American Go E-Journal » U.S. Go Congress

In case playing go isn’t thrilling enough, Go Congress organizers are offering a Zipline Adventure among the Day Off options. The course’s mile of suspended cable features ten zip lines, including one soaring 200 feet above the forest floor and one that is 1100 feet long, artfully-crafted platforms that nest seamlessly in large native trees, two rappelling experiences, two suspended sky bridges that span forest sections teeming with flora and fauna, and three short hikes. Participants “will enjoy a thrilling ride while learning about local culture, history, the natural environment, and perhaps more about themselves.” Other Day Off options include a tour of the Biltmore Estate, Whitewater Rafting, a Guided Waterfall Hike, Fly Fishing, Asheville On Your Own and Crafts At Your Own Pace. “Be sure to sign up early to ensure your place,” encourages organizer Cynthia Gaty.

Six states — New Jersey, North Carolina, California, New York, Virginia, and Maryland — have been invited to compete in the first-ever Wisonet Cup State Team Go Tournament at this year’s U.S. Go Congress. “This is an exciting new addition to the Congress tournament schedule,” says AGA Tournament Coordinator Karoline Burrall. If you’re a resident of NC, CA, NY, VA, or MD who’s attending the US Go Congress and interested in participating in this tournament, email stateteamtournament@gmail.com by July 20, with your home state in the subject line. The 5-round tournament will take place at 2:30p on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at the Go Congress. Each state may select a team of six players: three dan players, two kyu players, and an alternate between 5k and 4d who can play in any of the five team seats should a player be unavailable. The team from New Jersey has already been formed and is captained by Kevin Huang 7D and Larry Russ 3K. Other players on the team are Lionel Zhang 6D, Forest Song 4D, Steven Brethrick 2K, and Justine Ching 3D. The tournament is sponsored by Wisonet, Inc, which is providing $1500 in prizes and a free Super Pentominoes Puzzle for each participant.

Eighteen scholars and experts from around the world will convene next month on August 4-5, the opening weekend of the US Go Congress, at the AGA’s 2012 International Go Symposium, principal organizer Peter Shotwell announced recently.  Nolan Bushnell, who started the computer-gaming movement when he founded Atari in 1972, will deliver the keynote address on Saturday evening, August 4. Hotta Yumi, the creator of Hikaru No Go (see graphic), will also give a talk and answer questions. Other featured speakers will include filmmaker Marc Moskowitz and Chinese pro Stephanie Yin 1P, who will discuss go in China today, with some clips from Moskowitz’s film Weiqi Wonders. Chen Zuyuan, a leading expert on rules, will describe the evolution of “territory” and “area” scoring. On Sunday, a panel of experts will discuss the unique positive benefits of go on development, showing how and why every community can have a go program. Other presenters will address a wide range of topics, from multivariate analysis for computer programs to several essays on go history to how go can serve as a context for the emergence of minority leadership. The conference — which is sponsored by the International Go Federation — will conclude with the unveiling of the winners of The 2^nd International Go Art Contest  late Sunday afternoon, August 5. “Almost 100 people have registered for the Symposium, but for those who can’t make it to North Carolina, we plan to stream the conference live, and make the presentations available in a video archive,” Shotwell said.  Click here for a  list of presenters and descriptions of what they plan to say.
– Roy Laird

The 2012 U.S. Go Congress is running a special registration promotion from now until July 15th.  If you register and pay your bill by July 7th, you will receive your choice of either one hour of private game review and/or a lesson with a pro, or a Congress certificate for one book of your choice from Slate and Shell (up to $30 dollars in value).  Each registrant should also send an email to the registrar at arlene@gocongress12.org indicating they are using the promotion and what reward they are choosing.

And don’t forget to check out the exciting trailer for “The Surrounding Game” documentary that will be filming at Black Mountain as well!

“Thanks again, and hope to see you soon at the Congress!” say Co-Directors Peter Armenia and Paul Celmer.
NOTE: this offer good only for those who registered after 7/1/2012. 

Winners Yongfe Ge Wins U.S. Open; Mingming Yin Wins Strong Players Open
Zi Yang Hu 1P Wins N.A. Master’s Tournament; Board Auction Raises $1,000 for AGF
Yongfei Ge Closes in on U.S. Open Title, Mingming “Stephanie” Yin Wins Strong Player’s Tournament

2011 U.S. Go Congress Crosstabs (includes game files except for the Die Hard)
• US Open (includes game files)
• North American Masters Tournament
• Redmond Cup Junior Division
• Redmond Cup Senior Division
• Strong Players Open
• Die Hard (no game files)

