“Just saw this in Chinese media,” reports Zhiping You. “These are the first go-related sculpture I have ever seen.” At right are Gu Li (right) and Lee Sedol (left); in photo at left, Kong Jie (right) and Choe Cheoi-han (left). The sculpture
is in China, Hunan Province, Fenghuang county. Every two years, beginning in 2003, this county hosts a fight between the top Chinese player and the top Korean player. So far, eight matches have taken place, Korea has won four, China has won three, and there was one tie, between Chang Hao and Lee Changho. “This year’s fight just finished on September 22,” Zhiping You says. “Ke Jie beat Park Junghwan.”
American Go E-Journal
Go Spotting: Go sculpture in China
Monday October 2, 2017
Evanston go club featured in magazine
Sunday October 1, 2017

Transcribers wanted for AlphaGo-AlphaGo book project
Thursday September 28, 2017
The popular AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo video commentaries by Michael Redmond are now being turned into an e-book and volunteer transcribers are wanted to help transcribe Redmond’s commentary. “We’re really excited to be working with SmartGo Books to bring Michael’s commentaries on these amazing games to the e-book format,” says series host Chris Garlock. “The book will be a great companion to the videos and sgf files that have already proven to be so popular.” Transcribers will be credited in the book. Those interested should have some experience with transcription and be prepared to spend 5-10 hours/week over the next few weeks to keep this project on schedule. “I can’t promise this will make you a stronger player but it’ll certainly help you gain a deeper understanding of these important and historic games,” says Redmond. To apply, email journal@usgo.org
Your Move/Readers Write: More pro go news wanted
Wednesday September 27, 2017
“I love the E-Journal updates of what is going on in the professional go world,” writes Howard Cornett. “But I want more! Where are links to the game records? Is there any more detailed coverage in English somewhere? And an in-depth explanation of all the leagues and their rules would be great, too. Are they in English somewhere? I recently started re-reading the manga Hikaru No Go and want to be able to follow the professional go world like others follow football, baseball, or soccer. What resources are there in English? If not in English, what language will I have to learn or plug into Google Translate?”
Send your responses/suggestions to journal@usgo.org. We’re always looking for reporting/translation assistance/support here at the E-Journal, as well; if you’re interested in being part of the team, email us at journal@usgo.org
Go Spotting: A Whisper of Caladan Seas
Wednesday September 27, 2017
A Whisper of Caladan Seas is a part of the science fiction universe of Dune taking place some ten thousand years in the future, reports Terry Benson. The book includes a go-related quote from when the “good guys” are trapped in a cave. Quoting an excerpt from the book, “Squatting on the stone floor off to his left, two sullen soldiers had used their fingertips to trace a grid in the dust. With light and dark stones they played a make-shift game of go – a carryover from ancient Terra.” Benson notes that “(it’s) nice to imagine that our ancient game will still be played and on other worlds.”
– Brian Kirby
European Go Center to celebrate 25th anniversary
Tuesday September 26, 2017

– Brian Kirby
Clock ticking on Cotsen Open registration
Sunday September 24, 2017
The pre-registration deadline for this year’s Cotsen Open is now less than a month away. Pre-register here by October 19 for one of the go calendar’s biggest and most popular events. In addition to the 2-day, 5-round tournament October 21-22 at the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles, this year’s event features a screening of The Surrounding Game, food trucks (free lunch for pre-registered players), the ever-popular masseuses and the Sunday game between Yilun Yang 7P and Qun Yang 8P.
Cotsen organizers are looking for volunteers to help with set-up, check-in and and take-down; email cotsenopen@gmail.com if interested. As usual, the E-Journal will broadcast top-board games; if interested in being on the recording team, email journal@usgo.org (must have laptop with KGS).
photo: Tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen (second from right) considers a move at the 2016 Cotsen Open as Yilun Yang (far right) looks on); photo by Chris Garlock
Seattle shows off American Go Honor Society awards
Saturday September 23, 2017
Coach Sonny (Sung-Chul) Cho distributed American Go Honor Society first place awards to two teams from the Northwest Chinese School on September 5 at the Seattle Go Center. The “A” team of Xinlei Liu, Chansseok Oh and Steve Ling won the Open Section of the online School Team
Tournament, which was held in April 2017. The “B” team of the Northwest Chinese School won the Kyu Section of the tournament, playing against 10 other school teams. They are Yulissa Wu Lu, Tian Yi Wang and Emma Huang. The principal of the Northwest Chinese School is Dong Ma 6d, a long time supporter of the Seattle Go Center. The teams celebrated by having pizza and ice cream, and by playing simultaneous games with Chinese pro Hai Li, who was visiting Seattle with his family after attending the San Diego Go Congress. Report and photos by Brian Allen.
AlphaGo movie screening worldwide
Saturday September 23, 2017
“AlphaGo,” the dramatic documentary about the 2016 showdown between Lee Sedol 9P and the DeepMind AI, is now screening at festivals across the country and around the world. The updated AlphaGo website has details about screenings, including a run in New York City Sept 29-Oct 5, and screenings in October in Milwaukee, Mill Valley (CA), Hot Springs (AR), Bellingham (WA), Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Easton (MD) and Washington, DC. Check out the film’s new trailer here.
AlphaGo-AlphaGo Game 9: A trade and the ko that didn’t happen
Friday September 29, 2017
“In this game there’s a big fight on the left side involving a ko and a trade,” says Michael Redmond 9p in his game commentary on AlphaGo-AlphaGo Game 9. “Then there’s another ko that doesn’t happen.”
Click here for Redmond’s video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock.
Stay tuned for a special video coming soon in which Redmond responds to viewer questions on the AlphaGo-AlphaGo games so far. And Redmond’s Game 10 commentary is coming too, “an outstanding game, a very complicated game that was keeping me up at night trying to understand it. If you’re a serious go player, this game is going to have an impact.”
The Game 9 video is produced by Michael Wanek and Andrew Jackson. The sgf file was created by Redmond, with editing and transcription by Garlock and Myron Souris.
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