Go News « American Go E-Journal

Boulder Kids and Teens Go Club Back in Action

Tuesday July 13, 2021

Children laughing, stones clacking, and general excitement returned to the Boulder Public Library in Colorado as the Boulder Kids and Teens Go Club had their first in-person meeting in over a year on Sunday, July 11th. Seventeen kids and about the same number of adults attended. The club moved online for the duration of the pandemic, but it was very hard to teach beginners both how to play and how to use the software at the same time, “it’s much, much, easier in person”, said club co-founder Dave Weiss. Also missing online was any ability to find new players, and the club has always relied on curious passersby in the Children’s Department to reach new kids. “The children’s area is a really important community hub,” said Children’s Library Specialist Ruth Smith, adding that she loved seeing all the families return to the library. Now in its 17th year, the club was forced to celebrate both its 16th and 17th year anniversaries online. Weiss bought two cakes and ice cream to mark the return to in-person play.

The club sent out a press release to mark their return, and the Boulder Daily Camera sent a reporter. The club was on the front page the next day, the article can be seen here.

Boulder County is 78% vaccinated, and many parts of the city are closing in on 90% vaccinated. State and county health officials all felt safe resuming much of normal life after the pandemic shut down so much. Colorado policy is now that masks are optional, and recommended only for unvaccinated people. As the vaccines are only available for ages 12 and up, most club attendees were still masked. Library staff all decided to wear masks as well, so the kids didn’t feel singled out. Kids did take their masks off to enjoy cake and ice cream, but most were masked for the bulk of their visit. -Story and photo by club co-founder Paul Barchilon

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

AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo with Michael Redmond 9p: Game 50 (Part 2)

Friday July 9, 2021

“Wow, it’s been a while! Welcome back,” Nyarlah commented on the latest Michael Redmond AlphaGo game commentary; Part 1 was published last week. “It’s been too long AGA!” agreed Clay Tin. Some commenters noted the unusually long pre-game chat as Redmond and host Chris Garlock caught up on news from the previous 8 months; note that the game commentary starts at 22:56.

Part 2 of the AlphaGo-AlphaGo Game 50 commentary will be published at 6p ET tonight. The game series was published by Deepmind after AlphaGo’s victory over world champion Ke Jie 9p in May 2017. The video was produced by Eva-Dee Beech, Chris Garlock and Stephen Hu.

[link]

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

Applications Open for South Central On-Line Leagues Season 2

Sunday July 4, 2021

Registration is open for the second season of The South Central On-Line Leagues, a system of six-player leagues in a round robin competition played on KGS and OGS. There will be one game every two weeks, with six players in each league. In the first season, 90 players enrolled in 15 leagues. Recruitment is underway for Season 2, scheduled to begin early August. Organizers are looking to fill 42 open slots, with 43 players returning from Season 1. The basic rules can be found here, and the application form to participate is can be found here.

-report by Bob Gilman

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

Redmond returns!

Friday June 25, 2021

After a 7-month hiatus, Michael Redmond 9P returns with a new live AlphaGo game commentary this Sunday, June 27 at 7p ET on the AGA’s Twitch channel. E-Journal Managing Editor Chris Garlock will host as Redmond reviews Game 50 in the AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo series. “The pandemic gave us both an opportunity to generate a lot of commentaries earlier in 2020,” says Garlock, “but later on we both got busy with other projects, Michael with his Go TV channel and me with the Labor Radio Podcast Network I’ve been building.” Adding that the plan is to resume a regular schedule of broadcasts – “though probably not weekly” – Garlock said that both Redmond and he are excited to complete the AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo series and that Redmond also has some other interesting game reviews planned. “Tune in Sunday to find out more!” Garlock promised.

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

50 Years aGO – June 1971

Friday June 25, 2021

by Keith L. Arnold, hka, with Patrick Bannister

Ishida Yoshio, the youngest ever Hon'inbo in June 1971 — Ishida Yoshio

This was Ishida Yoshio’s month, by the end the 22-year-old would hold three titles, youthful success in newspaper tournaments unprecedented before that time.

