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

Champagne Celebrates Go Congress Contest Win

Tuesday May 8, 2012

“Watching a young player, whose feet didn’t even touch the floor, cling to his teddy bear while he beat opponent after opponent…sitting with Noni Redmond in North Carolina as she patiently taught an interesting craft to other non-players…the lack of greens on the menu in Rochester….the whitewater rafting kayak trip in the Chicago River when one of the players went overboard and had to get decontaminated…the players and non-players whom I’ve met and whom I look forward to seeing year after year after bloody year.” These U.S. Go Congress memories won Laura Champagne the recent 2012 Go Congress Registration Story Contest — and a free Congress meal plan — when her submission was selected at random from those sent in. Meanwhile, go players continue to sign up for the August 4-12 Go Congress in Black Mountain, NC at a record-setting pace, organizers report. “So if you’re planning to come and still have not registered and reserved your rooms, you should do so now!” says Congress Co-Director Paul Celmer. Registration prices go up in June, he notes. And with well over 400 go enthusiasts planning to attend, the first-ever North American Go Symposium – free for Congress attendees – and lots of other great go activities, including the inaugural AGA Pro Certification Tournament, which ends just as the Congress begins, “you have a fantastic chance of meeting some of the most interesting and enjoyable people on the planet!”
– photo: Michael Redmond (l) & Nakayama Noriyuki at the 2006 U.S. Go Congress in Black Mountain, NC

 

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Go Symposium Call for Papers Closes

Monday April 30, 2012

From a Q&A session with Hikaru no Go creator Hotta Yumi to presentations on the state of the art of supercomputer go, weiqi in Chinese poetry, and designing a college go course, more than 20 talks have now been scheduled for the 2012 International Go Symposium. Organizers have now closed their Call for Papers to the Symposium, which will be held at this year’s U.S. Go Congress, August 4-12 in Black Mountain, NC. Click here for the full list of presenters and topics; short abstracts will be posted soon.

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U.S. Go Congress Registration Booming; 4/25 Deadline for Free Mealplan Drawing

Monday April 23, 2012

Registrations for the 2012 U.S. Go Congress in Black Mountain, North Carolina, are coming in at a record setting pace, reports Congress Liason Chris Kirschner, with nearly 200 signed up thus far. “This is not surprising,” Kirschner says, “given that the Black Mountain site has many unique aspects, including stunning natural beauty, proximity to Asheville’s craft breweries and vibrant arts scene, relatively modest costs, and numerous recreational opportunities as well as traditional summer camp activities.” In addition, the Congress is hosting the International Go Symposium, an academic conference investigating the educational, cultural, scientific, and literary aspects of the game of go. Given the high demand, Congress Co-Directors Paul Celmer and Peter Armenia warn that “to ensure that you will receive your first choice of accommodation, you must register and pay your Congress balance. Your rooms are not reserved until we receive payment.” They also reminded E-Journal readers that midnight on Wednesday, April 25 is the deadline for the drawing for a free 2012 Congress meal plan, a $225 value, and with just 12 entries so far, “The odds are in your favor!” Click here for details on how to enter the drawing.

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Jiang to Teach Go Camp

Monday April 23, 2012

Mingjiu Jiang 7P will be returning to teach at this year’s AGA Go Camp, reports camp director Amanda Miller. Jiang is an experienced professional player who has represented the United States in a number of international go tournaments. He has extensive teaching experience, and counts many of the strongest youth in the country among his students.  Camp 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.  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.  Story and photo by Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo: Jiang, at right, plays a simul in the Youth Room at the 2011 Go Congress.

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Hikaru Author to Attend Congress

Monday April 16, 2012

Hotta Yumi, author of the best selling manga series Hikaru no Go is confirmed for the US Go Congress.  Hotta will meet fans, sign autographs, and answer questions at the Go Symposium on Sunday, and will be a celebrity judge for the official Hikaru no Go Trivia contest in the Youth Room on Monday.  When Hotta was learning to play go, she got frustrated at never being able to beat the professionals who taught her. “So I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I had a strong supernatural ally, maybe then I could beat a pro someday,” she told the E-Journal in an earlier interview. The result was the best-selling manga and anime series Hikaru no Go, which is credited with renewing or sparking interest in go worldwide in recent years. “I had no idea how popular it was outside Japan until I went to the European Go Congress two years ago and met so many people who told me they learned about go through Hikaru No Go,” Hotta said, laughing. -Paul Barchilon with Chris Garlock, photo by John Pinkerton.

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Congress Scholarships for Youth Available

Monday April 16, 2012

The American Go Foundation (AGF) is offering $200 youth discounts to this year’s US Go Congress.  Interested youth must write an essay on why they want to go; the application deadline is May 30th. Twenty-Five scholarships are available, and up to 15 awardees will be selected by June 1. Five scholarships are available to residents of Canada or Mexico. Applications received after May 30th will be placed in a lottery with the remaining scholarships  awarded at random from qualifying essays.  The scholarships are available for youth who are under 18.  For more information, and to apply, click here.  – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo: Youth playing Four Color Go at the 2011 Congress, photo by Paul Barchilon.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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

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