American Go E-Journal » Youth

North American College Players Invited to July Tournament in China, But Must Act Quickly

Thursday May 2, 2013

The Shanghai Ing Foundation has opened its first International Collegiate GO Tournament to US and Canadian college students, according to Michael Fodera of the American Collegiate Go Association. Students who attend the July 7-13 event will play go with players from all over China and the world, travel around Shanghai and Hangzhou and play teaching games with stars Gu Li 9P and Chang Hao 9P. While players must cover their own travel costs to China, their food, accommodation, travel within China, tour costs and sponsored events will be paid for by the Shanghai Ing Foundation. “I was one of the players that attended the [Ing-sponsored] 2011 go summer camp,” Fodera tells the E-Journal, “ and I can honestly say that this is a chance of a lifetime. The Ing Foundation really does not spare any expense when it comes to these events.” The opportunity is open to players who have attended college or will attend college —  undergraduate or graduate — in the 2013 calendar year, and who do not hold a professional certification from a recognized go association.

Act fast, however. The deadline for registration is May 15, and, while there is currently no cap on the number of North American students who can attend, the event includes students from the rest of the world as well and if room runs out, requests will be handled on a first-come first-served basis, Fodera says. Click here for details of the trip, as well as links to the registration form and schedule. Questions may be addressed to Fodera at mdf116@brandeis.edu or to the Shanghai Ing Foundation’s Min Xiao at min_xiao@harvard.edu.
– Andy Okun

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Categories: Youth
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Teacher of the Year Deadline Extended

Thursday May 2, 2013

Nominations for the American Go Foundation’s  Teacher of the Year award have been extended until May 30th. The award is presented each year at the U.S. Go Congress and recognizes an outstanding American teacher. The winner  will receive an all expenses paid trip to the congress.  To be eligible, a teacher must be a member of the AGA, have been teaching go to children for at least two hours a week (during the school year) for two years, have started a go club or organization for youth, and have helped their students enter appropriate tournaments, if possible.  If you would like to apply for this award, e-mail mail@agfgo.org.  Nominations are due by May 30th and should include a description of the teacher’s activities,  how long they have been teaching, and how many students attend their program. – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo: 2011 winner Fritz Balwit teaching his son Theo. 

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Ye Wins Jujo Jiang Cup – Free Game Review

Tuesday April 30, 2013

Aaron Ye 5d, who has been the Jr. Division US Youth Champion for the past three years, pulled a surprise upset at the Jujo Jiang Youth Cup in Sunnyvale, CA, on March 24th.  Ye, who is just 11, lost his Jr. Division title to Jeremy Chiu 5d in the US Youth Go Championships in February, and was out to settle a score.  Reigning Sr. Division champion Calvin Sun 7d was also unseated by Andrew Lu 6d at the USYGC.  All of these matches were held online, but Ye was determined to even the score when he got the chance to play both Chiu and Lu face to face at the Jujo Cup. Taking white against Chiu, Ye captured a large group on the lower side, and then forced Chiu to resign in just 132 moves.  Ye next took on Andrew Lu, and despite falling behind in the opening, was able to regain his footing, and defeat Lu as well.  As a special bonus for all E-J readers, Feng Yun’s compelling commentary on the game is being provided for free (see below).  Full members of the AGA get exciting commentaries like this every week, and members can compare games like this one with last week’s commentary, where Ye lost to Chiu, and also see an exciting game between Calvin Sun and Andrew Lu from the USYGC.  The game commentaries alone are worth the price of AGA membership.  For youth it is an even better deal, just $10 a year!  The E-J is providing this game as a freebie, full members can also see another game this week, where Guo Juan 5P reviews a game from a 1 dan player, and highlights how to find urgent points in relation to strong and weak groups on the board.  To sign up for the members edition, register with the AGA here.  Winner’s Report: 5-7 dan: 1st Place: Aaron Ye, 2nd place: Andrew Lu, 3rd place: Jeremy Chiu, 4th place: Tianyi Liu; 1-3dan: 1st place: Daniel Liu;  1k – 8k: 1st: Eric Liu; 17k – 29k: Mathew Cheng; 13 x 13 board: Adam Tang.  -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo by Abby Zhang:  A triumphant Aaron Ye holds up his trophy. 

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Yilun Yang 7P Joins Teaching Staff at Go Camp

Sunday April 28, 2013

“The AGA Go Camp is excited to announce that Yilun Yang 7P will be joining us for camp this year,” reports Camp Director Amanda Miller.  Yang became a professional at the age of 14, in 1973. He has trained many notable players, including Rui Naiwei 9P, Chang Hao 9P, and Hua Zueming 7P. An  experienced teacher, Yang has been teaching in the United States since 1986. He’s also the author of many popular go books, such as Fundamental Principles of GoLife and Death by the Numbers, and Life and Death in Chinese Characters.  ”If you’re a go player between the ages of 8 and 18, and would like an opportunity to study go for a week with a professional teacher, the AGA East Go Camp is for you,” says Miller. Anyone who played in the US Youth Go Championships is eligible for a $400 AGF scholarship to the camp.  Kids who didn’t play, but need financial help to attend, can apply for a needs-based scholarship here.  Visit the camp website for general information, pictures from past camps, and news regarding this year’s upcoming Go Camp. Questions about camp can be addressed to Miller at  agagocampeast@gmail.com -Story/photo by Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo: Yilun Yang teaching a children’s workshop in Boulder, Co.

