News / Articles

2005 US FUJITSU SET FOR JANUARY: Plans for the 2005 U.S. Fujitsu are beginning to firm up, reports organizer Joe Carl.The invitation-only event for top players will be held online on either IGSor KGS on January 22, 23, 29, 30 at 1P EST. =93Participants are still to be determined,=94 says Carl, who says more details will be coming soon. =93A Youth Tournament will be held online as well,=94 says Carl, who adds that a tournament open to all =93will be held in Columbus in January with cash prizes to all divisions, and $500 to the top player.=94 Stay tuned for more details.

GUO JUAN WORKSHOP ALMOST FULL: There are just two openings left in the January 14-16 Go Workshop with Guo Juan Pro 5-Dan, reports organizer Bill Saltman. =93We=92re looking for two players from 5k to 5d,=94 says Saltman. The workshop will be held in Belchertown, Massaschusetts and costs $375. For info, contact: billsaltman@charter.net

INVESTING IN GO=92S FUTURE: =93A contribution to the American Go Foundationis a great investment in the future of American go,=94 says David Weimer, longtime AGF supporter and go player. With the AGF year-end fund drive underway, Terry Benson reports that =93Last year more than 100 donors contributed over $13,000 to support the game but the Foundation spent $15,500 on equipment, for Youth Go Camp scholarships and teacher expenses.=94 The AGF alsounderwrote the cost of equipment, travel and lodging for a group of volunteer players to travel and teach go at the Math Olympiad Summer Program at University of Nebraska, and recent orders include $4,700 in 9x9 demo boards forbeginning programs and $6,100 for stones, laminated boards, and 13x13 Ing sets to refill the stock of supplies for teaching programs. =93I can think of no better way to support the future of go in America,=94 says supporter  Bill Saltman, League Director of the new AGA National Chapter League.=93It is always a pleasure to know that something one has done has helped make it possible for the game to thrive and prosper, especially for youngsters.=94 Tax deductible donations can be made to the AGF through the AGA web site at http://www.usgo.org/agf/index.asp or contributions can be sent to: American Go Foundation c/o Mary Laird, 211 West 106th St.  Apt. 3C, NY, NY 10025

2004 YEARBOOK COMING SOON: The 2004 American Go Yearbook, a 100-page =93best of=94 selection from the year=92s E-Journals,is nearing completion and is expected to be shipped to members in January, 2005. The 2nd-annual Yearbook also includes a CD with all the year=92s E-Journal content, including every game commentary, review, tournament report and more! Be sure to get your copy of the Yearbook by renewing or joining now: http://www.usgo.org/org/application.asp

CUNNINGHAM THISWEEK‘S ALERT READER: Jim Cunningham is this week‘s Alert Reader winner; Jim=92s name was selected at random from those spotting the Reader Alert hiddenin last week=92s game commentary, and wins a $10 gift certificate to the govendor of his choice. =93I have not been able to study the weekly go lessons from the E-Journal because of security screening of zipped email attachments at Compuserve,=94 says Jim. =93Just this week I=92ve finally been able to receive the game files and this is an added bonus: responding to gift incentives imbedded deep in the commentary. Congratulations on your initiative.=94 Honorable Mentions this week go to Adam Bloom, Keith Bourgoin, Emil Sit, Jack Peterson, Collin Cain, Cynthia Gaty, James McKee, Jay Turley, Kurt Haldeman, Brian Lee, David Felcan and Andrew Tripp. Keep a sharp eye out for these Alert Reader Alerts in our game commentaries and you could be our next winner!

THIS WEEK‘S NEW CLASSIFIED HIGHLIGHTS: Looking for players in the Southern Maine area; check Go Classified below for details!

WORLD GO NEWS

LEE CHANGHO KUKSU CHALLENGER: Lee Changho 9p won the third and decisive game in his battle with Yoo Changhyuk 9p to become the challenger against Choi Cheolhan 9p for the 48th Kuksu title in Korea. Choi took this title from Lee last year by a score of 3-2 in a five-game match that was unusual in that Black won all five games in the match. Lee has held this title eight times, beginning in 1990. The Kuksu (National Champion) tournament is the longest running in Korea and is sponsored by a Korean newspaper. It is also well-known as the first professional tournament not restricted to women to be won by a woman, namely, Rui Naiwei 9p in 1999.

