Go News « American Go E-Journal

Nick Sibicky records 300th YouTube go lecture

Sunday May 27, 2018

Nick Sibicky celebrated his 300th recorded go lecture by playing Andrew Jackson in front of 25 go fans at the Seattle Go Center on May 21. Pizza for the jovial crowd was provided by the AGA Chapter Rewards program. Mr. Sibicky’s first 299 lectures have already been posted at his YouTube page. Go fans who want to attend a free live lecture this summer should come to the Seattle Go center on a Monday evening in June, at 6:30 p.m. Sibicky will not be lecturing in July or August at the center, but he will be going to the U.S. Go Congress. “The go community is the most fantastic group of people in the world and I am so happy to be a part of it!” he said. “Thanks to all, see you in Williamsburg!”
– report and photos by Brian Allen

Categories: Go News,Tools: books, software & hardware,U.S./North America

AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo; Game 18: Complicated attack and defense

Sunday May 27, 2018

Game 18 of the AlphaGo self-played series “starts with a big fight on the right side but you won’t be sure which side is attacking and which side is defending,” says Michael Redmond 9p in his latest AlphaGo video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock. “It’s very complicated, and about a quarter of the board for each side dies.” “Another absolutely beautiful game and awesome review,” says viewer GerSHAK. “Excellent,” adds hippophile. “The game was surprisingly easy to follow for AG vs AG, good choice!”

[link]

Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

San Diego Go Club welcomes Dalhoon Paul Ahn 9P

Sunday May 27, 2018

Over 30 people came out on May 20 for the San Diego Go Club May Soiree to welcome 9-dan Korean professional go player

Dalhoon Paul Ahn. Mr. Ahn played a simultaneous exhibition against eight players others and then played and analyzed games throughout the afternoon, while others played self-paired games. More than 20 people stayed after 5 p.m. to enjoy free pizza (provided by the AGA Chapter Rewards Program) and socialize.

The club was honored also to have the European Women’s Champion, Vanessa Wong 7-dan, as a guest. She played in the simul and, playing an even game, beat Paul Ahn.

“The San Diego Chess Club has graciously offered to allow the go club to use its building for special events,” reports club president Ted Terpstra. “The San Diego Go Club intends to hold the first annual California Go Championship there this fall. The facility seats 150 for competition and has a separate skittles room for post-game analysis.” Details will be forthcoming.

photos: top right: Paul Ahn 9P versus Vanessa Wong 7D, with Seth Cardew, Les Lanphear, and David Saponara (president, San Diego Chess Club); photo by Henry You
bottom left: Henry You 5D Vice-president SDGC, Paul Ahn 9P, Vanessa Wong 7D; photo by Ted Terpstra

Categories: Main Page,U.S./North America

Updating AGA chapter information

Friday May 25, 2018

The AGA would like to encourage all chapters to keep their information up to date. The organization lists all of the current

chapters and other clubs on our go clubs map. All of this is pulled directly from our membership database. Follow our easy guide to update your information here. Your information will be directly updated on the go clubs map and will help your club to attract members. Not a chapter or want to be listed on the AGA go clubs map? Sign up to be a chapter today!

Categories: Main Page,U.S./North America

Go Congress “Early Bird” discount ends May 31

Wednesday May 23, 2018

If you haven’t yet registered for the US Go Congress in Williamsburg VA this year, you have until May 31 to take advantage of the Early Bird registration discount. On June 1 the cost goes up by $50 per person. To get the discount it is necessary to register and make a minimum payment of $70.

The U.S. Go Congress runs from July 21-28 and features a full week of go-related activities. Register now and reserve your spot in the premier annual event of American go.

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

South Sound Go Club holds first tournament

Wednesday May 23, 2018

South Sound Go Club held its first AGA-rated tournament on Sunday, May 20, at Terracrux Games. Ten players participated, including two new to the AGA. Mike Malveaux directed.

“TerraCrux Games is an independent games store located at 760 Commerce Street in Tacoma, WA,” Malveaux reports. “They do a brisk trade in games like Magic The Gathering, Warhammer, X-Wing, and many other games; and the owner, Doug, lets SSGC use the playing area as a weekly meeting spot.”

There were three rounds, and nobody won all three. Three players won 2 out of 3 games, creating a three-way tie for first place. “Since there were no prizes or trophies, we didn’t need to declare a singular winner.”

Winning two games: Steve Zhang (5k), Joel Simpson (8k), Katherine Harmon (20k).

Furthest travelers: Andrew Zhang (1k) and Steve Zhang (5k) drove over 200 miles from Corvallis, OR.

Newest AGA members: Kathleen Dorsett (20k) and John Evans (12k).

The most common player name was Steve (30%); the second most common player name was Kate (20%).

