American Go E-Journal » Youth

Sixteen young players won entry into next week’s World Youth Go Championship (WYGC) Qualifier finals, where they will join Calvin Sun 7d and Ben Lockhart 5d for an 18-player single-elimination tournament. Thirty two youth competed in the online WYGC Qualifier last weekend, with competition fierce in all brackets.  In the junior division, Aaron Ye 1d led the field with four wins.  The senior division was dominated by Curtis Tang 8d, and Zhongxia Zhao 7d, who won all four games.  Several kyu players entered for the chance to play top ranked youth, and dan players gave their kyu opponents game reviews after each match.  The finals will be held on April 10-11 in the KGS AGA Tournaments room, with matches at 9a and 1p Pacific time. Click here for full Qualifier results.
– Paul Barchilon, E-Journal Youth Editor

The East Coast summer go camp is set for July 17-25, in Somerset, New Jersey, while the West Coast Go Camp is still seeking a Director. Feng Yun 9P will again be the primary teacher at the East Coast camp, with John Mangual taking over as camp director. “The camps have been popular with young players on both Coasts,” said AGA President Allan Abramson, “and we’re looking for someone to organize and run this year’s camp on the West Coast.” Those interested can contact Abramson at President@usgo.org. The AGF is offering partial scholarships to the camps, and USYGC finalists are eligible for a pool of 16 camp scholarships as well.  Click here for  more information and an application.

Winston Jen, the same donor who gave the AGA 100 sets of Hikaru no Go, has also donated four popular anime (cartoon) series as prizes for upcoming  tournaments.  Valued at over $225 retail, the Anime Prize Pack contains 28 DVDs and is free for AGA Chapters and at AGHS sponsored tournaments.  Chapters may use these prizes to attract youth to adult events, or for youth specific events.  “Hikaru no Go has contributed so much happiness to my life,” Jen, an Australian anime fan and translator who lives in Hong Kong, told the E-Journal, “I wanted to give something back to as many people as possible.”  100 multi volume sets of Hunter x Hunter, Fruits Basket, Kodocha, and The Girl Who Leapt Through time (both the movie and the graphic novel), were donated.  The AGA is charging $20 to cover shipping and handling, full details are on the Anime Prize Page.  To order, contact Chapter Services.
– Paul Barchilon, EJ Youth Editor

The American Go Foundation is conducting its annual fundraising appeal, asking players who love go to support the growth of the game. “We’re doing more than ever to bring in a new generation of players,” says AGF President Terry Benson, “and we’re doing it with generous donations from American players, not with foundation or government help. The AGF is a 501(c)3 charity, so US donors can deduct their contribution from their taxes.” The AGF has many new offerings, Benson explained. “This fall we added the newsletter for teachers, a Teacher Store, a lesson plan cooperative for teachers, more types of teaching equipment, and we are working on a college scholarship program,” Benson said. “We can now accept credit card payments and donations. In today’s financial climate, we need all the help we can get. Even small amounts matter. Whether someone contributes to the AGF General Fund, to help go education and outreach like the tigersmouth.org website, or to the Summer Go Camp Scholarship Fund, they’ll join hundreds of others who make AGF work possible .” To contribute, download this form and fax with your credit card info or mail with a check. See the AGF’s appeal on godiscussions.com for more information about AGF programs.

US Youth Go Championship (USYGC) organizers are looking for chapters interested in hosting one of next year’s regional qualifying events. “This is a great opportunity to encourage many children and youth players to become stronger,” says Coordinator Daniel Short. “It’s also a way to give local players a chance to compete for a national championship.” Eight qualifiers will be held across the country, with regional winners being flown to the national championship tournament in San Francisco, where the final champions — junior and senior — will be selected as the AGA’s representatives to the World Youth Go Championship in August. To find out more about how your chapter can host a USYGC qualifier, email usygc@usgo.org.