American Go E-Journal » Europe

50 years aGO – December 1972

Sunday December 18, 2022

By Keith L. Arnold, hka, with Patrick Bannister

The month began with the 4th Bled International Go Masters event in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) on December 1-3. The undefeated winner was a Japanese visitor, a Mr. Takahashi. Second was Mr. Merrissert of France on five wins.

On December 20, challenger Honda Sachiko 4d defeated Kitani Reiko 6d to take a one game lead in the Ladies’ Hon’inbo title. (Game record available here.)

Sakata Eio continues his domination of the smaller titles with a victory over Hashimoto Utarō in the Ōza title on December 14, winning the 3 game series 2-1. (Game record available here.)

Ōhira Shūzō 9d (author of the Ishi Press Classic Appreciating Famous Games) defeated Yamabe Toshirō 9d for the right to challenge Sakata in the Nihon Ki’in Championship. The first game was held on December 20-21. Sakata won by resignation. (Game record available here.)

Photos courtesy of Go Review, game records from SmartGoOne.

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50 Years aGO – November 1972

Monday November 28, 2022

By Keith L. Arnold, hka, with Patrick Bannister

On November 5, Takao Matsuda, once again, secured the title of U.S. Hon’inbo, winning the telephone match by a half a point over Shigeo Matsubara. Matsuda had never lost this tournament since it began in 1968.

Hashimoto Utarō challenged Sakata Eio for the Ōza title. Sakata won the first game on November 16, but Hashimoto evened the score on November 30. (Game records: Game 1, Game 2.)

The 33rd Anniversary of Shūsai Meijin’s death was memorialized with an exhibition match between Rin Kaihō Meijin and Ishida Yoshio Hon’inbo. Over 2,000 people watched the match. We also share this casual picture of the two men at the top of the Japanese go world.

We lack specific dates on some other events. First, Bruno Rüger passed away in mid November (according to Go Review; Sensei’s Library states September 24). Born in 1886, Rüger (pictured) was one of the leading proponents of go in Germany. He founded the “German Go News” in 1920, and went on to write at least 10 books on the game. He received, along with Edward Lasker, the prestigious Ōkura Prize. Sadly, he passed before he could receive his nidan diploma from the Nihon Ki’in.

Two “Gaijin” leagues took place in Japan. James Davies won the Gaijin Hon’inbo at 6-0, while Manfred Wimmer won the Gaijin Meijin with a 7-0 record. Other members of both leagues were Stuart Dowsey, Horst Müller, Richard Bozulich, William Pinckard and Mark Hall.

Finally, a family match was resumed in New York. Robert Ryder 5d and his son Jonathan Ryder 2d played Mitsuo Horiguchi and his son Tsuneo for the 4th time in their rivalry. The Ryders prevailed to even the series at 2-2. Robert Ryder was a president of the American Go Association and one of the first Western 5 dan players. Horiguchi was the long time manager of the New York Go Club. Here is a picture from the early 1980s of Ryder playing a game at a crowded New York Go Club, with Mr. Horiguchi looking on.

Photos courtesy of Go Review and Keith Arnold, game records from SmartGoOne

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50 Years aGO – August 1972

Sunday August 28, 2022

By Keith L. Arnold, hka, with Patrick Bannister

August 4th found Iwamoto Kaoru in London on his European tour. He gave a lecture and scored 9-1 in a simultaneous exhibition.

The European Go Congress carried into the first two weeks of August, in Ensechede, Holland. Iwamoto made an appearance there as well, along with 120 participants from all over Europe, including visitors from the U.S. and Mexico. Jürgen Mattern of Germany was undefeated, and secured his fifth Championship. Germany won the team championship, followed by the host nation.

On August 14, James Davies played T. Miyoshi, a mystery author known as the “Literary Hon’inbo,” in a special televised match. Davies opened on tengen and secured a convincing victory.

The Meijin Title, between Rin Kaihō Meijin and Fujisawa Shūkō 9d began on August 16. Go Seigen is pictured in our photo of the match, which was won convincingly by Shūkō. In the second game, on August 26-27, our photo captures the moment, after a long game and long ko fight, that Shūkō realizes he has lost by one point. As the month closes, the match is tied. (Game records: Game One, Game Two.)

Finally on August 19-20, the Brazil Ki’in celebrated its 25th anniversary, with an incredible 218 players participating.

