American Go E-Journal » Go News

Pumpkins, Pizza, and Points

Monday November 2, 2015

When the NOVA Go Club held its annual Pumpkin Classic Tourney this year the pumpkins given out as prizes before Halloween were paid for 2015.10.26_NOVA-pumpkinwith Chapter Rewards points. In the same time period, the Space Coast Area Go Association and the San Diego Go Club both enjoyed pizza after their tourneys.

New and renewing memberships and rated games earn rewards points for chapters and the points earned can be found here. Points can be used for lots more than pumpkins and pizza including annual chapter dues. Check out the details here on how points are earned and how to redeem them with a simple email.
– Gurujeet Khalsa

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Categories: U.S./North America
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Cotsen Update: Club Winners, Crosstab, Videos & Team Thanks

Sunday November 1, 2015

The Orange County Go Club was the top winner in the club competition at the recent Cotsen Open, winning $1,000. In second place ($300) was the 2015.11.01_Cotsen-club-winner-IMG_1146Santa Monica club and Arizona ($200) took third place. Yilun Yang awarded special prizes to Cotsen Tournament Director Chris Sira and James Chen for his many contributions to the early years of the Cotsen Open.

The 2015 Cotsen crosstab has now been posted. The Cotsen livestream videos have also been posted now, including a very brief one in which Mark Lee reviews key points in his Round 3 game against Aaron Ye.

Tournament Organizer Samantha Davis thanked Assistant Tournament Organizer Wenguang Wu, Tournament Assistant Katie Dicus, Webmaster Laura Mayer-Sommer, Photographer Brian “Ferrari” Peregrina and many volunteers, including Sighris Sargon, Paru Maheta-Sargon and Chris Kirschner.

E-Journal team leader Chris Garlock’s crack recording/broadcast team included Andrew Jackson (YouTube live-streaming), Dennis Wheeler, Joe Cepiel, Richard Dolen and Jim Woh (game recorders). Xiaocheng Hu (xhu) provided the graphics for the video stream.
photo: Eric Cotsen, Orange County Go Club’s Kevin Chao and AGA president Andy Okun; photo by Brian “Ferrari” Peregrina

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Aaron Morris 16k Takes Top Prize in Louisville Tourney

Sunday November 1, 2015

Aaron Morris 16k topped the October 17 Louisville Go Club tournament with a 4-0 record. Twelve players — including players from Cincinnati, 2015.11.01_Aaron-MorrisColumbus, and Bloomington — showed up for the club’s third annual tournament. Morris is a member of the Louisville Go Club in Louisville, KY.
– Asha Nagaiya

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Categories: U.S./North America
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Andy Liu 1p Wins Exchange Match, Plays in Sankei Cup Game Sunday Night

Saturday October 31, 2015

Andy Liu 1p and Gansheng Shi 1p played in an exchange match with Kansai Kiin pros on Friday in Osaka, with Liu (top right) winning his match against 2015.10.31_Sankei Cup-collageSinntani Yousuki 1p (top left) and Shi (bottom left) losing to Yinaba Karinn 1p (bottom right).

Liu, who won two initial rounds of the 12th Sankei Cup pro preliminary, will play a final preliminary round on Monday at 2:30 p.m. Japanese time, or 12:30 a.m. Monday Eastern time (9:30 p.m. Sunday night Pacific time).

According to the Kansai Kiin, Ha Yoniru 6p and Arakaki Shiyun 9p will play each other Monday morning and the winner of that match will play Monday afternoon against Liu. The matches will be broadcast on Pandanet; the E-Journal will provide information about the Sankei Cup main tournament when available. See below for game records.
photos courtesy of Kansai Kiin.

Gansheng Shi (b) vs Mine Yasuhiro (w)
Imai Kazuhiro (b) vs Andy Liu (w)
Andy Liu (b) vs Shintani Yousuke (w)
Inaba Karin (b) vs Gansheng Shi (w)
Takashima Yougo (b) vs Andy Liu (w)

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Categories: Japan
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Samsung Cup Semifinals to be Broadcast Monday with Live English Commentary on AGA Channels

Saturday October 31, 2015

The upcoming Samsung Cup semifinal match between Ke Jie and Lee Sedol has the go world buzzing. Ke Jie (right), regarded as the strongest player in2015.11.01_Ke Jie-Lee Sedol-samsung-semi China today and currently rated #2 in the world, will face Lee Sedol (left), #3 worldwide, Monday in their best-of-three match. The two players have never before met in tournament play, and the Samsung Cup is one of the most prestigious international titles, with a grand prize of over $250,000 USD.

Myungwan Kim 9p will provide live commentary for English-speaking players via the AGA’s official YouTube channel and official Twitch channel. Kim says hundreds of thousands will watch the event in Korea alone, and a large audience is expected in China as well. “These could be the best games of the year,” he says.

