American Go E-Journal » Go News

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Phoenix Chinese Week and the Arizona Go Club jointly sponsored the 2012 Phoenix Chinese Week (PCW) Go Open on January 29.

Twenty two go players ranging in strength from 18k to 8D gathered at the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center to compete in four divisions, Division A (2D and above), Division B (3K to 1D), Division C (8K to 4K) and Division D (9K and below).

After three rounds and nearly six hours of intensive competition, two winners were determined in each division. Chun-Hong Chen 8D demonstrated his superior strength by  sweeping all three games and won 1st place in Division A, while Jeremy Cain 4D won 2nd place. The winners for the other divisions are: Division B: Jonathan Holtrop 1k, 1st place; William Gundberg 1k, 2^nd. Division C: Howard Liu 6k, 1st place; Richard Hardy 5k, 2nd place. Division D: Marty Luad 11k, 1st place; Guillermo Molano 11k, 2nd place.

“Another highlight was the outstanding performance of Junior player Howard Liu 6k,” reports local organizer Quan Li. “Liu played solid games and won three straight games to win 1st place in Division C. Two other junior players, Eric Lin 1d, and Jeffrey Luo 3k, also played very well. We also had a senior player, Demir Zoroglu 5k, who played some impressive games. All of us had great time, regardless of winning or losing. We’ll meet again for next year’s Phoenix Chinese Week Go Open.”
photo by Quan Li

“Love was in the air for our Winter tournament,” reports Chicago go organizer Bob Barber, who directed the February 11 “I Sing the Body Electric” tournament. “Three young women playing in the tournament are getting married this year: Laura Kolb, Lisa Scott, and Karoline Burrall. We even got to meet two of the fiances, one of whom, Patrick Allen, also joined in the games.”

The 42-player field was “a record breaking turnout for our new location, the Go Center in Arlington Heights,” Barber told the E-Journal. “For a while, I thought some might have to play outside in the 19 degree weather.  The beauty part, as our pal Chester Zawacki used to say, is that with so many players, the handicaps were small.”

Players attended from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky and Minnesota. “Those of us who attend the annual U.S. Go Congress were very happy to welcome Karoline Burrall (at left) to Illinois, where she’ll be studying and living for some years at least,” Barber added. “It was also gratifying to note that eight of the forty-two players were female.  Who said that go is an old man’s game?”

Visitors to the LA Go Club recently might understandably have been worried by the vanished signs and tape over the door. Not to worry. Gary (Gun-ho) Choi’s venerable Koreatown playing location has moved to a new “and nicer” spot, reports local organizer Andy Okun. Although slightly smaller than the old location, the two-story mini-mall housing the club at 1144 S. Western Avenue, Suite 208, Los Angeles, CA 90006, 323-732-7871 — is a much newer building and has more parking available. In addition, the new playing room is non-smoking, Choi says. The regular playing hours are 10a to 9p and the club is “available on request 24 hours.” The club is also available for go events of whatever kind, and is available free for teaching. Until the signage is changed, look for the new club at the one reading “Baby Tomato Photo Studio.”
– photos by Andy Okun

The American Go Association Chapters List is back up and running, reports Steve Colburn. “Anyone can join and I added all current chapters today,” Colburn said Monday night (2/13). “This is a great new system that will help support chapters in the coming years,” Colburn added. “Please join the list so your message can be promptly posted to the group.” Questions about the list can be sent to lists moderator Arnold Eudell at chapterservices@usgo.org

Beginning this year, KGS will crown one player as the KGS Meijin annually. January through October, there will be monthly qualifying tournaments on KGS. Each month the qualifiers will be at a different time and will have a different setup, some qualifiers will be open signup, others will require an established rank on KGS. In each tournament, one or more participants will earn eligibility for the Finals.  The Finals will run November through December. The final KGS Meijin winner will receive a cash prize and a special Meijin icon.  The February Qualifier will be held on February 25th & 26th, in American daytime “and we would like to encourage as many AGA members to join,” says KGS admin and Meijin Qualifier TD Akane Negishi (sweety). Click here for tournament details.

The winter 2012 San Diego Go Soiree attracted 23 go players to the home of San Diego Go Club President Ted Terpstra January 29 for seven hours of informal games. Players ranked from beginners to San Diego’s only go professional, Shirley Lin, attended. Two visiting 7-dans from Japan were honored guests. Several members of the UCSD Go Club also attended, including Tyler Oyakawa, 2 dan, who beat many higher ranked players.
photos: right: Mr. Kohmoto (l, from Japan) and Tyler Oyakama (r, UCSD) overlooking Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean; left: part of the assembled crowd. Photos courtesy Ted Terpstra.