Hi guys! This is the first time ever we write about the American Go Association. Let`s see what are the news from the USA and the region. Enjoy!
Josh Lee 5D Wins NOVA Chinese New Year Tournament
Josh Lee 5D (at right in photo) went 3-1 to help usher in the Year of the Dragon at the February 11 NOVA Chinese New Year Tournament, an annual event organized by the Northern Virginia (NOVA) Go Club. Tied for second and also 3-1 were Yuan Zhou 7D and Hsien-Ho Chang 7D. The 1 to 3 dan section was won by Hongchun Liu 2D (3-1) with second place going to Haskell Small 3D (2-2). Pascal Platteborse 1K (3-0) won the 1 kyu section followed by Weiyu Yang 1K and Willis Huang 1K, each with 2-2 records. In the 2 to 3 kyu section Kevin Chin 1K had a perfect 4-0 while seconds went to Yukino Takehara 2k and Jerry Chen 2k at 2-2. Dan Hiltgen 5k (3-1) topped the 5 kyu section with second going to Mike Lash 5k (2-2). 6 to 7 kyu was won by Joey Phoon 6k (4-0) with Ed Caldeira 7k (3-1) in second. In 8 to 9 kyu Mohan Sud 9k was undefeated at 4-0 with Julian Erville 8k (3-1) placing second. Alan Chen 11k (3-1) was first in 10 to 12 kyu followed by Jackson Hergenrather 12k (1-3). Anderson Barreal 13k (4-0) and Emily Hjulstrom 14k (3-1) took the top spots in 13 to 20 kyu. 20 kyu and higher went to Julian Li 22k (4-0) and Benjamin Lin 32k (3-1) with a Special Valor award going to Eugene Yuan 35k, playing in his first tournament. There was also a fun lightning tourney where firsts went to Timothy Koh and Justin Wang. "A special thanks goes to Dr James Whang, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US, and GEICO for their support in making this a great event,” reports Gurujeet Khalsa.
Malcolm and Fang Lead Dan Division at Bay Area Go Monthly
 [size=10]Twenty one kids and adults came out February 11 to play face-to-face go at the Bay Area Go monthly ratings tournament held at the home of the Palo Alto Go Club in Menlo Park, CA. Players ranged in strength from 20 kyu to 5 dan, and five players either joined or renewed their AGA membership in order to play in this tournament. In the dan division, Richard Malcolm 3d and Yue Fang 1d went undefeated with two wins apiece. In the kyu division, Bryan Tan 13k, Cieran Fitzgerald 19k, and Ben-Ami Lipkind 20k each won four games. Next month’s Bay Area Go monthly ratings tournament is set for Sunday, March 11, at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in downtown Oakland, CA. Photo by Lisa Schrag.
Over 50 players — including a professional — have already registered for the upcoming Young Kwon National Online Tournament (YKNOT). Registration is open until Friday February 24 for the second YKNOT, sponsored by Young Kwon. All AGA members who have lived in the US for six of the last 12 months and all AGA life members regardless of where they live are eligible to register; there’s no citizenship or permanent residency requirement, and even those who have just joined the AGA are eligible. Click here for the tournament schedule and rules. There will be prizes in every division, totaling nearly $3,000, and the open section will be scored as a North American Ing Masters qualifier. Registration closes this Friday, February 24; click here for free registration.
Registration for the 2012 U.S. Go Congress — August 4-11 in Black Mountain, North Carolina — is now open. "If you loved the 2006 Go Congress in Black Mountain, you are not alone,” says Congress Co-Directors Peter Armenia and Paul Celmer. "It was rated one of the best events in the entire history of the Go Congress, and our team of new and returning volunteers has worked hard to make 2012 even better.” In addition to the usual; cornucopia of go playing and professional instruction, the 2012 Congress features modest costs — with accommodations for all styles and budgets — a serene and scenic mountain setting, boutique arts and crafts shops in Black Mountain, nationally known brew pubs and a vibrant music and arts scene in nearby historic Asheville. Special Congress events like the "Fuseki Challenge” and the return of the legendary "Mountaintop Go” are also bound to be popular, as well as a variety of day off activities such as the Biltmore house and winery, whitewater rafting, brew pubs, zip lines, and Asheville city tours. This year’s Congress will also host the first-ever North American Go Symposium where academics and others will present studies on the literary, historical, mathematical, and cultural aspects of the game. "Registration costs will increase as the Congress date nears,” Armenia and Celmer warn, "so sign up early to ensure the accommodation style you desire.” Organizers are "working hard on making this Congress affordable and enjoyable,” the Co-Directors add. "Looking forward to seeing you on the mountain!” |
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