American Go E-Journal » Events/Tournaments

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

Categories: Cotsen Open,U.S./North America

How to Earn Qualie Points for 2012 World Mind Sports Games in France

Friday April 13, 2012

All tournaments designated as North American Ing Masters qualifiers, as well as AGA-Tygemgo Pro Tournament qualifiers, are now tournaments at which strong players will be able to earn qualification points for the 2012 World Mind Sports Games (WMSG), scheduled to take place in Lille, France, from August 9-23, reports AGA Tournament Coordinator Karoline Burrall. Players interested in representing the U.S. at the WMSG must be U.S. citizens; all other AGA eligibility criteria for international representatives apply. Upcoming tournaments at which players can earn points are Ronghao Chen’s NAIM qualifier and Self Paired Tournament in Somerset, New Jersey April 21-22, the Cotsen Open in Los Angeles on April 28-29, the AGA-Tygem Seattle Pro Prelim in Seattle, Washington on May 5-6, the Rocky Mountain Spring Go Tournament in Boulder, CO on May 12 and the Maryland Pro Tournament (details coming soon). Details are on the tournaments calendar. Players should indicate to the tournament director that they would like to earn WMSG points at these events. “Players are welcome to play in and attend as many qualifier tournaments as they wish,” notes Burrall, “but only their two highest point scores will add to make up their final points.”

Categories: Cotsen Open,U.S. Go Congress,U.S. Pro Tournament,U.S./North America

U.S. Go Congress Offers Chance to Win Free Meal Plan

Tuesday April 10, 2012

U.S. Go Congress organizers have just announced a drawing for a free 2012 Congress meal plan – a $225 value — on April 25th. “Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch…and breakfast and dinner?!” said Congress Co-Director Peter Armenia and Paul Celmer. This year’s Congress runs August 4 – 12 in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Here’s how to enter:
1) Register and pay your total Congress balance. If you have already registered and paid, you can still enter the contest by completing the following steps.
2): Post a memory: on the 2012 Congress Facebook page post at least a paragraph that describes either your favorite memory of a U.S. Go Congress, or tells how you came to learn about go. Favorite pictures of a Go Congress from your personal album will also be accepted. If you don’t want to post to Facebook you can email it to paul@gocongress12.org and indicate that we can post your story or anecdote.
3): Notify: send an email to paul@gocongress12.org indicating that you have entered the contest.

You must complete all three steps to be considered for entry. The winner will be drawn at random from complete entries. Payment and postings must be made by midnight (EST) April 24th. “Of course, even if you do not wish to enter the contest we still very much appreciate your Congress payment to ensure your room reservations!” say Armenia and Celmer.

Categories: U.S. Go Congress,U.S./North America

KBA to Award Certificates to Dan Players at Cotsen

Monday April 9, 2012

In case the free food, shoulder massages, sunny weather and tough competition at the upcoming Cotsen Open are not enough of a draw, as many as six Korea Baduk Association (KBA) rank certificates will be awarded to dan players between 1d and 6d, courtesy of Kim Myung-wan 9p and the KBA. The April 28-29 tournament also features a visit by 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. Click here for complete details and to register – free lunch for all who register by 4/23 –or contact Andy Okun at sponsorship@usgo.org with questions. “Surfing conditions at the end of April are expected to be good,” promises Okun.
photo: Tang Wenhua 6d [r] receives his 6d KBA certificate at the 2010 Santa Monica Coffee Cup from Myung-wan Kim 9P (l); photo courtesy Andy Okun

Categories: Cotsen Open

AGA Go Camp Registration Open

Monday April 9, 2012

Registration for the AGA East Coast Go Camp is now open. Pricing and details can be found on the 2012 Camp Website here. For the convenience of the campers and their families, payments for the camp can be made online, although some forms must still be mailed directly to the organizers. The camp will take place the week before the Go Congress from July 28 to August 4 and will be held at the same location, the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. “The AGA Summer Go Camp welcomes campers from the ages of 8 to 18 to attend for a week of go-playing and fun,” says director Amanda Miller. AGF needs based scholarships are again available for players who can’t afford the full cost, and youth who played in the USYGC are eligible for a $400 scholarship to camp. More details on AGF scholarships can be found here. – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo by Amanda Miller: Campers playing relay go.

