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AMERICAN GO E-JOURNAL: News from the American Go Association

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May 6, 2003

In This Edition:

U.S. GO NEWS: Membership Up Again; Ratings Updated; SmartGo 1.2 Released; Latest MasterGo Release; No More Hikaru No Go?
WORLD GO NEWS: Sars Impacts Pro Go; O Rissei Holds Judan Title; London International Teams Tournament; British Challenger Determined; Toyota-Pandanet European Go Tour Final Standings; Healthy Go GAME COMMENTARY: Don't Try This at Home! YOUR MOVE: Readers Write
THE GO PLAYER'S GUIDE TO SEATTLE
GO CLASSIFIED
SCOREBOARD: Corvallis, OR; Denver, CO; Houston, TX
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

U.S. GO NEWS

MEMBERSHIP UP AGAIN: Setting two new records, for the eleventh straight month membership in the American Go Association continued to climb in April, reaching 1,721 members. At this rate, membership may well hit 2,000 by year's end. The number of AGA chapters also increased, to 95 in April.

RATINGS UPDATED: Updated ratings for tournaments reported through 4/30 are posted at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654514&u=http://www.usgo.org/ratings.asp&g=0&f=84654517
The following tournaments were included in this update:
- Phil Straus' Philadelphia Tournament, PA, March 2003
- Tacoma/UPS Spring Tournament, WA, March 2003
- San Francisco Spring Tournament, CA, April 2003
- UMD Spring Tournament, MD, April 2003
- Hoboken Club Tournament, NJ, March-April 2003
- George Sporzynski Memorial, Middlebury, VT, April 2003 Tournament data for rating should be submitted by e-mail to ratings@usgo.org

SMARTGO 1.2 RELEASED: The latest version of Anders Kierulf's SmartGo software includes a number of improvements, including stronger computer play, a new problem-solving mode, and advanced settings allowing you to fine-tune diagram output. The new problem-solving mode enables you to study collections of problems, such as those available on goproblems.com, as well as having SmartGo play the opponent's moves while you're studying professional games or joseki. In another improvement, computer analysis subtly highlights unsettled groups that depend on ko. SmartGo:Player is still $59, SmartGo:Board is $29. All 1.x upgrades are free to registered users. See http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654511&u=http://www.smartgo.com&g=0&f=84654517 for more information.

LATEST MASTERGO RELEASE: The April release of MasterGo software includes 19,098 professional games. The new demo version has 1,273 games. Also now available is a brand-new MasterGo video/training series. The twelve lessons are designed to introduce MasterGo to non-users and help current users get more out of the software. Available now at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654509&u=http://www.MasterGo.com&g=0&f=84654517

NO MORE HIKARU NO GO? "It seems as if the magic is coming to an end," reports Philip Waldron, passing along this newsflash from toriyamaworld.com: "Hikaru no Go ended its long run in Weekly Jump in the latest issue with chapter 189. The abrupt end was disappointing and has caused many fans to go into an angry frenzy. There is mention of a Hotta-Obata one-shot planned for summer but nothing is known about that as of yet. HikaGo will surely be missed to those that look forward to the latest chapter every week in the pages of Jump. It's pretty much impossible to top Hikaru no Go, but we'll continue bringing great new series to you here at Toriyama's World both after we've finished up Hikaru no Go and beforehand. Keep watching this spot." Stay tuned, HNG fans!


WORLD GO NEWS

SARS IMPACTS PRO GO: The SARS epidemic is having a serious impact on international tournaments. The quarterfinals of the Fujitsu Cup, which were scheduled for Beijing on June 7th, have been switched to Tokyo (which lets the Chinese avoid the embarrassment of hosting a round from which all their players have been eliminated). The Japan-China Tengen/Tianguyan play-off, scheduled for late May in Shanghai, has been cancelled. The 15th TV Asia Cup, scheduled for early May in Seoul, has been cancelled this year and the opening rounds of the 8th LG Cup, scheduled for May 20th and 22nd in Seoul, have been postponed. At least the World Amateur Go Championship is still on track for June 8th to 12th in Kurashiki, Japan. Let's keep our fingers crossed! [from John Power's column on the Nihon Kiin's home page]

O RISSEI HOLDS JUDAN TITLE: Although he recently lost his Kisei title to a member of the up-and-coming generation who is twenty years younger than O (Yamashita Keigo 7P), O Rissei 9P managed to hold on the Judan title by winning the fifth game in the match against Takao Shinji 8P, who is twenty-two years younger than O. Black won every game in the five game series.

LONDON INTERNATIONAL TEAMS TOURNAMENT: Four teams competed in the annual match at the Nippon Club in London. An Oriental team with players from five different countries defeated the three British teams by winning eleven games. The London and Reading teams won ten each, and Wanstead won five. Winning all three of their games were Quentin Mills, Stuart Barthropp, Geoff Kaniuk, Young Kim, and the young prodigy Li Shen.

BRITISH CHALLENGER DETERMINED: Matthew Cocke will challenge Matthew Macfayden for the British Championship. These same two played for this title last year with Macfayden winning by 3-0. Des Cann came in second in the Challenger's Tournament, and David Ward was third.

TOYOTA-PANDANET EUROPEAN GO TOUR FINAL STANDINGS: The overall winner for 2002-2003 was Radek Nechanickyof the Czech Republic with 113.73 points. Guo Juan of the Netherlands was second with 104 points, and Marco Firnhaber from Denmark was third with 94.04. Fourth and fifth were Vladimir Danek of the Czech Republic and Fan Hui from China. This tour consists of twelve tournaments around Europe in which players can earn points.

HEALTHY GO: Want to play go? Got fruit? In a recent column in the Daily Yomiuri Online, Rob van Ziejst reports that "The Nihon Kiin, Japan's national go organization, publishes a weekly newspaper called Shukan Go (Weekly Go), which usually carries a recent title game on its front cover and another game of interest on the back. In the newspaper, there are feature articles, news about important title games, statistics such as the average scores of top players, a variety of games that have appeared on TV and problems meant for players of different rank. This week, however, one article stood out. It was about the 2nd Fuji Cup Igo Meet held on Oct. 29 in Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture. Three hundred children and their teachers from 20 facilities, including kindergartens and day?care centers across the country, attended the event. The great surprise this year was not just the large turnout but the appearance and actual participation of the Emperor and Empress. This meeting was again le! d by Yasutoshi Yasuda (9P at the Nihon Kiin), who has been aggressively leading a movement to spread go among children by teaching them through unconventional methods. For this event, a giant go board with huge melons and mandarins made out of paper was used instead of stones. As soon a stone (melon or mandarin) had only one liberty left (and was in atari), a doctor and nurse would come to check its condition. When a stone was left without liberties, the doctor would pronounce it dead and it was carried off the board. This dramatized interpretation made for excellent viewing. Thanks to Anton Ninno for alerting us to Rob's column, which you can check out at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654515&u=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/igo_e/153.htm&g=0&f=84654517


GAME COMMENTARY: Don't Try This at Home!

Today's commented game is from the Korean KAT Cup, which is a contest between twelve teams of five players each. Black is Yi Se'tol (Lee Sedol) 6P. White is Hong Jansik 4P. The game, played on April 23, has received a lot of attention because Yi plays out a ladder that does not work and uses that ploy to win the game! Commentary is by Alexandre Dinerchtein and taken with permission from his commented game subscription service at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654507&u=HTTP://www.go4go.net&g=0&f=84654517

We're also pleased to offer three more challenging life and death problem files from tsume-go master Yilun Yang, as well as a special bonus this week, the famous 1945 Hiroshima game between Hashimoto Utaro, 7P and Iwamoto Kaoru, 7P (see Go Players Guide to Seattle, below, for more details).

Weekly game commentaries, original life and death problems, bonus games...it can all be yours! Get the Games Edition with attached game files for just $20 a year! Sign up today at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654512&u=http://www.usgo.org/org/application.asp&g=0&f=84654517 and start receiving your game files next week!


YOUR MOVE: Readers Write

DON'T FORGET GO WORLD "With the wonderful commentaries in the E-Journal, as well as the other websites that provide go information, remember to check out that old print stalwart, Go World Magazine," suggests Keith Arnold. "The current issue (#96) contains two terrific games by up and comer Yi Se Dol, and a splendid commentary on the Judan Title match between Takemiya Masaki and O Rissei. Playing out games on the computer is nice and easy, but there is something special about reading a game commentary and placing the stones on the board one by one."

THE GO PLAYER'S GUIDE TO SEATTLE
by Chris Garlock

The Seattle Go Center is one of just three full-time go clubs in the United States (the others are in San Francisco and New York City). On a recent Tuesday night, the Center buzzed with activity as the excited chatter of beginners swirled around oblivious stronger players immersed in the interplay of black and white stones.

Go master Kaoru Iwamoto founded go centers in Seattle and New York as part of his effort to promote peace. Iwamoto was playing a championship game just outside Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. The game, which was completed after the players set up the board again, is one of the most famous in go history, and is recreated on a huge board on the outside of the Seattle Go Center, which was founded in 1995. (the complete game is attached to this week's E-Journal)

Iwamoto would certainly be heartened to see the way his Center has brought together people from around the world as Koreans, Japanese and Chinese mix easily with westerners. And in a sign of the times, female players are very much in evidence, as well as youngsters. In fact, in a go club first for this reporter, I was astonished to hear the chortle of a baby amid the clatter of stones. The player, fortunately, was the mother, not the tyke, who I'm sure we'll be seeing on the board soon enough.

The Center maintains a busy schedule year-round. In addition to monthly ratings tournaments (except for August, when they break for the Go Congress), there's a Cherry Blossom tournament in April, a pre Go Congress Tournament, Anniversary Tournament in September and a Mid-Winter Tournament. In addition, they bring up Yilun Yang for a popular workshop every year. The Nihon Kiin sends professionals to the Anniversary Tournament, and the Center hosts special events with them.

Tuesday night is Beginner's Night and attendance is usually over twenty, sometimes hitting thirty. Manager Jon Boley arranges lessons and games. "Several families have started coming in on Tuesday nights," says Boley, "contributing to a real community feel. Sometimes there's more political talk than go talk going on." Thursdays many of the local Japanese players turn out, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are also busy, with more than 20 players a night. Saturday nights Boley, a newly-minted 6 dan, plays simuls, followed bya lesson given by volunteer Rick Hubbell (check rating). Boley gives a lesson on Sunday night that is usually well-attended.

Members of the Center recently met to elect directors and Boley's outreach to schools is paying off with recent increases in attendance by youngsters. "Seven kids show up for the Sunday lesson, ranging from 7 to 20 kyu. My objective is to help them to shodan." Boley and Center volunteers regularly put on presentations for area schools, and have helped set up go clubs in half a dozen area schools. On a recent Wednesday afternoon at the club, I knew that school had let out when a gaggle of students dumped their backbacks on the floor and spent the next couple of hours hanging out at the club.

Special thanks to the entire Kirschner clan for their endless hospitality and good cheer. Find out more about the Seattle Go Center at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654510&u=http://www.seattlegocenter.org/&g=0&f=84654517
700 NE 45 St., Seattle, WA 98105; 206-545-1424. Hours: Closed Monday; Tues-Fri 3-11P; Sat-Sun 1-11P. NO SMOKING.

Visited a cool go club recently? Tell us all about it! We welcome contributions to the "Go Player's Guide" series. Query us first at journal@usgo.org


GO CLASSIFIED

GO PLAYERS

COLORADO: The Springs Go Club is looking for Go players in the Colorado Springs, Colorado area. All strengths welcome. (Currently we have players from about 20k to 3 dan.) Contact Jim Michali jmichali@adelphia.net or Tom Obenchain tobenchain@pcisys.net (posted 4/28)

FLORIDA: "I have suddenly come across go and would love to get started," writes Harold. "I'm hoping someone out there would love a student now residing in Port St Lucie, FL; the brain needs a work out." Harrlin@juno.com or call 772-466-1212. (posted 4/7)


GERMANY: New American player living near Kaiserslautern, Germany looking for players. email myndreach98@hotmail.com (posted 4/28)

KENTUCKY: Players in central Kentucky: Frankfort near Lexington and Louisville.
wlmacintire@msn.com (posted 4/28)

MAINE: New go player; IGo computer version not enough,. Would like to find a Maine player (Greater Augusta area) to play/learn from. Email Bill at wchellis@gwi.net (posted 5/6)

MISSOURI: "A friend and I are starting a new club in St. Louis City (there's already a good one in the suburbs but we're trying to get one closer to home)," writes Chris Cyr. "While we've got plenty of interest from beginners, we'd like to reach some experienced players too."
chris@chriscyr.com (posted 4/7)

OHIO: players in the Toledo (Ohio) area. Contact David43515@hotmail.com (posted 4/28)

FOR SALE: Must give up go for health reasons; huge lot of go books (50+) and equipment at bargain prices! Email ken schatten at schatten@alum.mit.edu for a complete list. (posted 5/6)

WANTED: Copy of "First Kyu" by Sung?Hwa Hong. Any condition. Will pay $25 plus shipping. Write Jonathan at glass@ctconnect.com or call 203-256-8162. (posted 4/28)

FOR SALE: Giant Go sets. Perfect for public, club, exhibition play. Measure 10 by 10, 14 by 14 and 20 by 20 feet. For more information contact Dr. Steven Cottingham at stevenc@onoacademy.co.uk or toll free at 888-838-1982 (posted 4/28)

WANTED: Information about the existence and location of giant go sets (NOT looking to buy or build; no queries please!), like the one in Milan, Italy, as seen in "Go Promotion in Piazza Duomo" Milano, 7th May 2000:


Got Go stuff to sell, swap or want to buy? Do it here and reach more than 5,000 Go players worldwide every week at Go Classified! Send to us at

SCOREBOARD: Corvallis, OR; Denver, CO; Houston, TX

Corvallis, OR: Corvallis Spring Go Tournament
May 3
41 players, including 17 youth players.
AGA-rated event, with generous foundmatching by the Ing Foundation. The strongest players were Mr. Byung Su Jun, 6D+, from Portland, and Mr. Peter Yam, 4D, from Eugene. The strongest youth players were Bryant Brownell, 2 kyu, age 17, Landon Brownell, 3 kyu, age 13, and Jang Won Bae, 6 kyu, age 12, all with the Corvallis Go Club. There were also many new players entered in the 25 kyu to 27 kyu range. Several players went 3-0: Hua Yao, 2D, Corvallis; Ed Wahl, 5K, Corvallis; Justin Bazzano, 11K, Corvallis; Benjamin Tilford, 15K, Portland; Caleb Davis, 20K, Corvallis (youth); Sebastian Zwicknagel, 25K, Eugene; Dylan Gordon, 27K, Salem (youth); and Xiaoyu Shi, 27K, Corvallis (youth). With the new AGA members resulting from this tournament, the Corvallis Go Club now has the largest AGA membership of any Go club in Oregon (26 current AGA members). What is different about this number is that 14 of the members are 18 or younger (youth members). A total of 17 new AGA memberships! were obtained as a result of this tournament (ten were players from outside of Corvallis).

Denver, CO
May 3
20 players
TD: Eric Kim
Open section: 1st: Jung Hoon Lee; 2nd: Joseph Kim
Low dan: 1st: David Weiss; 2nd: Lary Leeper
Kyu section: Three-way tie after 3rd tie breaker and all declared as winners of section: David Johnson, David Munhofer, and James Michali.

Houston, TX
Houston Spring Go Tournament
April 26
University of Houston
TD: George Wang
Attendees: 33
Section I: 1st, WANG, George, 4D, 3/1; 2nd, HUDNALL, Christopher, 1D, 3/1; 3rd, RODMAN, John Paul, 4K, 3/1 Section II: 1st, RHODES, Kris, 14K, 4/0; 2nd, HOLDEN, William F., 8K, 4/0; 3rd, VU, David 23K, 3/1; Section III: 1st, VU, Christopher, 24K, 4/0; 2nd, WANG, Frank 29K, 4/0; 3rd, ROUEN, Michael, 30K, 4/0 Youth Winners: JHIN, Jackson, 38K, Age 8; SUN, Stanley, 29K, Age 7


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 10: Arlington, VA
May Madness Self Paired
Allan Abramson 703-684-7676 mediate8@worldnet.att.net

May 10: Dearborn, MI
Spring Go tournament
Danny Walters dtwalter@umd.umich.edu

May 10?11: Rochester, NY
Empty Sky Spring Tournament
Gregory L Lefler 585-442-1428 glacticjoke@hotmail.com www.rit.edu/~mtskywww/tournament.html

May 23-26: Round Top, NY
Memorial Day workshop with Guo Juan
Jean-Claude Chetrit 718-638-2266 zorglub@brooklyngoclub.org http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654508&u=http://brooklyngoclub.org/generic_club/cgi-bin/disp_topic.iphtml%3f&g=0&f=84654517
topic_id=117

May 24-25: Baltimore, MD
30th MARYLAND OPEN
Keith L. Arnold 410-788-3520 hlime@earthlink.net

June 6: Bethesda, MD
Lessons with Yuan Zhou at GWGC
Haskell Small 202-244-4764 haskellsmall@starpower.net

NOTE: this listing is not all?inclusive, featuring only upcoming tournaments in the next month or events which require early registration. For a complete U.S. listings, go to

For the European Go Calendar see


GET LISTED & BOOST TURN-OUT! Got an upcoming event? Reach over 5,000 readers every week! List your Go event/news In the E-Journal: email details to us at MAILTO:journal@usgo.org
Ratings are on the web! Check the website; for the
full list.

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AGA CONTACT LIST:
For a full list of AGA officers, contacts & their email addresses, go
to: http://gm14.com/r.html?c=198671&r=198255&t=88498618&l=1&d=84654513&u=http://www.usgo.org/org/index.asp#contactinfo&g=0&f=84654517


Published by the American Go Association
Text material published in " AMERICAN GO E-JOURNAL" may be reproduced by any recipient: please credit the AGEJ as the source. PLEASE NOTE that attached files, including game records, MAY NOT BE published, re-distributed, or made available on the web without the explicit written permission of the Editor of the Journal.

To make name or address corrections, notify us at the email address below. Story suggestions, event announcements, Letters to the Editor and other material are welcome, subject to editing for clarity and space, and should be directed to:
Editor: Chris Garlock
email: journal@usgo.org

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