Monday November 7, 2022
Last weekend’s Vermont Go with the Flow Tournament attracted 26 players from New York and New England. “The weather was perfect, game play almost as good,” reports organizer and TD Peter Schumer. In first place was Micah Feldman 3D at 4-0, while second place went to Nanjia Jiang 10K, also 4-0. “Everyone got a prize!” says Schumer. Top place winners got go sets including first prize of board, bowls, and slate and shell stones from Japan.
Sunday November 6, 2022
The 2022 Chicago Rapid Championship scheduled for Nov. 12 will be bigger and better than ever, according to event coordinators.
“It’s happening!” said organizer Albert Yen. “The Chicago Rapid will be bigger, stronger, and better than ever! Early registration has already surpassed the previous record turnout of 84 players, and we still have almost a week to go!”
The Championship will feature the longstanding arena-style handicap division for players from beginner to mid-dan, as well as a rapid-format Open division for high-dan players. Other features include:
• Downstairs room available for game reviews, kibbitzing, eating, and Youth tournament
• Professional Tim Song (2018 U.S. Open Champion) and Shawn Ray (Clossius) to give instant reviews in the downstairs room
• Live streaming of the Open section on Twitch by professional commentators
• Free lessons for youth and their parents by Simon Guo
• Prizes include $500 for first place, $300 for second place, equipment from Yellow Mountain, free lessons with professional Alex Qi and top Go teachers in the U.S.
• Special prize raffles for early bird registrants and those who play 4 games
• Dinner party afterwards at the venue
• 10% discount at Tealicous and Yellow Mountain Imports for all attendees
Visit the tournament website to register.
“The question is not whether we’ll hit triple digits” said club president Mark Rubenstein. “It’s who will get a special prize for being the first player #100 at any Evanston Go Club tourney!”
Sunday November 6, 2022
In an online International Friendship Match last month with the Hong Kong Go Club GoLegend, the National Go Center prevailed 3-0. GoLegend is a go school in Hong Kong, China, and the games were played on OGS. NGC’s Michael Zeller 8K beat GoLegend’s Yan Chuan 10K in the first match on October 9; Jim Bonomo 2K defeated Darren Kwok 2k in the second on October 16, and Richard Duan 2D beat Ernie Hui 2D in the final match on October 30, with American professional Eric Lui providing live commentary. The San Diego Go Club played GoLegend in a match earlier this year.
Sunday November 6, 2022
The Capital Go chapter of AGA will host a 3-round tournament on Sunday, November 27 from 11am-6pm. The Fairfax Virginia venue (photo) can only seat a max of 20 players, so to guarantee a spot please pre-register here.
“Despite a smaller group we will partially join the same-day-tournament in southern California,” reports Edward Zhang. “Together there may be nearly 100 players so likely we can avoid high-handicap games, or limit handicaps to just two stones.” There will be awards and certificates. The 2022 VA State Championship finals also starts on 11/27, with prizes of $200/$70 plus the perpetual trophy. Organizers include Meng Wang 6D, Michael Zhou 6D and Edward Zhang 6D.
Monday October 31, 2022
The Seattle Go Center celebrated its’ 27th anniversary on (date), the Center’s first big event since before COVID hit. “While our members are still returning to our usual open times for face-to-face play, we’ve been having our regular monthly ratings tournaments and finally hosted one of our annual big events,” reports Bill Chiles. “We had a good turnout for both, lots of fun with folks hanging out until 11pm, but the crowd was smaller than pre-COVID.” The event included a handicap tournament and a strong player Open. “We are working on more regular events, such as state championship, Pair Go, and our usual winter and spring tournaments,” adds Chiles.
photos: Intense final open round analysis, set up for the party.
Monday October 31, 2022
Jared Nishikawa’s prize for winning the Bodhi Tree Tournament is going to require more care than the usual trophy. Nishikawa took home a Fukien Bonsai tree after sweeping the October 22 Bodhi Tree Tournament dan section in Lakewood, CO. Kyu section winner Matt Murray’s prize was a rare set of suwabute clamshell stones donated by Baduk.Club; Murray was also 4-0. “The Buddhist Association of Colorado hosted us,” reports Jordan Hagen. “Yintong especially was very welcoming. We hope to continue doing go tournaments here in Colorado, as more players become interested we’ll be able to offer better prizes and more interesting tournaments.”