On June 10-11, in Game 5, he scored an upset victory over Rin Kaihō Hon’inbo to take a 3-2 lead in the title match. Then on June 21-22, in Game 6, he navigated a complicated ōnadare joseki — to become very much in vogue — to lead to the famous exchange: Rin – “Half a point?” “Half a point to the good” replied Ishida and he was Hon’inbo. The counting, under the watchful eye of Sakata Eio, is pictured here. (Game records: Hon’inbo Game 5, Game 6.)

Ishida added the Pro Best 10 to his Hon’inbo and Nihon Ki’in Championship, but it was not without difficulties. Carrying a 2-0 lead in the five game match into the month he stumbled, perhaps under the pressure of the concurrent Hon’inbo match. On June 6, Ishida, known as “The Computer” for his calculating skills, had an AlphaGo Game 4 moment when he retook a ko without a threat – the first time this had happened in a tournament final – and lost by forfeit. He then was defeated by Kajiwara Takeo in Game 4, setting up a decisive Game 5. On June 29, with the Hon’inbo title secured, he returned to form and secured the title. Watching the smiling Ishida is a constellation of pros, including white haired taisha expert Yamabe Toshirō, Awaji Shuzō, Takemiya Masaki and Ishida Akira. Standing on the left is a gentleman who I think might be a pro who regularly attends the European Go Congress – his name escapes me, perhaps a reader can help. (Game records: Pro Best Ten Game 3, Game 4, Game 5.)

On June 21, Murakami Bunshō won the Amateur Best 10 for the fourth time in the event’s 11 year history.

Scoring Game 6 of the Hon'inbo title match - Ishida wins by a half point — Ishida wins the Hon’inbo by a half point

Murakami Bunshō wins the Amateur Best Ten Tournament

Photos courtesy of Igo Club.

Categories: 50 years aGO,Go Photos,Japan,Main Page

International professional go scene getting more interesting

Monday June 21, 2021

by Yuan Zhou

International professional go play is becoming more interesting with the recent addition of pro players in the United States, as well as in Europe. Non-Asian players have been included in some international tournaments by invitation in recent years, but it is very unusual for one of them to survive the first round of the final competition. There are a large number of international events nowadays, and the title winner can receive as much as the equivalent of $400,000 US. Most of the well-known events are open to anyone who can survive the competition in their own countries to gain a place in the international event, although some are restricted to female players and others are a competition between the winners of similar titles in other countries. In some cases even amateurs can gain admission.

*Defending LG Cup champion* *Shin Minjun of Korea.*

The most striking thing about the current international scene has been the dominance of Chinese pros in recent international events. Only one international title is now held by Japan: Cho U 9p of Japan won the playoff between the holders of the Agon Cup from China and Japan. Recently most of the top titles were held by Chinese players, although currently the Koreans are making a comeback. The Chinese player Ke Jie 9p holds eight international titles, more than any other active player, and is widely considered the strongest active player in the world. However, Shin Jinseo 9p of South Korea has won nine games in international tournaments this year, which is more than any other player. The Korean team of five won the Nongshim (Spicy Noodles) international event in February of this year. This win-and-continue event between five player teams is one of the oldest competitions and very popular among fans. Occasionally a single player will manage to wipe out most of another country’s team. This year, Shin Jinseo 9p of Korea won the last five games in the contest, defeating two Japanese and three Chinese players, including Ke Jie of China in the last game.