The games are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Wednesday, Nov. 4 (if necessary). Video commentary will begin at 7:30PM PST (10:30p EST) each day.
– Andrew Jackson

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Sankai Cup Games Set for Thursday Night, Friday Morning

Thursday October 29, 2015

The exchange match between Kansai Kiin young professionals and American and European reps takes place in Osaka, Japan, during the day Friday, late Thursday or the middle of the night Friday US time. Andy Liu’s (below, right) game will be at 10a Japanese time (9p Thursday East Coast US time), against Sinntani Yousuki 1p. Gansheng Shi (below, center and left) will play at 2p (1a Friday East Coast US time), against Yinaba Karinn 1p. The games should be broadcast on Pandanet.
– photos courtesy of Kansai Kiin
2015.10.29_andy-gansheng-and-ali-300x225 2015.10.29_andy-L-1-jpb-e1446144203896-225x300 2015.10.29_gansheng-1-e1446144192988-225x300

 

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17th Ibero-American Championship in Cuba Draws 37 Players from 8 Countries

Wednesday October 28, 2015

Just over three dozen players players from eight countries competed in the 17th Ibero-American Championship tournament held at the Cuban Go Academy in Havana from2015.10.28_Ibero-Am-group 2015.10.28_Ibero-Am-winnersOctober 9 to 11. Hisao Uyama 7d (Brazil) won first place; Fernando Aguilar 7d (Argentina) finished second and Santiago Alvarez 5d (Cuba) was third. “It was a nice occasion to foster international friendship through go,” Aguilar told the E-Journal.

The field included 19 Cubans and 18 players from other nations. John Harriman 2d (US) finished 10th with a 4-2 record. Other US players competing were Bob Gilman and Tania Tadakia.  High officials from the Cuban Ministry of Sport attended the event, and it was covered on Cuban television. photo: (l-r) Fernando Aguilar, Hisao Uyama & Santiago Alvarez.
– report/photos by Bob Gilman

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Categories: Latin America
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New AGA Members Dominate Philadelphia Fall Open

Wednesday October 28, 2015

“Considering we were novice organizers and pulled it together in under two months, the Philadelphia Fall Open went smoothly,” reports 2015.10.28_Philly-CollageBenjamin Sauerhaft Coplon, Penn Go Society Treasurer and Chief Tournament Organizer. Twelve players participated in the October 25 tournament, ranging from from 6 dan to 17 kyu.

“The winners all happened to be new AGA members,” Coplon adds. They shared $100 in prizes: First place, Summer (Yuting) Yue, Second place, Amber Jain, Third place, John Deming. Full results available here.

“Thank you to all the players for making this event a success, and having patience with our minor difficulties,” says Coplon. “Thank you to Evan Zou for remaining calm under pressure as TD. Thank you to Matt Bengtson, our club president, for providing his expertise and keeping the Penn Go Society running. And finally, thank you to Redcap’s Corner, Gaming Emporium which hosted us for free.” With renewed momentum from the tournament, “The Penn Go Society is looking forward to planning our next tournament within the next few months and expanding the presence of go in the Greater Philadelphia Area,” Coplon said.
photos: (top): The final game of the tournament between Antong Chen and Summer (Yuting) Yue attracts a crowd; (bottom right): The winners; 1st Place Summer (Yuting) Yue (center), 2nd Amber Jain (right) 3rd John Deming (left); (bottom left): John Deming and Henry Hathaway begin the game. photos by Isaiah Coplon

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Categories: U.S./North America
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Andy Liu 1P Scores Two Wins in Japan Pro Tournament Prelim

Tuesday October 27, 2015

American professional Andy Liu 1p has won his way into the final round of the Kansai Kiin’s 12th Sankei Cup pro preliminary in Osaka, Japan.2015.10.28_Andy-Liu Liu defeated Imayi Kazuhiro 6p by resignation in his first game and won against Takashima Yougo 1p by a half-point in the second round. He plays Ha Yonnyiru 6p on Monday, Nov. 2 at 2:30 p.m. Japanese time.

Fellow AGA pro Gansheng Shi lost in the first round to Mine Yasuhiro 3p, and the two EGF pros, Mateusz Surma 1p and Ali Jabarin 1p lost their matches as well. Shi and Liu will also play in an exchange match with young Kansai pros on Friday, Oct. 30, Liu at 10 a.m. Japanese time against Sinntani Yousuki 1p and Shi at 2 p.m. against Yinaba Karinn 1p. All matches will be broadcast on Pandanet. The EJ will update with photos and game records as soon as they are available.
– Andy Okun; 2014 photo of Liu by Phil Straus

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AGF College Scholarship – Deadline Nov. 14th

Monday October 26, 2015

AGF-logo-smallApplications are now being accepted for the American Go Foundation(AGF) college scholarshipThe program  recognizes high school students who have served as important youth organizers and promoters for the go community . To apply, download and complete the application form here.  Applicants should describe their accomplishments and volunteer work in a short essay. Letters of recommendation may also be included. Applicants whose enthusiasm and ambition have helped spread go in under-served areas will be given special consideration. Strong players who spend much of their time voluntarily teaching will also be considered, although the award focuses on promoters and organizers who have made substantial contributions during their go career. Applications are due Nov. 14th this year. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  

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