Monday October 31, 2022
Jeremy Chiu 7D topped the San Francisco Go Club October Tournament, held on Saturday, October 22. Attendees competed over three rounds for cash prizes and certificates. Lunch from Andersen Bakery was included with admission. First-time tournament participants were given prizes and a random participant won a new set of tournament-grade go stones. Tournament results were as follows:
Division 1: 1. Jeremy Chiu 7D; 2. Jonathan Ketner 1D; 3. Amy Guo 6D
Division 2: 1. Evan Shi; 2. Casey Dahlin; 3. Benjamin Lam
Division 3: 1. Shuoyuan He; 2. Gavriel Hirsch; 3. Kyle Lam
Matthew Barcus, President
Sunday October 30, 2022
The Ing Foundation is organizing the 2022 World Collegiate Weiqi Invitational Tournament with a new format consisting of 8 versus 8 matches between teams across the world. The first match will be between the US and China on November 26, 2022. Games will be played online from the New York Institute of Go (NYIG) in Manhattan, NY with each player playing two games against the opposing team. The winner of each game will receive a $50 cash prize, and the winning team of each match will receive a $200 bonus prize. Players can additionally apply for up to $200 in travel reimbursements to travel to NYIG for the event. Players on the US team must be a current student at a US university. After the matches against the China team, there will be a friendly match with young New York players. If you are interested in playing, please contact Stephanie Yin at president@ny-go.org for more details.
Thursday October 27, 2022
Welcome to the opening of the 11th season of the Pandanet AGA City League. We are looking again for the most competitive cities and players to compete in this long running tournament. Join the more than 30 teams looking to be the best around. Read through the rules on the Pandanet League site to learn of the new qualifications. The new registration system will help walk you through signing up and accept new rules and policies. If there are any questions contact the TD for more information.
Wednesday October 26, 2022
By John Power, Japan Correspondent for the E-Journal
Most wins
The top four players in this list are all women, which is probably a first.
1. Ueno Asami, Women’s Hollyhock: 39-15; Nakamura Sumire 2-dan: 39-18
3. Fujisawa Rina, Women’s Honinbo: 37-14
4. Nyu Eiko, Senko Cup: 36-16
5. Ichiriki Ryo Kisei: 34-20
6. Koike Yoshihiro 7-dan: 32-9
7. Otake Yu 7-dan: 31-9
8. Ida Atsushi 9-dan: 30-14; Suzuki Ayumi 7-dan: 30-19
10. Hirata Tomoya 7-dan: 29-6
Most successive wins
8: Rin Kanketsu 8-dan, Motoki Katsuya 8-dan, Koike Yoshihiro 7-dan
6: Akiyama Jiro 9-dan, Shida Tatsuya 8-dan, Sakai Yuki 3-dan
5: Yamashita Keigo 9-dan, Cho U 9-dan, Kono Rin 9-dan, Kono Takashi 8-dan, Muramatsu Hiroki 6-dan, Konishi Yoshiakira 1-dan
Winning streaks recently ended
10: Hane Yasumasa 9-dan
9: Kato Yuki, Nakamura Sumire
8: Nyu Eiko
7: Ueno Risa 2-dan
6: Shibano Toramaru 9-dan, Mizokami Tomochika 9-dan
5: Yamashiro Hiroshi 9-dan, Sotoyanagi Sebun 4-dan, Kono Mitsuki 8-dan
Promotion
To 8-dan: Anzai Nobuaki (150 wins, as of Sept. 27)
Quasi-professionals
The Nihon Ki-in has long had a system of “quasi-professionals.” Players who failed to qualify as professionals by the age deadline are able to become professional teachers, though they cannot play in tournaments. They have also played a part in go history. They do not play in a promotion tournament, but are periodically granted promotions. In recognition of their long years of service, the four quasi-professionals registered at the Nihon Ki-in were each promoted a rank on August 30 (the decision was made by the board of directors). Details follow. To 5-dan: Sumino Sachiyo (age 99). To 4-dan: Kawamura Noriko (turned 77 on Oct. 17); Kobayashi Takayuki (age 66); Mizuno Yoshika (also 66). Ms. Sumino was a disciple of Kubomatsu Katsukiyo 8-dan; she was married to the late Sumino Tsunehiro 9-dan, a member, like her, of the Kansai branch of the Nihon Ki-in; the late Kubouchi Shuchi 9-dan of the Kansai Ki-in was her elder brother. Kobayashi is the second of the four go-playing siblings Chizu 6-dan, Kenji 7-dan, and Satoru 9-dan. The last-mentioned has won the Kisei title and is at present chairman of the board of directors of the Nihon Ki-in.
Retirement
Koyama Hideo 5-dan retired as of September 28. Born on February 26, 1951, in Tokyo, Koyama became a disciple of Kitani Minoru. He became 1-dan in 1974 and reached 5-dan in 1989. After his retirement, he was promoted to 6-dan.
