American Go E-Journal » Events/Tournaments

2012 U.S.Go Congress Registration Opens

Sunday February 19, 2012

Registration for the 2012 U.S. Go Congress — August 4-11 in Black Mountain, North Carolina — is now open. “If you loved the 2006 Go Congress in Black Mountain, you are not alone,” says Congress Co-Directors Peter Armenia and Paul Celmer. “It was rated one of the best events in the entire history of the Go Congress, and our team of new and returning volunteers has worked hard to make 2012 even better.” In addition to the usual; cornucopia of go playing and professional instruction, the 2012 Congress features modest costs — with accommodations for all styles and budgets — a serene and scenic mountain setting, boutique arts and crafts shops in Black Mountain, nationally known brew pubs and a vibrant music and arts scene in nearby historic Asheville. Special Congress events like the “Fuseki Challenge” and the return of the legendary “Mountaintop Go” are also bound to be popular, as well as a variety of day off activities such as the Biltmore house and winery, whitewater rafting, brew pubs, zip lines, and Asheville city tours. This year’s Congress will also host the first-ever North American Go Symposium where academics and others will present studies on the literary, historical, mathematical, and cultural aspects of the game. “Registration costs will increase as the Congress date nears,” Armenia and Celmer warn, “so sign up early to ensure the accommodation style you desire.” Organizers are “working hard on making this Congress affordable and enjoyable,” the Co-Directors add. “Looking forward to seeing you on the mountain!” photo by Roy Laird

 

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2013 U.S.Go Congress Organizers Sought

Monday February 13, 2012

The American Go Association is looking for volunteers to organize the 2013 US Go Congress. “It’s a big job,” says Chris Kirchner, “but has great rewards for the organizers who step forward to join the elite class of Congress organizers,” like 2012 Congress Directors Paul Celmer and Peter Armenia. If interested, contact Kirschner at development@usgo.org.  “Be aware that the organizing will start right now,” Kirschner warns, “as you will need to determine a site and come up with a preliminary budget to present at the Congress this year.” Click here for details about what’s involved in organizing a Congress.

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2012 U.S. Go Congress Update

Friday February 10, 2012

(updated 2/10 11a) Contrary to our previously-published report, registration for the 2012 U.S. Go Congress is NOT YET open, according to Directors Paul Celmer and Peter Armenia.  Please stand by for further updates as they become available. 

The 2012 U.S. Go Congress is set for August 4-12 in Black Mountain, NC. The largest go activity in the United States, the annual Congress happens once a year and spans a full week. Events include the US Open, the largest annual go tournament in the US, professional lectures and game analysis, continuous self paired games, and all kinds of go related activities from morning to midnight. “Come for the go, come for the camaraderie of old friends, come for the relaxing mountain air,” say organizers. “Whatever your reason, we are looking forward to seeing you there!” The 2012 site now includes links to previous Congresses going back to 2006, including links to tourney results, game records and more. photo by Bob Felice

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AGA-Korea Agreements Posted

Sunday February 5, 2012

The recent agreements signed by the American Go Association with Korea to promote a new professional players’ system in theU.S.have now been posted. Click on our original report — AGA Inks Deals with Korea to Develop U.S. Pro System  (12/26/2011 EJ) – for details on the agreements AGA Board Chairman Andy Okun signed with the Korea Baduk Association and the Korean go server TongYang Online (Tygem) December 19th in Seoul, Korea.

