The Iwamoto North America Foundation for Go (INAF) has awarded its 2024 Lifetime
Achievement Award to Sam Zimmerman. Zimmerman, 92, has been a pivotal figure in the American Go Association (AGA) for decades, serving as Ratings Coordinator and Membership Database Manager. His dedication and behind-the-scenes efforts have significantly contributed to the success of many AGA initiatives.
Zimmerman discovered Go in the early 1960s, transitioning from an avid chess player to a passionate Go enthusiast. He and a colleague at Westinghouse taught themselves the game from a book. Later, Zimmerman became a key Go organizer in Baltimore, Maryland, directing the local Go club for many years. His involvement with the AGA began in the early 1970s after attending a Go tournament hosted by the Japanese Ambassador in Washington, DC. Zimmerman quickly became an active member of the AGA. In 1986, he took a pioneering step in creating a virtual Go community by releasing Tele-Tsuke, the first software that allowed Go to be played remotely on computers.
Zimmerman is well-remembered by many American Go players for his role in directing numerous tournaments and Go Congresses. He was the director of the main tournament at the first U.S. Go Congress and directed the 1997 U.S. Go Congress in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He also assisted directors of many other congresses. Keith Arnold, who collaborated with Zimmerman on various Go projects, praised his kindness and patience, noting that "No one contributed more to the success of U.S. Go Congresses than Sam."