Photos from Go Review, game records from SmartGo One

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Live at the NGC: A go champion makes a surprise visit and Go Tour(ists) stop by

Saturday July 23, 2022

The National Go Center had a surprise visit recently from Lucas Neirynck, the current champion of France and Belgium, honeymooning with his bride Sophie. Two other new visitors were Anh Nguyen and Charles Tintera who stopped by on a ‘Go Tour’ fresh from visiting the Nashville, Triangle, and NOVA Go Clubs. Their final stop will be the US Go Congress in Colorado.

“A great evening of go all around with the newlyweds sent on their way with the coveted NGC t-shirt,” says NGC Executive Director Gurujeet Khalsa.

Charles and Anh made it on to their next destination visiting Devin Fraze and Baduk House in Columbus, Ohio, shown here playing in a simul against Eric Yoder.

photo (top right): Left to right: Charles Tintera, Richard Duan, Anh Nguyen playing Lucas Neirynck, James Pinkerton, and Gurujeet Khalsa. photos by Sophie Neirynck & Devin Fraze

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50 Years aGO – June 1972

Sunday June 26, 2022

By Keith L. Arnold, hka, with Patrick Bannister

The month began with a tour group visit by 25 Japanese amateur players to London where an informal match was held at Imperial College on June 1. The group was led by Itō Tomoe, who was then 4d. Itō was a disciple of Kita Fumiko, and by the time of the tour, she had won the Women’s Championship seven times, including five consecutive victories. The British Go Journal reported that the locals won most of their games, but “Mrs. Itō…won all of her games.” The photo attached was taken when the tour group visited Köln, Germany.

The big story continued to be the Hon’inbo title rematch between Ishida Hon’inbo and Rin Meijin. The month began with the challenger leading 2-1. On June 7 and 8, Ishida evened the score with a comeback win in Game 4. However, we see a confident Rin after going up 3-2 on June 16 and 17. Finally, we see Ishida concentrating from over the challenger’s shoulder as he survived kadoban and evened the series at 3-3 on June 29 and 30. (Game records: Game Four, Game Five, Game Six).

On the weekend of June 23-24, John Diamond 4d defeated Tony Goddard 4d in straight games for the British Championship.

Photos from Go Review, game records from SmartGoOne

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Supporting Ukrainian go

Thursday March 24, 2022

Editor’s note: The global go community is a small one, and many of us have met Ukrainian go players across the board either in person or virtually. As the war there moves into its second month, I am reminded of how the horror of Hiroshima inspired renowned go master Kaoru Iwamoto to dedicate his life to a more peaceful future, becoming an ambassador for the game around the world to bring people together. In that spirit, here are two ways to take action now to support Ukrainian go players and their families.
Chris Garlock, Managing Editor, American Go E-Journal

Play Go for Ukraine: Go teacher In-seong Hwang and his fellow teachers at goteachers.org have organized Play Go for Ukraine. “We heard that a group of Ukrainian go families (about 25 people, mostly mothers and kids) escaped their country and participated in the EYGC (European Youth Go Championship) in the Czech Republic a couple of weeks ago,” they write. “However, they couldn’t go back to their country after that event and are now staying in different countries. Therefore, we’d like to help them pay for their living expenses.” Even though “many people feel powerless” against the war, “we can provide entertaining and educational games” while raising money for the Ukrainian go families. Participants make a small donation for each game and all the funds go to help the families. “Please come to enjoy the games and help our Ukrainian friends at the same time!” Click here for details.

Artem Kachanovskyi

Support the European Go Journal: As reported previously, European Go Journal editor Artem Kachanovskyi, a resident of Kyiv, has posted movingly on Facebook about how the Russian war on Ukraine has affected the go community and his own life and work as EGJ editor. When the war started, Kachanovskyi had to leave Kyiv and was forced to stop printing and distributing physical copies of the journal. He plans to continue producing the journal and distribute it digitally as a PDF until he is able to distribute hardcopies again. He takes subscriptions through Patreon and has about 235 subscribers right now. It’s $6.50 a month for a personal subscription to the monthly PDF version of the journal, and he offers a $3.50 per-person club subscription to groups participating in a Go club. 
– Spencer Rank.