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AGA Inks Deals with Korea to Develop U.S. Pro System

Monday December 26, 2011

The American Go Association (AGA) in December signed agreements with Korea to promote a new professional players’ system in the U.S. AGA Board Chairman Andy Okun (right) signed the agreements with the Korea Baduk Association and the Korean go server TongYang Online (Tygem) December 19th in Seoul, Korea. “With the generous support of the KBA and Tygem, we are off to a great start,” Okun said. “These partnerships will help grow go in the U.S. and produce players who can win at the international level. This may be a long road, but with our partners’ help it will be a successful finish.” Said KBA Secretary General Yang Jae-Ho, “The KBA wants the AGA to grow, and is hoping to see American professional players who defeat Asian players in an international tournament.” He added that “I hope to see even bigger tournaments than the Samsung and LG Cup in America.” And Tygem CEO Jeong In-Soo (left, in photo) said that “I sincerely hope TongYang Online and the AGA will lead the globalization of baduk through our cooperation.” Tygem agreed to provide $30,000 annually to fund the AGA’s professional certification tournament, which will be broadcast exclusively via Tygem, which recently launched its English language website, and is seeking to expand its player base outside Asia. Under the KBA Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) – which Feng Yun 9P has complained was negotiated without participation by American professionals – KBA, as part of its cultural mission to spread go around the world, has agreed to allow AGA-certified North American professionals to compete in five major Korean tournaments and to provide them with low-cost training. Kim Myung-Wan 9P, the KBA representative to the U.S., will continue to support the AGA’s efforts, and will chair a committee designing the certification system and developing pro activities. Okun credited the two agreements to Kim’s “hard work and perseverance.”  Click here for the Tygem MOU.

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China Tops World Mind Games Mixed Doubles

Sunday December 18, 2011

China took the gold medal in the SportAccord World Mind Games mixed doubles event, with Korea winning silver and Japan bronze. The U.S. team of Feng Yun and Jie Li (photo) defeated Europe’s Vanessa Wong and Catalin Taranu in the final.

Click here for Ranka Online’s full coverage of the World Mind Games, which ended on December 16th.

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U.S. Only Remaining Barrier to World Mind Games Gold Medal for China

Tuesday December 13, 2011

Barring a miracle by the Americans against China, the winner of the Japan-Korea match in the SportAccord World Mind Games on December 14 will take the team silver while China takes the gold. China defeated Japan 4-1 in the 4th round Tuesday, while Chinese Taipei shut out the Americans, winning all five of their games by resignation. Korea swept the European team. The loser of the Japan-Korea match will take the bronze medal. The mixed doubles rounds are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
– Based on James Davies’ detailed reports on Ranka Online, where you can also follow live matches, check out the schedule, results and participants.

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Time Out for Kids: SportAccord Delegation Visits a Go Class in Beijing

Tuesday December 13, 2011

December 12 was a rest day for the go competition at the SportAccord World Mind Games, but for a dozen or so of the players and officials, it was an opportunity to pay an afternoon visit to the Zhang Guan Gun No. 3 Elementary School. This is one of the schools in Beijing where the pupils also learn to play go. About two dozen schoolboys, dressed in light blue school uniforms, were lined up inside the school gate to greet the bus carrying the players and officials, escort them to the school meeting room, and present them with self-made gifts.

“We played one-on-two simultaneous games with representatives from the 5th and 6th grades,” says Thomas Hsiang, a 7-dan. “My two opponents were 3D players and both took only three stones.  We played in their go classrooms, on tables specially made just for playing go.  It was there that one sees the future of go in China and understands why it will be hard for others to compete with the Chinese in go in the foreseeable future.”

In an unscheduled event, Andrew Okun (right), the American team captain, dropped in on a lesson in a regular classroom to give some second graders a chance to practice their English. They peppered him with questions. Where do you live? Los Angeles. Do you like chicken? Yes. Do you also like duck? Yes. Do you like ice cream? Yes, I like it too much (patting midsection). After ten minutes or so, Okun ended the session with a question to the class: Do you like studying English? The class went wild in shouting Yes.

Back in the go classroom the games were still in progress. On the whole, the pupils were acquitting themselves well but finding that without a handicap, beating world-class professional players and even world-class European amateurs and IGF Vice Presidents is not so easy. Unfortunately, the bus had to leave and some of the pupils’ parents had come to get them, so the games were cut short, farewells were bid, and a smiling group of players and officials returned to the Beijing Intercontinental Grand Hotel.