Categories: U.S. Go Congress,U.S./North America,Youth

Second International Children’s Art Contest Accepting Submissions

Monday April 2, 2012

The second International Children’s Go Art Contest is now accepting submissions, and will culminate in an exhibit of the pieces at the U.S. Go Congress in North Carolina this summer. The event is sponsored by the Mexican Youth Go Community and the AGA, in honor of the International Go Symposium. Organizer Siddhartha Avila says “the contest will feature children’s artwork, in which they will be free to express their visions, emotions and ideas about go through painting. Its purpose is to make go culture flourish among children, and promote it through a creative exchange.” Last year’s contest drew submissions from Japan, the Phillipines, India, the US and Mexico. Submissions must be received in Mexico City by July 13th. Complete information, including the submission forms and event details, can be found on the Go Symposium site. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

Categories: Go Art,U.S. Go Congress,U.S./North America,World,Youth

Cotsen Open to Feature Legendary Cho Hun-hyun 9P & Other Top Pros

Friday March 30, 2012

The legendary Cho Hun-hyun 9P (right) will attend this year’s Cotsen Open, set for April 28-29 in Los Angeles, CA. Also attending and teaching will be Yang Jae-ho 9P, secretary general of the Korea Baduk Association, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P, winner of many Korean and international titles, Kim Myung-wan 9P, one of the organizers of the American Go Association’s new pro system and Yang Yilun 7P, local South California favorite and renowned U.S. teacher. The Cotsen, one of the biggest tournaments on the American go calendar, is being hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles (KCCLA, at left), 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. Cho Hun-hyun — Cho is considered one of the greatest players of all time, with more than 150 professional titles to his name — Yang Jae-ho and Yoo Chang-hyuk are being sent by the Korea Baduk Association to celebrate the first official event of this year’s AGA pro selection process. Cho and the others will observe the pro qualifier games, do game commentary – top boards will be broadcast live by the E-Journal, as usual — and play simultaneous games with attendees. Preference for playing in the simuls will go to those who register earliest for the tournament. This year’s free lunch for pre-registered players will be Korean finger food courtesy of KCCLA and food from Los Angeles’ famous roving gourmet food trucks courtesy of tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen. KCCLA will provide participants with traditional style Korean cloth fans, and the winners of every dan division will receive dan certificates from the KBA. And as always, any tension over the boards will be massaged away by the Cotsen’s famous roving masseuses. For more info on the Cotsen email Jenna Stewart at creativemindevents@me.com.

Categories: Cotsen Open,U.S./North America

Computer Game Tycoon to Keynote First US International Go Symposium

Saturday March 24, 2012

The father of the computer gaming revolution, Nolan Bushnell, will be the keynote speaker at the first US International Go Symposium, on August 4-5, 2012. The Symposium will bring together go scholars from around the world to explore educational, cultural, historical, literary, artistic, scientific and technological aspects of the game. Bushnell has called go a “wonderfully rich and powerful game” and his “favorite game of all time.”

When he founded a pioneering computer company in 1972, Bushnell selected a go term, atari, for the company’s name. Atari’s game Pong became the first commercially successful computer game, opening the door to modern computer gaming. Organized by Peter Shotwell, noted go scholar and author, the symposium will take place on August 3rd and 4th during the first weekend of the American Go Association’s (AGA’s) 28th US Go Congress in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The International Go Federation is providing seed funding for the symposium. For more information about the Symposium, or to submit papers or proposals, contact Peter Shotwell at pshotwell@gmail.com

Categories: U.S. Go Congress,U.S./North America

2011 Congress Tourney Winner’s Reports Posted

Monday February 27, 2012

Winner’s reports for the 2011 North American Ing Masters (NAIM) and the 2011 U.S. Go Congress Strong Players Open (SPO) have now been posted; a similar PDF report for the 2011 U.S. Open is expected soon. Click here for crosstabs on the major Congress tournaments 2008-2011.

Categories: U.S. Go Congress

Go Symposium Issues Second Call for Papers/Presenters

Tuesday February 21, 2012

Organizers of the 2012 International Go Symposium have issued a second call for papers and/or presenters (AGA to hold “Go Symposium” at 2012 Go Congress 10/24/2011 EJ). The Symposium, to be keynoted by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, will take place August 4-5 at the U.S. Go Congress. Presentations can include educational, cultural, historical, literary, artistic, scientific and other interesting aspects of the game (click here for records of a similar 2003 ICOB Conference in Korea, the 2008 Symposium in Sweden and research papers in these fields). Suggested timing is a half-hour presentation with a 15-minute question and answer period. Translators and editing can be provided. “For those unable to attend, we will augment the usual methods of presenting papers by using Skype and possibly other Internet forms of communication that would enable audience participation,” says Peter Shotwell. Prepared talks on DVDs or with other pre-recorded means will also be considered. Pending sponsorships and costs, honorariums may be offered. For those who wish to publish, presentations can be included in an e-publication connected with the American Go Association web site and E-Journal. Publication in other forms will be allowed. Papers and presentations can also be put up before the event on the Symposium’s website. “We are also looking for more sponsorship and would appreciate any suggestions,” adds Shotwell. The conference is sponsored by the International Go Federation and the American Go Association. Contact: Peter Shotwell pshotwell@gmail.com

Categories: U.S. Go Congress,World

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