Got more go news tips? Email them us at journal@usgo.org

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Categories: Europe,Main Page
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Go world affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine

Tuesday March 15, 2022

Condemning the war against Ukraine, the European Go Federation has suspended Russia from the EGF, and canceled all EGF events planned in Russia. Additionally, Russian go players “are not allowed to play under their country’s flag in EGF events,” and will be accepted only as neutrals. “We call for a quick and peaceful end to this aggression against Ukraine,” the EGF said. These sanctions are far-reaching, as Russia has a lot of go players, including at the top level.

Artem Kachanovskyi

The International Go Federation has done the same, but with the inclusion of Belarus, “confirming IGF’s strong condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia with support of Belarus and expressing IGF’s unwavering solidarity with our Ukrainian friends.”

European pro and European Go Journal editor Artem Kachanovskyi, a resident of Kyiv, has posted movingly on Facebook about having to flee the city and not being able to fight since he must take care of his children. He’s also decided not to have any Russian contributors to the EGJ, calling it a difficult decision to make.

Tony Claasen reported on the EGF’s website that he joined an anti-war demonstration with over 150,000 people in Prague before the European Youth Go Championship (EYGC) training camp started there recently. “This war is having a big impact on the social life of every one in Europe,” Tony says, “and now also in the go community as a lot of players from both Ukraine and Russia can not participate in the Camp or in the EYGC.”

Anti-war demonstration in Prague; photo by Tony Claasen

AGA president Andy Okun tells the EJ that a Ukrainian go player he met years ago is in Kyiv, and told Andy “Your help is need – the world must know about our war and that the Russia is fascism! For the moment Ukraine need to safe the sky! We hope that World and USA will help us and we will win! Glory to Ukraine and its heroes!” 

We’ll pass along more related updates and news as we receive them; please send to journal@usgo.org

Chris Garlock, Managing Editor, American Go E-Journal.
NOTE: Updated with a quote from the IGF and link to their statement.

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50 Years aGO – November 1971

Wednesday November 24, 2021

by Keith L. Arnold, hka, with Patrick Bannister

On November 4, Sakata Eio won the first game in his defense of the Ōza title against Hashimoto Shōji 9d. He completed the defense on November 17. (Game records: Game 1, Game 2)

Back in the USA, Takao Matsuda won the New York Championship on November 20 and 21. Future AGA President John Stephenson was promoted to shodan after winning the kyu championship.

Go Seigen made a trip to the US, visiting Hawaii as well as New York from the 15th to the 20th and San Francisco on the 22nd. New York Champion Matsuda was one of the few players to manage a win against him – on three stones. The game was featured in Go Review.

As mentioned previously in this column, the “new” (and current) Nihon Ki’in building was opened on November 22.

Finally, in Europe, the International Go Master Tournament was held in Yugoslavia from the 26th to the 29th. The clear champion with a perfect 6-0 record was Jürgen Mattern of Germany.

Photos courtesy of Go Review

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Ryan Li wins 1st Transatlantic Pro League

Monday August 16, 2021

Ryan Li 3P, a North American Go Federation certified professional, defeated European Go Federation professional Ilya Shikshin 4P by 2-0 in the best-of-three final of the 1st Transatlantic Pro League on August 15. Li wins the €1,000 prize along with the Transatlantic Pro League title. A recording of the live commentary on Twitch can be viewed by clicking here.

In the match to decide the 3rd place winner, Artem Kachanovskyi 2P defeated Tanguy Le Calve 1P by 2-1. For full details on the Transatlantic Professional Go League, visit the official tournament website.

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Ryan Li 3P and Ilya Shikshin 4P advance to Transatlantic Professional Go League final

Saturday August 14, 2021

The final round of the 1st Transatlantic Professional Go League will feature a showdown between North American pro Ryan Li 3P and European pro Ilya Shikshin 4P. The players will compete for a first-place prize of €1,000.

In the semi-final round, Li defeated Artem Kachanovskyi 2P and Shikshin defeated Tanguy Le Calve 1P to earn their seats at the final table. Kachanovskyi and Le Calve will play on Saturday, August 14 to determine the third- and fourth-place finishers. The final best-of-three match between Li and Shikshin will begin on Sunday, August 15.

All games will begin at 11AM EDT (5PM CEST). The European Go Federation will broadcast the match with professional commentary on its Twitch channel. For full details on the Transatlantic Professional Go League, visit the official website.

-report by Hajin Lee

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