Closest game: In the 2nd round, Steve Stringfellow 5d played Andrew Zhang 1k at 5 stones handicap. Both players were deep into byo-yomi before the dame were filled. When the counting was done, Steve had squeaked out a 1.5 point victory.

South Sound Go Club is hoping to make this a quarterly event, and planning is underway for a tournament in August.

photo (top right): Left: Steve Jones from Olympia, WA, vs. Joel Simpson from Everett, WA; Left background: Steve Zhang vs. Andrew Zhang (both from Corvallis, OR); Center foreground: Katherine Harmon vs. Kathleen Dorsett (both from Tacoma, WA); Right background: John Evans (formerly Tacoma, now from Portland, OR) vs. Tom Cruver (Tacoma; president of SSGC).
photo (bottom left): Andrew Zhang and Steve Stringfellow

Categories: Main Page,U.S./North America

AlphaGo Zero vs. Master with Michael Redmond 9p: Game 9

Saturday May 19, 2018

After a brief hiatus, Michael Redmond 9p, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock, returns with a review of the dramatic ninth game of the AlphaGo Zero vs. Master series. “It’s a bit of an odd game that follows a pattern in these Master-Zero games,” says Redmond, “in which Master makes a big moyo and Zero takes all the territory, and in this game they really take this pattern to an extreme. Master’s got a huge moyo and it can score a big win if it can just make it into actual territory.” The game also features the large high shimari, which AlphaGo has made popular, as well as the early 3-3 invasion.

[link]

Categories: Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

AGA Chapter Email List reminder

Friday May 18, 2018

The AGA would like to remind chapters about its Chapter Email List. This is an open list for all chapter leaders and any members

who would like to discuss topics relating to AGA Chapters. Sign up anytime using the link or from the left menu. You can see recent topics such as: 50 state championships, AGA Bylaws updates, and the previous election.

Categories: Main Page,U.S./North America

U.S. Congress app has international appeal

Thursday May 17, 2018

很荣幸能在这里欢迎各位来到第 34 届围棋大会。第34回USコングレスへようこそ。This is the opening line in US Go Congress Co-Director Diego Pierrottet’s welcome message, which, for those who don’t read Chinese or Japanese, is “It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 34th Annual US Go Congress.” The wealth of information available each year in the Congress attendee booklet has been a challenge for those who do not read English, but with the new Congress mobile app — available on both iOS and Android devices — not only will more information be available, it’s now being provided in multiple languages.

“As more textual material is added, the intent is to translate that as well,” adds app developer Gurujeet Khalsa. “This is our first effort at internationalization using volunteer translators. We think this will make it a more inviting experience for our overseas visitors, and would welcome volunteers who can translate into other Asian and European languages. We would like to thank translators Chiemi Mori, Shigeru Takehara, Daniel Chou, and Yanqing Sun for getting this effort started.”

The Congress app can be downloaded here. Congress registration is ongoing and still available at the Early Bird Discount price. The 2018 Congress will be held in historic Williamsburg, VA from July 21-28.

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

Sarah Yu: Memories of the Go Seigen tournament and his dreams of peace

Monday May 14, 2018

by Sarah Yu 6D

Recently I was lucky to attend the first Wu Qingyuan (Go Seigen) Women’s Tournament in Fuzhou, China. It was like a dream come true. I was one of four North American representatives; the other three were Feng Yun 9P, Stephanie Yin 1P, Gaby Su 6D. A qualifier game was held for the eight North American and European players to determine which four would proceed to the main tournament. After the draw, each North American player would play against a European. Feng Yun, Stephanie Yin, and I won the qualifier (click here for details). Then at the main, we respectively lost to Qu Yin, Yu Zhiying, and Ueno Asami.

I enjoyed playing with Ueno Asami very much and had a good game, and it was a pleasure to be participating in this memorable event with Feng Yun, Stephanie and Gabby. I especially appreciated those who worked so hard to make this tournament happen, and to acknowledge Go Seigen’s milestone contributions to go. Thanks to the tournament, I was able to meet players who had known Go Seigen, and to get a glimpse of his passion for go and peace.

I remember that during the opening ceremony, I felt strongly that Go Seigen had “sacrificed” his life for go. That moment was when children singing “coming towards home,” while photographs of Go Seigen were playing on the screen behind them. We also had the chance to visit the cemetery where Go is buried (photo), where Chang Hao 9P, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Go Association, gave an inspiring speech. As the children sang and danced, I saw that the future belongs to the next generation. Go Seigen said that the 21st century will be about the harmony of go — North, South, East, West, Heaven and Earth — he dreamed of promoting peace through go, and I hope that with the help of AlphaGo, we will further comprehend both.

photo (l-r): Feng Yun 9P, Rin Kaihō (Lin Haifeng 9P – Go Seigen’s disciple), Sarah Yu 6D, Stephanie Yin 1P, Gabby Su 6D

Categories: China,Main Page

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