American Go E-Journal

The Power Report: E-Journal to cover Globis Cup

Monday May 4, 2015

by John Power, Japan Correspondent for the E-Journal

Ejournal to cover Globis Cup: The Nihon Ki-in has invited the E-Journal to cover the 2nd Globis Cup, so I will be presenting detailed reports this week on this new international tournament for young players. Below is a preview.

The Globis Cup was founded last year. The official name is the Globis Cup World Igo U-20. It is organized by the Nihon Ki-in and the main sponsor is the Globis Corporation, with Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Kitami Hakka Tsusho Inc. acting as supporting sponsors. Globis is a venture-capital company that also provides educational services in business and management. The venue of the tournament is a university run by the company, the Graduate School of Management, Globis University. The co-sponsor Kitami Hakka Tsusho specializes in peppermint products of various kinds (food, cosmetics, etc.). It is based in the city of Kitami in northeastern Hokkaido. Details of the first tournament were given in my report in mid-May last year. To recap, it was a triumph for Japan, with Ichiriki Ryo 7P beating Kyo Kagen 2P, a Taiwanese member of the Nihon Ki-in, in the final. The top prizes are 3 million yen (nearly $30,000), 500,000 yen, and 200,000 yen. Participants this year have to be under 20 as of January 1, 2015. As the host country, Japan has six of the sixteen places.

Participants are listed below:
Japan: Ichiriki Ryo 7P (seeded), Yo Seiki 7P, Motoki Katsuya 3P, Fujimura Yosuke 2P, Sada Atsushi 2P, and Koyama Kuya 2P.
China: Yang Dingxin 3P, Guang Yunsong 3P, and Li Qincheng 2P.
Korea: Na Hyeon 6P, Yi Dong-hyun 5P, and Shin Jin-so 3P.
Chinese Taipei: Lin Junyan 6P
Europe: Pavol Lisy 1P
USA: Lionel Zhang 7D
Thailand: Krit Jamkachornkiat 7D

The tournament starts with a reception on May 7th, and is then played at the rate of two games a day from Friday to Sunday (May 8th to 10th). The format is NHK-style (30 seconds per move plus ten minutes thinking time, to be used in one-minute units; on TV this usually results in a 90-minute game). It’s a knock-out tournament, but the opening round is double elimination: the players are split into four groups; two wins take you to the next round, two losses see you
eliminated. In the early rounds, players from the same country won’t be paired against each other.

Players to watch: The favorites for Japan are Ichiriki and Yo, but the overall favorite is probably Na Hyeon, who has already been a presence in international tournaments for a couple of years.

Categories: Japan

AGF Offers Youth Scholarships to Congress

Monday May 4, 2015

The American Go Foundation (AGF) is offering $200 youth scholarships 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 US youth who are under 18. For more information, and to apply, click here. – Story and photo by Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo: Youth Adult Pair Go is one of the many activities in the Youth Room at Congress.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

Teacher of the Year Nominations Due May 15th

Monday May 4, 2015

There is still time to apply for the American Go Foundation’s Teacher of the Year award. Presented each year at the U.S. Go Congress, the award recognizes an outstanding American teacher. The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to the US Go 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 nominate someone for this award, including yourself, e-mail mail@agfgo.org. Nominations are due by May 15th 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: Go Cheerleaders, from Joshua Frye’s middle school in Florida. Frye was Teacher of the Year in 2009.

Categories: U.S./North America,Youth

Austin Hosts “‘May’ You Win” Tourney

Sunday May 3, 2015

On May 2nd, the Austin Go Club held it’s ” ‘May’ you win ” tournament. Sixteen players participated and were observed by Yi Kou, a former pro from China currently living in Austin, who provided post game discussions.

Two players shared top honors with 4-0 records. They were Banwan Lee 4k and Kelly Braun 9k). Four other players recording 3-1 records were Andy Olsen 3D, Lei Xu 3k, Nathan Hess 14k and Ray Heitmann 5k.

Awards included gift certificates from Great Hall Games, a local game store stocking a variety of go books and equipment and which hosts the Austin Go Club. Also, Clay Smith generously contributed several items including boards, stones and artwork that were awarded to the winning players.