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Korean Pros to Attend Teacher’s Workshop at U.S. Go Congress

Sunday April 28, 2013

The Teachers Workshop planned for this year’s U.S. Go Congress has attracted the attention of the Korean Baduk Association,  which is sending two Korean pros who are recognized experts in teaching techniques, to add to the program. “They are very enthusiastic about supporting go education in America,” says Myungwan Kim 9P, whose diplomacy made the visit possible.  The Koreans are particularly interested in sharing their techniques for bringing youth players into the low single-digit kyu level within a year or two. “Our curriculum this year is aimed at those teaching absolute beginners,” says workshop coordinator Bill Camp. “The Korean expert teachers will allow us to expand the program to include those who want to teach at a higher level.”  Enthusiasm for the workshop is much higher than expected, according to Congress co-director Chris Kirschner, who reports that “16% of Congress attendees thus far have registered for the workshop. We aren’t planning on turning anyone away, but we do want people to sign up early so we can plan the workshop sessions to fit the number and types of people attending.” – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

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$200 Congress Scholarships Offered for Youth

Saturday April 27, 2013

The American Go Foundation (AGF) is offering $200 youth discounts to this year’s US Go Congress.  Interested youth must write an essay on why they want to go; the application deadline is May 30th. Twenty-Five scholarships are available, and up to 15 awardees will be selected by June 1. Five scholarships are available to residents of Canada or Mexico. Applications received after May 30th will be placed in a lottery with the remaining scholarships  awarded at random from qualifying essays.  The scholarships are available for youth who are under 18.  For more information, and to apply, click here.  – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo: In the Youth Room at the  2012 Congress, photo by Paul Barchilon.

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Shieh Wins Enlighten Youth Tourney

Wednesday April 24, 2013

Justin Sheih 6d took top honors in the A division at the First Enlighten Youth Go Tournament, with a perfect record of 4 wins. The tournament was held in San Jose, CA, and was organized by the Enlighten Chinese School, go teacher Joe Lee, and the Santa Clara Youth Go Club.   With over 70 young go players attending,  it was one of the largest youth go tournament in the US.   The top six players in each group took home a prize, and the top four were awarded a trophy.  Thirty beginners played in the 13×13 sections, and each of them got a trophy and a prize. Report by Wenguang Wang, of the Santa Clara Youth Go Club.  Photo by Ping Yeh.

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Li Wins Boulder NAMT Qualifier

Monday April 22, 2013

Yunxuan Li 5d took top honors at the Rocky Mountain Spring Go Tourney, held April 13th in Boulder, Co.  Li, who lives in California, flew out to compete in order to accumulate points for the North American Masters Tourney, which will be held at the Go Congress in August.  Li, who is 15, surprised everyone by defeating one of Colorado’s top players, Jung Hoon Lee 7d, in a nail biting game that gave Li a half point win with komi.  He also defeated Yun-Bo Yi 6d and Matthew Harwit 5d, in an eight player field of high dan players.  In the low dan and single digit kyu section, Josh Hoak 1d won first prize with four wins, as did Timothy Chang 12k, in the double digit kyu section.  Twelve-year-old Stanislav Irisov, competing in his first tourney, won the Best Newcomer’s Award for winning three games.  The tourney drew 30 players, 14 of whom were kids and teens. – Story and photo by Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo: Yunxuan Li 5d (r) out-reads Matthew Harwit 5d (l).

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Go Camp Launches New Website

Saturday April 20, 2013

The AGA Summer Go Camp has launched an all new website to help promote the camp.  Visitors can see pictures from previous camps, learn more about programs, and find answers to frequently asked questions.  “If you’re a go player between the ages of 8 and 18, and would like an opportunity to study go for a week with a professional teacher, the AGA East Go Camp is for you,” says camp director Amanda Miller. Anyone who played in the US Youth Go Championships can get a $400 AGF scholarship to the camp.  Kids who didn’t play, but need financial help to attend, can apply for a needs based scholarship here.  Visit the camp website for details and registration information. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

 

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College Go League Championship This Saturday on KGS

Thursday April 18, 2013

After an exciting first few rounds, the Collegiate Go League post-season concludes this Saturday, April 20. The championship match will be played at 2:30pm EST in the Collegiate Go League room on KGS, reports William Lockhart. Ten schools competed in the inaugural event last year. This year the number increased to 12. Defending champs University of Michigan will take on the winner of Princeton and U. of Toronto, which will be played immediately before at 1pm. U. Toronto is expected to advance to the championships, lead by freshman and recently crowned AGA professional Gansheng Shi. The CGL matches teams of five from schools across the US and Canada every other week. “Come and watch the finals on Saturday!” Lockhart urges.

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