James Davies, with additional reporting by Thomas Hsiang; photos courtesy Ranka Online; where you can read Davies’ full report.

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China Likely to Win Gold in World Mind Games; U.S. Contender for 5th

Sunday December 11, 2011

In the third round of the team competitions at the SportAccord World Mind Games in Beijing, China, the United States finally scored a team win when Mingjiu Jiang forced Catalin Taranu to resign, after Andy Liu and Feng Yun won against Cornel Burzo and Vanessa Wong, reports Thomas Hsiang.  Jie Li, however, lost by 2.5 points to Cristian Pop in a game that both players thought Jie had won.  Kevin Huang then lost to Jan Simara, making the team score 3-2.  The US will now probably finish 5th.

The other match, pitting China against Korea, attracted the attention of a lot of the Chinese pros. Wang Runan, Hua Yigang, Hua Xueming, and Yu Bin – the president, vice president, men’s team coach, and women’s team coach of China Weiqi Association – all showed up to watch.  There were lively discussions in the study room around the several large-screen TV’s showing the key games.  In the game between Kong Jie and Lee Sedol, Kong had a good opening and took the lead early on.  But Lee fought back with a clever maneuver to reverse the situation and won at the end.  On the second table, Gu Li (right) trailed Choi Chulhan early, causing tense moments among the Chinese audience.  But, in a marvelous display of his recent strong form, Gu fought back little bit by little bit.  In the end he found a ko and took a firm lead when Choi could not find a large enough threat for the ko.  With Xie He and Li He winning, China was assured of a 3-2 victory.  China will now probably win the gold medal.

Between Korea and China, there have been three international mind-sport team clashes.  In the 2008 WMSG and the 2010 Asian Games, Korea won both by a 4-1 score.  So for China, this was a sweet victory indeed.

In the third match, Japan won surprisingly easily with a score of 4-1 against Chinese Taipei.  Only Yamashiro Hiroshi lost on the second table to Hsiao Cheng-hao.  Japan will now probably take the bronze.

Tomorrow (12/12) is the off day for Go.  SportAccord and the Beijing government have arranged a visit for some of the go players to a middle school for a teaching and promotional event.  Representing US and EU will be Mingjiu Jiang and Vanessa Wong.
Click here for James Davies’ detailed reports on Ranka Online, where you can also follow live matches, check out the schedule, results and participants.
photo courtesy Ranka Online

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Japan, Korea & China Sweep EU, US & Chinese Taipei in World Mind Games

Saturday December 10, 2011

“Today’s games were uneventful,” reports Thomas Hsiang from Day Two of the SportAccord World Mind Games in Beijing, China.  “Japan, Korea, China cruised to 5-win victories versus the EU, US, and Chinese Taipei teams.  Andy Liu played against Park Jeonghwan today (12/10) and said he was thoroughly impressed. ‘I did not even know how I lost.  Park’s play was perfect’”.  Chinese Taipei’s popular Hei Jia-jia played a tough game against Li He, a game featured on the net broadcast.  The game also attracted many pros in the study room.  After an early exchange that favored Li, Jia-jia fought furiously back in an exciting fighting game.  But in the end she still fell short.”

Tomorrow will see the EU pitted against US; the winner will avoid a last-place finish.  Also, China and Korea will crash to produce the likely champion team.  Japan will play Chinese Taipei for a probable third place.

“Andy Okun and I had a two-hour interview with Lee Youngho, brother of Lee Changho, and Xie Rui, the top Weiqi reporter in China who works for Titan Journal, a sports newspaper.  Based on this interview, Titan will publish a feature story about go in America in its next issue.”

Click here for James Davies’ more detailed reports on Ranka Online, where you can also follow live matches, check out the schedule, results and participants.
photo: SAWMG Opening Ceremonies; collage courtesy Ranka Online

 

 

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