Photos

Brian’s Photos: Selected 2011 U.S. Go Congress Awards
Brian’s Photos: Pro Game Analysis
Brian’s Go Photo: Go Players Hit the Beach
Brian’s Go Photo: Outdoor Lesson with Yilun Yang 7P
Brian’s Go Photo: Li Ting from the Kansai Kiin
Brian’s Go Photo: Jennie Shen 2P Game Analysis
Brian’s Go Photo: Go Congress Moves Outdoors
Brian’s Go Photos: Memories of the Santa Barbara Go Congress
Phil’s Portraits: Familiar Faces
Phil’s Portraits: Sunday, July 31
Phil’s Portraits: Monday, August 1

Games/Commentaries
U.S. Go Congress Game Records, Pro Commentaries, Pairings & Results (thru 8/5)
U.S. Go Congress Game Records, Pro Commentaries, Pairings & Results (thru 8/4)
Congress Game Records Posted (thru 8/3)
PRO GAME COMMENTARY: U.S. Open Round 1, Board 1: Mingjiu Jiang 7P on Dae Hyuk Ko 7d vs. Bill Lin 7d
PRO GAME COMMENTARY: U.S. Open Round 2, Board 1: Maeda Ryo 6P on Yuan Zhou 7d vs. Dae Hyuk Ko 7d
PRO GAME COMMENTARY: U.S. Open Round 2, Board 2: Li Ting 1P* on Calvin Sun 7d vs. Yongfei Ge 7d
PRO GAME COMMENTARY: U.S. Open Round 4, Board 3: Michael Redmond 9P on Chen-Sun
PRO GAME COMMENTARY: NAIM Round 2, Board 4: Maeda & Shen on Hu-Chen

North American Masters: Player Photo Gallery
Strong Players’ Open: Photo Gallery

Reports

The Go Congress Remembers Yoshi Sawada
Getting Frank with MingJiu Jiang 7P
Janice Kim on the 3 Rules of Go
Appreciation for AGA Lifetime Members

U.S. Go Congress EJ Team Recognition
YOUR MOVE: Congress Ratings?
NEW IN PRINT: Roy Laird Visits the Congress Go Vendors
Congress Connects KGS Neighbors

MASTER’S FINAL TONIGHT! LIVE NOW ON KGS
Tam-Zhou to Play Su-Zhang in Pair Go Playoff
106 Clock in for Die Hard Tourney
Pandanet-IGS Announces New Client
Lightning Tourney: 10m, Sudden Death. Start Your Clocks!
Board Election Winners, Congress Results

2011 U.S. Open Underway
U.S. Go Congress: Day 1 Live Broadcast Schedule
Following the 2011 Go Congress on Twitter, KGS, EJ & Website
Party Starts Early for 2011 U.S. Congress
Go Congress Joseki: Congress at a GlanceGo Congress Joseki: Checking In/Registering
Go Congress Joseki: Other Games
Go Congress Joseki: Transportation & Parking
Go Congress Joseki: Arrival/Registration
Sign Up Online for Congress Pair Go!
Excitement Building for Upcoming U.S. Go Congress in Santa Barbara, CA
New GoGoD Released, Coming to Congress
Balwit Named Teacher of the Year
Rare KBA Dan Certificates to be Awarded at Go Congress
U.S. Go Congress Attendance Nears 450; 19 Pros Confirmed

Youth
Battle of the Youngsters: Tang vs. Hu in Master’s Final Friday Night
Redmond Plays Redmond
Sun and Ye Sweep Redmond
Sun and Ye Leading in Redmond Cup
Shi and Ye Top Redmond Cup Qualifiers

“The picture on the AGA website (Champagne Celebrates Go Congress Contest Win) is interesting in several ways,” writes None Redmond. “Not only is Nakayama there (at the 2006 US Go Congress in Black Mountain, NC) but also Yoshi looking over his shoulder on the right.  My daughter in law, XianXian Niu herself a strong professional player is also placing stones on Nakayama’s right and their children are looking on. Mr Nakayama styled himself the girls’ Japanese grandfather since the American and the Chinese ones were so far away. Every time I look at it I remember how frail human lives are.”
Click here for details on the 2012 U.S. Go Congress in Black Mountain, NC August 4-12; rates increase June 15.

Over 300 have now signed up for this year’s U.S. Go Congress, set for August 4-12 in Black Mountain, NC. Professionals confirmed thus far include Maeda Ryo, Jennie Shen, Cathy Li, Yilun Yang, Feng Yun, Mingjiu Jiang and – just confirmed today — Liang Weitang 9P and Luo Jianyuan 5P from China. “Register and make your payment now to reserve your preferred accommodation,” urges Co-Director Paul Celmer, noting that registration costs rise $50 on June 15th. “Remember, your registration is not complete until you have made payment.” Other Congress features: the first ever U.S. pro certification tournament and the first International Go Symposium in North America.