One of the oldest top tournaments is the LG Cup, now in its 26th year. The second round was held on June 1st, leaving eight players in the contest. Three are from China, including Ke Jie, Mi Yuting 9p, and Yang Dingxin 9p. Four are from Korea, including Park Junghwan 9p, who has been ranked as number one in the world in recent years, Shin Jinseo 9p, Shin Minjun 9p, and Byun Sangil 9p. The one remaining player from Japan is Ichiriki Ryo 9p, who currently holds five titles in Japan, including two of the top five. All of these names will become familiar as we continue to follow the current international pro scene. The LG Cup will conclude with a three game finals match early next year. Last time’s winner of the title was Shin Minjun of Korea, who is in his early twenties, as are most of the current top pros.

Categories: Main Page,World

National Go Center Reopens, INAF Grant Renewed

Sunday June 20, 2021

“Face-to-face Go is returning to the Washington DC area,” reports NGC Executive Director Gurujeet Khalsa. “Our NOVA Go satellite met Monday night in Arlington, VA and Wednesday night play resumed at the NGC in DC.” Play at both sites will continue weekly with details available at the NGC website.

“It was great to see smiling faces and friends old and new playing their favorite game,” says Khalsa. “We were very happy to welcome back Eli Ferster (below on the left, Larry Kaufman on the right) who recently returned to DC after 2 ½ years in Japan teaching English.”

Gary Smith reported from NOVA Go that despite a first night glitch getting the church unlocked where they play, an intrepid crew stayed and played outside (below). “We expect to be smoothly running inside the next week” says Smith. With continued good progress against Covid in the area an expanded schedule of activities will be announced in the coming weeks. Watch for the return of Pair Go/Paella night with Chris Garlock’s famous paella. Both sites are requiring vaccinations for adults for the time being and will be following local guidance on relaxing restrictions. Masks are required at NOVA Go inside the church there.

“We had another piece of great news recently,” reports Khalsa. “Our grant from the Iwamoto North America Foundation (INAF) was renewed for another 5 years. We are very grateful to INAF for their continued confidence in us and are excited about getting back out in the community and teaching Go as things open back up.”

-report and photos by Gurjeet Khalsa

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

New AGA Chapters for May 2021

Sunday June 20, 2021

The AGA is regularly asked for new chapters around the country. These are the newly registered chapters from May 2021:

Ghost City Go – Fridays @ 6pm : Black Mountain Cafe – ghostcitygo@gmail.com || 212.461.0343

Members should check their information from time to time. If you are not receiving the EJ make sure your email is up to date. Chapters can always update their current chapter through the AGA Membership Manager if they have changed.

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

Candidates determined for 2021 AGA Board elections

Sunday June 20, 2021

Congratulations to Dan Ritter, Devin Fraze, and Chris Kirschner who are this years candidates in the East, Central and Western regions respectively and all running unopposed.

-report by Arnold Eudell

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

Seattle Go Center Softly Reopens

Sunday June 20, 2021

After being closed for almost 15 months because of COVID-19 precautions, the Seattle Go Center has reopened on Tuesdays and Saturdays for in-person play. Only vaccinated players are invited, and masks are required at all times when people are indoors, except when sipping drinks. Food may only be eaten on the front roof deck, where masks are not required. All players are required to update their membership forms, and to acknowledge the new COVID precautions.

All the windows are kept open, which gives the large playing room good cross ventilation. “This works well in June, when we have mild weather, but we hope that the vaccination campaigns are successful, and the COVID risk is greatly reduced, so that we can close the windows by November”, Operations Manager Brian Allen notes.

The reopening was quietly publicized through the Seattle Go Center email list. Tuesdays have 16-20 players, and Saturdays 10-12. The current schedule can be found on the Go Center home page. Families are not coming yet, because young players cannot get vaccinated. For some adult players who do not play online, this was their first opportunity to play a game in more than a year. Another group recently learned the game online, and needed instruction on how to hold a stone, and to score a game when finished. “It was surprisingly hard to match faces known from Zoom sessions with the people with masks who showed up at the Go Center,” says Allen. “In general, there was less chatter than in the old days, because the masks make it harder to be understood, and the open windows let in street noise. Still, it was great to see old friends, and to make new ones.”

–Report and photo by Brian Allen.

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

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