown go prodigies or geniuses, Cho said America must “just follow the path, be patient and put in the effort and someone will come forth.” This was Cho’s own path to the top, he said, saying that “choosing the path of a go professional was like destiny,” adding that he feels that “this journey has not ended” for him and he thinks he still has more to contribute to the game. “The beauty of go is that people become modest when they play.” As proof, Cho revealed that he’s recently taken up golf, where “I am now the amateur” and can just have fun playing.
– report/photos by Chris Garlock; translation for Cho Hunhyun by James Kim

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Cotsen Open Day 1

Saturday April 28, 2012

Only three top players are undefeated after the first three rounds of the 2012 Cotsen Open: Curtis Tang, Calvin Sun and Chun-hong Chen. The final two rounds of the Cotsen will be held on Sunday, April 29 in Los Angeles, CA. Day One featured morning simuls with visiting Korean professionals, three rounds of tournament play, a lecture by Janice Kim 3P and broadcast of top boards on KGS, with pro commentary by Myung-wan Kim, Yilun Yang and Yoo Chang-hyuk. All the game records — including the pro commentaries — will be posted on the website soon.
photos and collage  by Chris Garlock

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Two Kims Add to Cotsen Pro Line-Up

Friday April 27, 2012

Two more professionals have been confirmed for this weekend’s Cotsen Open in Los Angeles, CA: Janice Kim 3P (at far right) and Kim Hyo-jung 2P (below at right). The American-born Janice Kim has long been a popular teacher at U.S. events, including the annual Go Congress, while Kim Hyo-jung is a well-known commentator and MC at Korean go events. That will make an impressive total of seven pros at the Cotsen, including Cho Hun-hyun 9PYang Jae-ho 9P, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P, Myung-wan Kim 9P and Yilun Yang 7P, all of whom are expected to play in simuls with Cotsen attendees as well as give lectures and game commentaries. Registration opens at 8a Saturday (walk-ins are welcome), Saturday, 4/28 at the Korean Cultural Center (5505 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles,CA); Round 1 is scheduled for 10a PST, Round 2 for 1P and Round 3 for 4:15P. Live EJ game broadcast of top-board games on KGS begins with Round 1 and live commentaries should begin around 11a PST. Watch the AGA website and keep an eye on KGS for updates throughout the weekend.  

 

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Cotsen Drawing Record Crowd in L.A.

Wednesday April 25, 2012

With several days to go, nearly 200 have already registered for this weekend’s Cotsen Open in Los Angeles, one of the year’s biggest and most popular go tournaments in the United States. With thousands of dollars in prizes, the April 28-29 tournament is bringing out players of all strengths, and competition will be especially tough on the top boards as players like Joey Hung 8D, Juyong Koh 8D, Danny Daehyuk Ko 8D, Curtis Tang 8D (at right; click here for the April 24 LA Times story on how this “Child prodigy took a pass on Go”) and Calvin Sun 7D battle it out. The E-Journal will be broadcasting top games on KGS, hopefully with commentary from one of the visiting Korea Baduk Association pros, Cho Hun-hyun 9P, Yang Jae-ho 9P, and Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P. The Cotsen also features big cash prizes for the clubs whose players win the most games, so a number of area clubs are sending teams to compete.
photo by Gary Friedman/LA Times

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Cotsen Open Set for this Weekend in L.A.

Monday April 23, 2012

The Cotsen Open in Los Angeles this weekend just added another draw: special fans signed by all three attending professionals, Cho Hun-Hyun 9P, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P and KBA Secretary General Yang Jae-ho 9P, who will be commenting, teaching and observing the opening phase of US pro certification process. That’s in addition to the free food, shoulder massages, six Korea Baduk Association (KBA) rank certificates, sunny weather and field of hundreds of players at the Cotsen this Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29. The Cotsen, one of the biggest tournaments on the American go calendar, is being hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles, and this year includes the AGA-Tygem Pro Prelim, which will select two candidates for the AGA’s first-ever professional certification tournament at the U.S. Go Congress in North Carolina this summer. Click here to register now!

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Cho Hun-Hyun 9P ‘s Message to American Go Players

Thursday April 19, 2012

With just over a week to go before he attends the April 28-29 Cotsen Open in Los Angeles, Cho Hun-Hyun 9P — considered one of the greatest players of all time – has sent the American go community his congratulations “on starting your professional system and hosting the Cotsen Open,“ adding that “I hope the American go community develops further through this tournament and that many will enjoy go as a mind sport.” Adds Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P, who will also be at the Cotsen, “I can’t wait to see the first American professionals. Even though they may not as strong as Korean professionals at first, Americans can catch up pretty fast by having many opportunities to compete in tournaments.” He also says that he looks forward to “having even more baduk cultural exchanges with Korea.” Finally, KBA Secretary General Yang Jae-ho 9P, who will accompany Cho and Yoo, says that “Having talented kids is critical to developing the baduk community. That’s why we adopted pro qualification for talented kids. Likewise, America can be one of the strongest baduk countries in the world if kids are enthusiastic about baduk. I’d like to give those kids a chance to play with the top professionals from Korea and hopefully they will have a good experience. If those kids become a professional, I look forward to them coming to Korea to participate in tournaments, honor America, and establish baduk friendship between America and Korea. Best wishes for the success of the tournament!” Remember: you must register by April 23rd to be eligible for the free lunch and full registration refund. photo courtesy Go’s Everywhere

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Cotsen Open Registration Nearing Triple Digits

Saturday April 14, 2012

Nearly 100 are already pre-registered for the Cotsen Open coming up April 28-29 in Los Angeles, one of the biggest tournaments of the year, with a strong field and this year featuring appearances by top Korean professionals including Cho Hun-Hyun 9P, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P and KBA Secretary General Yang Jae-ho 9P, who will be commenting, teaching and observing the opening phase of US pro certification process. In addition to turnout by local players and clubs, a big contingent from Arizona is expected as usual and so far the player traveling the farthest (besides the Korean pros) is Vermonter Peter Schumer. Also signed up is SmartGo creator Anders Kierulf, coming in from Salt Lake City and longtime go organizer Jeff Shaevel from cedar Park, Texas. Unique among go tournaments anywhere, everyone who registers by 4/23 gets free lunch both days.
photo: tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen and one of the masseuses, another unique feature of the tournament; photo by Chris Garlock

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