Categories: U.S./North America

The Power Report: Otake awarded decoration; Yamashita reaches Gosei final

Sunday May 3, 2015

by John Power, Japan Correspondent for the E-Journal

Otake awarded decoration: The go world has been honored with the award of a decoration in the spring honors list to Otake Hideo 9P. The decoration is the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. (that’s the Wikipedia translation; the Japanese name is just five characters and reads kyokujitsu-chuu-jushou.) Otake is the 23rd go player to be honored (it’s actually his second decoration). His award, which is the sixth-highest, is the same one given to Takagawa Shukaku, Go Seigen, and Fujisawa Shuko. Besides winning 48 titles, including four Meijin titles and the Fujitsu Cup, Otake served as chairman of the board of directors of the Nihon Ki-in from December 2008 to June 2012. He is now a counselor to the Nihon Ki-in.

Yamashita reaches Gosei final: Although his recent Kisei challenge faltered at the final hurdle, Yamashita (left) is making his presence felt on the tournament scene this year. In the semifinal of the 40th Gosei tournament, held on April 30, Yamashita (W) beat Murakawa Daisuke Oza by resignation. His opponent in the play-off to decide the challenger to Iyama Yuta will be the winner of the semifinal between Kono Rin 9P and Shida Tatsuya 7P. If Yamashita becomes the challenger the start of the match might overlap his Honinbo title match with Iyama.

Correction: I jumped to a wrong conclusion about Iyama Yuta in the Judan article in my previous report. He never held the record for fastest to win a top-seven title. Before Ida’s six years, the record was held by Ryu Shikun 9P, who won the Tengen title after six years eight months as a pro. Yamashita is third, winning the Gosei after seven years four months, and Iyama (seven years six months) is fourth. Rounding out the top five is Ishida Yoshio, who won the Honinbo title after eight years two months.

Categories: Japan,John Power Report

Maryland Open Registration Opens

Sunday May 3, 2015

Online registration is now open for the 42nd Maryland Open, scheduled for May 23-24 in Catonsville, Maryland. One of the biggest East Coast tournaments, it will be held at “the same great location, the Catonsville Senior Center,” reports organizer Keith Arnold. Click here to register.
photo: at the 2012 Maryland Open; photo by John Pinkerton

Categories: U.S./North America

Jennie Shen Teaches All Ages in Portland, OR

Sunday May 3, 2015

Nearly two dozen players ranging in age from single digits to the 70’s attended Jennie Shen’s weekend workshop in Portland, OR the weekend of April 18-19, including four children, a high schooler, three college students, and Haskell Small all the way from Washington, DC. Small, who organized the first US Go Congress, was in town for the opening performance of one of his compositions in Portland. Thanks to Bill Corry, food, Glen Peters, equipment beast of burden, Peter Drake for hosting us at Lewis and Clark College, and most of all, Jennie Shen our excellent teacher and good friend.
– Peter Freedman

Categories: U.S./North America

Nominations Open For 2015 AGA Board Elections

Sunday May 3, 2015

The three American Go Association (AGA) regional Board of Director seats are up for election this year. The current terms of office expire this September. Nominations, including self-nominations may be made by full members for the region in which the member resides and must be received by June 15, 2015. Nominations and questions must be emailed to elections@usgo.org. Click here for complete election information and qualifications.

Categories: U.S./North America

Euro Go Congress Registration Tops 600

Sunday May 3, 2015

Registration has topped 600 for the European Go Congress, scheduled for July 25-August 8 in Liberec, Czech Republic. The Congress will be held at Babylon, a hotel and entertainment complex, consisting of 4-star hotel, large conference halls, 10 restaurants and bars, a famous aquapark and many other facilities; click here for a cool promo video and find out more about the 2-week event on Facebook.

Categories: Europe

Your Move/Readers Write: Speed Ratings; Next Generation

Sunday May 3, 2015

Speed Ratings: “I stopped by the Hopkins Go Tournament on April 17, and I checked my rating a few days later and found that the tournament had already been rated!” writes Keith Arnold. “I am not sure who to praise on the AGA end, but good job by the first time tournament organizers in getting their data in so quickly. Makes me wish I had played.” photo (left) by Ning-Yuan Ernest Wang

Next Generation: “Thanks for all the work you put in to publishing the E-Journal every day,” writes Steve Schmeiser. “I recently showed my son my goban and stones and he had a lot of fun placing the stones on the board and hearing them ‘thunk.’ He is also a great kibitzer! I thought the other members might enjoy this photo of the next generation of go players.”

Categories: Your Move: Readers Write