American Go E-Journal

Go Spotting: ‘Deadly Games’ TV show

Saturday October 15, 2016

“In the ‘Deadly Games’ episode of the TV series ‘Diagnosis Murder’ (Season 5), the main character, Dr. Mark Sloan, played by Dick Van Dyke learns and plays go,” writes Erwin Gerstorfer. “Here’s the summary of the episode on the Internet Movie Database, which even includes links to the AGA and BGA: ‘In this episode Mark Sloan (Dick van Dyke) has to play Wei-ch’i (Weiqi), more commonly known as Go. He suspects bodyguard Frank Waldeck (Michael Beck) of not being all he seems and plays Go against him to try and suss his strategy. You can find out more about Go at usgo.org or britgo.org.'”

Categories: Go Spotting

Go Spotting: “Saturn Run” novel

Friday October 14, 2016

“Just finished the novel Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein,” writes Michael Goerss. “In this novel set in the 2060’s, two members of a spaceship crew use a 3D printer to make a go board and stones. They reference the game briefly on pages 202, 216 and 218 in my hardcover copy, and the beginner manages to get his handicap down to seven stones. He also reads ‘a famous Go instruction book by Nicholai Hel,’ who was of course the main character of Shibumi by Trevanian. Sort of go spotting squared, with one literary go player referencing another. “

Categories: Go Spotting

Myungwan Kim to Run Teacher Training in LA This Weekend

Thursday October 13, 2016

Myungwan Kim 9p is running a teacher training workshop in Los Angeles this weekend, aiming to enable attendees to teach beginners especially in group settings like high school go clubs and after-school programs. The course will go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch break, either Saturday and Sunday, or Sunday and Monday at the attendees’ choice, at the Joong-ang Newspaper company in Koreatown LA, 2nd floor conference room. Topics includes teaching with concepts, images and stories, liberty races and cross cuts. Successful attendees rated 7k or stronger will receive an AGA Teacher Certificate; this is the first time the teaching program has been offered outside the US Go Congress. Tuition is $100 for adults, $75 for under 17, but tuition is waived for students who pledge to open a club in their high school. Contact Kim at bigtory@gmail.com or 213-210-1577 if you want to attend or find out more.

Categories: U.S./North America

San Diego Go Club Fall Soiree a “Huge Success”

Thursday October 13, 2016

The San Diego Go Club’s Fall Soiree at the club president’s home, overlooking Mission Bay on October 9 was a “huge

success,” reports Ted Terpstra, who hosted the event. Over 35 players of all strengths from beginner to 6-dan enjoyed an afternoon of competition and camaraderie. The quarterly event drew college students from UCSD, USI, UCLA as well a bevy of grammar school players from as far away as Pasadena. New players were recruited from the local Korean and Chinese communities. As usual, pizza and drinks were given to the competitors at the end of the day as part of the AGA Rewards program. The star of the day, who beat back all comers, was a new student from UC -Irvine, a Chinese 6-dan, JZ Sheng. After seven hours of intense playing, the crowd slowly diminished as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

Categories: U.S./North America

Go4Go App Reviewers Wanted

Thursday October 13, 2016

Go4Go.net has released an Android-based app that allows users to access the Go4Go database via their smartphones and tablets and the E-Journal is looking for Android users to test and review the app. Email us at journal@usgo.org if interested (testers get free access). The app’s main features include access to the entire Go4Go database, ability to search the database by date, player, tournament, and follow the latest and popular games. Users can also replay games manually or using the auto-play function.

Categories: Tools: books, software & hardware

“Don’t Have A Cow!” Tournament Results

Wednesday October 12, 2016

The Evanston Go club hosted its third quarterly tournament on Saturday, October 8. Attendance was good at 30 players. “We’re so glad we were able to use the Immanuel Lutheran Church again”, said club president and TD Mark Rubenstein. “It’s a great space, with lots of tables and plenty of light. And if you step outside the playing room, you can faintly hear the organist practicing. We will continue to have four tournaments a year; the next one will be in January. If you’re not on our email list, hop on over to our website and click the link to sign up!”

Winners were:

Albert Yen 7d, Daniel Dowell 2d, Richard Solberg 2k, Adrien Wolkowiak 7k, and Daniel Lambert 12k. Kudos to Adrien Wolkowiak and Daniel Lambert for winning 5 of 5 games each. Special thanks to Yellow Mountain Imports for supplying prizes.

The name of this tournament was “Don’t Have A Cow!” because it was on this day in 1871 that the Chicago Fire started. Legend has it that the fire was started by a cow kicking over a lantern in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn.

Categories: U.S./North America

Last week for Pandanet AGA City League Registration

Wednesday October 12, 2016

The registration for the Pandanet AGA City League is open for just one more week. Contact Steve Colburn for more information or to register. If you are registering please read the rules before signing up.

“We are also looking for a new set of video reviewers this year,” Colburn reports. If you are interested please contact him above.

Categories: Pandanet-AGA City League

Myungwan Kim 9P’s Commentary on Samsung Cup Quarters: Lee Sedol 9p vs Tang Weixing 9p

Monday October 10, 2016

In a reprise of the Ing Cup Finals, Lee Sedol 9p took on Tang Weixing 9p in the quarterfinals of the Samsung Cup last week. Check out Myungwan Kim 9p’s commentary on the AGA’s YouTube Channel.

Categories: Game Commentaries,Korea

4-Way Tie at MGA Fall Tourney

Monday October 10, 2016

Ming Li 5D, Dan Schmidt 3K, Graham Higgins 5K and Mark Nahabedian 12K, each with with three wins and one loss, tied

2016.10.09-Dan_Schmidt_vs_Shawn_Ligocki_Ed_Gillis_Graham_Higgins_Fred_Wardwell_Wanda_Mecalf_Mark_Nahabedian_

for first place at the Massachusetts Go Association’s Fall Tournament on October 9, topping a field of 18. James Peters directed the Tournament.
– Eva Casey, Tournament Coordinator of the Massachusetts Go Association.
photo: Dan Schmidt vs Shawn Ligocki; Ed Gillis, Graham Higgins, Fred Wardwell, Wanda Mecalf and Mark Nahabedian; photo by Eva Casey

Categories: U.S./North America

Chiang Tops Sunflower Happy Cup

Monday October 10, 2016

12th-grader Anthony Chiang 6d topped the Ninth Sunflower Happy Cup Youth Go Tournament, with all three wins, on Sep 26 in Cupertino, California. “Forty-three kids from 5 to 17 gathered together on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and played three to five rounds of 13×13 and 19×19 games,” reports Yanping Zhao, who co-organized the event with Wenguang Wang. Players earned prize tickets after each round, and then used them to exchange various fancy prizes. “It was our way to ensure a really fun experience for every kid,” reports Zhao. Each participant was also rewarded with a trophy and at the event’s conclusion, all the kids and their parents enjoyed a refreshing ice cream party. – Report by Wenguang Wang; photo by Yu Hsiu Chiou: A young contestant studies the board earnestly.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth