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

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June 23, 2003

In This Edition:
U.S. GO NEWS: Apologies X 3; Bob Mendenhall's Last Lesson
WORLD GO NEWS: Simon Shiu Wins Leicester Tourney; Kato & Cho Tied at 2-2 in Honinbo; Redmond Notches 1st Win In LG Cup YOUR MOVE: Grain Up or Grain Down? GO REVIEW: Tesuji, Elementary Go Series Vol. 3 GAME COMMENTARY: Kitani's Two Best Boys GO CLASSIFIED
SCOREBOARD: Chicago, IL
CALENDAR OF EVENTS


U.S. GO NEWS

APOLOGIES X 3: We really, really, really apologize for unintentionally sending three copies of last week's E-Journal, due to a technical snafu beyond our control. Our IT experts assure us that the problem has been solved and we do not anticipate recurrences. Thanks very much for your patience and understanding.

BOB MENDENHALL'S LAST LESSON
By Paul Barchilon

Bob Mendenhall died on Saturday, June 14. He was my teacher, he was my opponent and he was my friend. Bob, who succumbed after a six month battle with cancer, is survived by his wife and two young children. Bob had a more than thirty-year love affair with go and before he died he revolutionized our go club. I can think of no more fitting memorial for him than to share his story with the larger go community in the hopes of inspiring them to action.

When I first came to the Boulder Go Club in Colorado, I hadn't played in over 12 years and I was very nervous. The club was small and comprised entirely of dan-level players and just a few high-kyu players. Everyone there gave me nine stones to begin with. As anyone who has tried to learn go knows it can be extremely daunting to learn in such a challenging environment. As a result the club had stayed small and insular for over 25 years. I was one of the few who persevered and became a regular member. I remember the first time Bob talked to me. I had been coming for a couple of months and I guess he figured he should find out about me. Quite suddenly, at the end of a game with another player, Bob turned to me and said, 'Ira tells me I have to play you" (Ira was another dan player in our club). This was the first of what would be many games, and eventually Bob sort of took me on as his informal pupil. He was endlessly creative and would do fun things like letting me ! have fewer handicap stones but agreeing to answer any question I asked. He would still usually win though, as I found I had to ask the right questions.

Bob had so much fun teaching me that he decided to start a go study group for new players. He would talk to any new players right off the bat and get their e-mail address. One of our students laughingly referred to the group as "Go!Bob!Go!" and the name stuck. Over the next couple of years the group met biweekly or monthly and came to include over fifty players. We went over game records and played "team go", where all the people on a team openly discussed what they thought were the best moves. Bob was always there to tell us if we were completely off-base or that so-and-so had the right idea. Bob always said that it was the quality of the discussion itself that was the most influential on our growth. A great number of the new players stuck with the game because they had other people close to their level to play with and instruction and support from a 3-dan with a brilliant mind. Our small go club of about 12 regular players blossomed into a much larger group and at ! times we have had over thirty people playing at once, with many more coming occasionally.

When Bob learned he had cancer he didn't know how long he would have, but he knew he wanted to keep the club going. Although we met less frequently, Bob continued to hold sessions even as he was undergoing chemotherapy. He became too weak to go to go club, but I would come over to his house and he would play me or go over my game records if he wasn't up to playing. We kept adjusting the handicap to try to compensate for his level of impairment but somehow, as usual, he almost always won. Just two weeks before he died he decided to throw an impromptu Go!Bob!Go! session and pancake breakfast at his house. After an initial round of activities he said he needed a little break and went to take a nap. After he didn't come back for a while we all decided to let him know that it was OK and we would be going. He surprised us all by rallying and ended up playing a three-way simultaneous game against teams of players. I think he won two out of three of them.

I introduced Hikaru no Go to Bob and his kids and they all became addicts. After he died, his nine year old daughter Caitlin told me that she wants to reach shodan. I told her I would come to play with her and her younger brother and that when she grew up she would be able to find Bob in her games just like Hikaru found Sai in his. We have some of Bob's game records in his Palm Pilot and I look forward to being able to share them with the kids when they are at the right level.

Here is what I take from Bob's last lesson: none of us know how long we have to be here. The future of go rests with all the new players out there, so all of you dan players, welcome new players and start a study group for them. Share your knowledge and love of go and it will spread very far indeed. Set aside June 14th as a go holiday and throw a go party for Bob. Reach out to new players and always remember how much one person can achieve.

WORLD GO NEWS

SIMON SHIU WINS LEICESTER TOURNEY: Fifty eight players entered the Leicester Tournament on June 14th, plus eight children from Aston School and Loughborough Grammar School who played in a 13x13 beginners tournament in which first prize went to Vishal Dhuta with 8 wins while Ben Horsley and Simon Hiou tied for second with 6. In the main tournament Simon Shiu (4 dan Bristol) was again the tournament winner, having won in 2001 and being squeezed out in a tie-break last year. Winning all 3 of their games were also Gerry Mills (1 dan Monmouth), Clive Wright (1 dan Nottingham), Mike Lynn (2 kyu Leamington), Alec Edgington (5 kyu Wanstead), Mike Pickles (6 kyu York), Andy Price (15 kyu Leamington), Thomas Hawley (18 kyu Nottingham), Duncan Forsyth (21 kyu Unattached) and Richard Meddings (25 kyu Aston). In the continuous 13x13 handicap, prizes went to Nayan Dhutia (most wins with 8) and Alex Beman (most games with 10). [from BGA News by Tony Atkins]

KATO & CHO TIED AT 2-2 IN HONINBO: After Kato Kensei (Masao) Honinbo defeated Cho U 8 dan in the third game of the Honinbo Title Match in Japan to take a 2-1 lead in the best of seven contest, he lost the fourth game in this best of seven title match with Cho U 8 dan, bringing the score to a 2-2 tie. Kato won the third round with Black by resignation in this battle of the generations (Kato is more than 30 years older than Cho, who is still in his twenties). Black has won all four games in the match by resignation. You can see the game records at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716586&u=http://www.mainichi.co.jp/life/hobby/igo03/03/index.html&g=0&f=84716594
http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716587&u=http://www.mainichi.co.jp/life/hobby/igo03/04/index.html&g=0&f=84716594

REDMOND NOTCHES 1ST WIN IN LG CUP: Michael Redmond 9 dan, representing North America, won his first game in the LG Cup, against O Meien 9 dan of Japan, but lost in the second round to Won Seongjin 5 dan of Korea. Alexandre Dinerchtein 1 dan, representing Europe, also won his first round game against an established Japanese pro, O Rissei 9 dan. Dinerchtein followed Redmond in losing to a Korean in the second round, Cho Hanseung 5 dan. The quarter finals will have six Korean and two Chinese players. You can download the games at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716585&u=http://www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp/momoyama/news/5lg/8lg.html&g=0&f=84716594 .

YOUR MOVE: Grain Up or Grain Down?

"I just recently got some moon grade clam go stones from Japan," writes Michael Quintero. "We are studiously placing them on the board with the faint lines up. After all, we're big-time go players now. Then I read about Otake turning over Shusai's white stones so the lines face downward in Yasunari Kawabata's novel, 'The Master of Go' So, inquiring minds want to know, is that how it is, lines down, pure white "face" up or does it matter?"

GO REVIEW: Tesuji, Elementary Go Series Vol. 3
by James Davies,
Published by Kiseido
Reviewed by Lawrence Ku, 11k

One of the Kiseido's "Elementary Go" series, "Tesuji" is divided into 16 chapters, each consisting of several sections focusing on one tesuji or technique. At the end of each section, there are several questions to answer and at the end of each chapter there are review questions on the whole. The final chapter poses a series of challenging problems, all with answers and some with more than one variation. The book is very easy to follow, with clear diagrams covering more than 50 tesuji. While some are fairly easy, some are very challenging. I read this book when I was 14k, and there are chapters where I can answer all of their questions, but there are a few chapters where I only can answer half of the questions. "Tesuji" will improve your strength by at least one to two stones if you are a low or middle kyu player, although players of all strengths will benefit from reading it.
Available at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716584&u=http://www.kiseido.com/&g=0&f=84716594

GAME COMMENTARY: Kitani's Two Best Boys

What makes this 1964 game between two anonymous go players noteworthy is the fact that the commentary is by the famous Kitani Minoru 9P, who retired from active competition in 1964 because of ill health. Unfortunately, we know nothing of the circumstances surrounding the game, except that Go Review, where the game was originally published in April, 1964, says, rather mysteriously, that it was a competition for first place between "two best boys".

Today's bonus problem file is a connection problem by Iwamoto Kaoru 9P, originally published in Go Review XII, 12 (December 1972).

THE BEST DEAL IN GO: 52 weeks of up-to-date go news, reviews, original columns PLUS game commentaries and problems for just $20 a year! Sign up today for the Games Edition at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716589&u=http://www.usgo.org/org/application.asp&g=0&f=84716594 and start receiving your game files next week!


GO CLASSIFIED

FOR SALE: Very high quality old go board: check out photos at http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716581&u=http://mycgiserver.com/~suyuri/&g=0&f=84716594
Redmaxima@aol.com (6/16)

WANTED: Gifted, dedicated volunteers to help with exciting, ground-breaking html E-Journal project. (6/9) Chris Garlock, journal@usgo.org

WANTED: Will trade go lessons for English lessons; Philadelphia (36th & Powelton Ave): Dayong Yu, yuxiao1970@hotmail.com (6/2)

WANTED: Copy of "All about Thickness" by Ishida Yoshio and "The Power of the Star-Point" by Takagawa Shukaku in any condition.
weiqi@earthlink.net (posted 5/19)

WANTED: Students, 30k - 2d. IGS 5d offers online lessons.
http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716582&u=http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/icarii&g=0&f=84716594 (posted 5/19)

WANTED: Plans for building go boards. BardKile@cs.com
P Kile (posted 5/12)


GO PLAYERS

BAYTOWN, TX: Looking for people in the area to start up a go club in the Houston Bay Area, since the Houston Club is a little too far away. Please email Carey at gilgamesh@binary-fusion.com if you are interested.

LAS VEGAS, NV: Trying to drum up club interest here: contact Ray Kukol at rkukol@lvcm.com (6/16)

NANTUCKET, MA. Eager 9-kyu who will be on Nantucket all summer is looking for other eager players who might be there for a few face-to-face games. Please contact Andy at aokun@glowwormpub.com (6/2)

IOWA: I am a go player stuck in Ames, Iowa with apparently no other go players. Anyone out there want to play? Email: Kirk Moloney at kmoloney@mchsi.com (6/2)

ALABAMA: amateur Go player looking for someone to play with locally in the Birmingham area. Email Ro at lasro@earthlink.net (6/2)

ALASKA: I have known about go for over 20 years but playing just the last four and am looking for players in Alaska, particularly the Anchorage area. Ed Sawyer, eddieballgame@yahoo.com (posted 5/12)

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 journal@usgo.org


SCOREBOARD: Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL
June 14, 2003
One Nation Under Go
43 players
Organizer/Director: Bob Barber

1st Place Low Kyu (3 way tie): PRATT, Jeffrey, 4k; MASON, Sean, 5k; ZHOU, William, 8k 1st Place Mid Kyu (2 way tie): URSO, Chris, 19k; ZHAN, Shawn, 19k; 2nd Place Mid Kyu: ROHDE, David, 16k 1st Place High Kyu: WANG, Ryan, 25k


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 26-29: Hackensack, NJ
2003 NJ Yang 7p Go Workshop
John Stephenson 203-396-7808 jcs@wingsgoclub.org

June 28: Richmond, VA
VA Open
William Cobb 800-653-7640 wmscobb@attbi.com

June 28: Austin, TX
Pre Congress Ratings Rally
Jeff Shaevel jeff@shaevel.com 512-733-0027

July 5-6: Orlando, FL
1st Annual Florida State Go Championships
Brian J. Olive 407-595-8405 oliveb@ocps.k12.fl.us

July 12: Shaker Heights, OH
4 Round AGA Rated Tournament
Harold Lloyd 216-382-0752 hlloyd@core.com

July 12,19,26: Piscataway NJ
AGA rated games
GoLesson@yahoo.com

July 13: Boston, MA
MGA Summer Handicap Tournament
(Skip Ascheim Memorial)
Don Wiener 617-734-6316 donwiener@earthlink.net

July 19/20: San Francisco, CA
Northern California Open Tournament
Danny Swarzman 415-221-7194 ncal@stowlake.com

July 19: Arlington, VA
NOVA Congress Tune-Up
Allan Abramson 703-684-7676 mediate8@worldnet.att.net

July 19-August 2: St. Petersburg, Russia
47th European Go Congress
egc2003@mail.wplus.net

August 2-10: Houston, TX
U.S. GO CONGRESS http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716583&u=http://www.houstongoclub.org/USGC2003/intro.html&g=0&f=84716594


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 http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716591&u=http://www.usgo.org/usa/tournaments.html&g=0&f=84716594
For the European Go Calendar see http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716592&u=http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/go/tourn.html&g=0&f=84716594

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GET YOUR TOURNAMENT RATED! Send your tournament data to MAILTO:ratings@usgo.org

AGA CONTACT LIST:
For a full list of AGA officers, contacts & their email addresses, go
to: http://gm14.com/r.html?c=211300&r=210879&t=88498618&l=1&d=84716590&u=http://www.usgo.org/org/index.asp#contactinfo&g=0&f=84716594

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.

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