GU LI TAKES COMMANDING LEAD IN CHINESE MINGREN: The current Mingren (Chinese Meijin) title holder is Qiu Jun 7p, who won the title from Zhou Heyang 9p last year. This is the longest running and most prestigious professional tournament in China and was dominated from manyyears by Ma Xiaochun 9p. The impressive twenty-year-old Gu Li 7p is on the verge of another major triumph in this tournament as he has now won the first two games of the five game title match. Gu Li defeated the famous Nie Weiping 9p to become the challenger by a score of 2-0 in a three-game match.

CHOI TAKES FIRST GAME IN ING CUP FINALS: Choi Cheolhan 9p of Korea defeated Chang Hao 9p of China in the first game of the five gamefinal match of the 5th Ing Cup, winning by resignation with Black. Choi and Chang are both in their twenties, though Chang is several years older andChoi has not yet had Chang‘s success. This would be Choi‘s first international championship. Chang came in second in the 4th Ing Cup, losing to LeeChangho 9p of Korea.

CHINA AIMING TO WIN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN‘S CUP: The second stage of the Jeongganjang Women‘s Cup has been completed.This is a team match, with teams of five from China, Japan, and Korea. The first round in Beijing ended with Ye Gui 5p of China defeating Umezawa Yukari 5p of Japan and Kyen Maijin 3p of Korea. Ye began the second round in Seoul by defeating three opponents for an amazing streak of five wins. Shedefeated Yashiro Kumiko 5p of Japan, Kim Bongsun 1p of Korea, and Suzuki Ayumi 3p of Japan. (Our readers will remember Suzuji Ayumi from the recent Seimitsu Cup in which she was defeated by Jie Li 9d from the US.) Yun Yeongsun 4p of Korea finally put an end to Ye‘s run. Yun then also defeated Mannami Kana 3p of Japan. In the final game of the second round, Xu Ying 5p of China won out over Yun so China will again be in the winner‘s seat at the beginning of the third round in Shanghai beginning January 17, 2005. Chinastill has Rui Naiwei 9p and Zhang Xiang 8p in reserve in this contest, while Korea has only Part Jieun 5p still in play. Japan also has only one player left: Kobayashi Izumi 6p. The final stage promises to be quite exciting, and the Chinese are quite optimistic about winning this cup for the first time. The first two editions of this international women‘s tournament wereboth won by Korea. All the game records can be downloaded from http://igo-kisen.hp.infoseek.co.jp/jgj.html .

GAME COMMENTARY: More Kaz
    In today=92s installment of Kaz Furuyama=92s =93Important, Fundamental Matters,=94 Kaz takes a closer look at the squeeze tesuji. Want more Kaz? Check out his new website at http://www.joot.com/kaz/index.php?lang=en

THE EMPTY BOARD:Thinking Too Much
by William Cobb
    =93You think too much=94 is a common criticism from Zen teachers. But Zen teachers love go and go is a game that requires a lot of thinking, so this is puzzling. You may be able to play effectively without thinking, but only sometimes, and only if you=92ve acquired some good habits through study and practice, which are based on thinking. Thinking is essential in go.
    However, there is such a thing as thinking too much in go, or at least thinking ineffectively. In order to think about something effectively, you must see it clearly, and where we can get into trouble with thinking in go is when we do so without a clear perception of the whole board. You have to get into the game to perceive what is really happening. You haveto feel the weakness of being thin, sense the looming presence of thickness, experience the pressure of confinement and the apprehension of not yet having two eyes. Only on the basis of the perception that comes from that kind of actual experience of the game can thinking about go be most effective.Otherwise, your thinking easily wanders off into fantasies. It=92s the thinking that is divorced from immersion in the present moment that Zen teachers are complaining about.
    So, focus on developingyour feeling for the game and maybe your thinking won=92t be so likely to lead you astray.
    The Empty Board #41; Past columns are archived at http://www.slateandshell.com/billcobb.asp


GO CLASSIFIED

FOR SALE: Full set of new 8.0mm Japanese glass stones with new Japanese brown plastic bowls ($35); Full set of 10mm Japanese glass stones in original box ($50); new pair of medium-brown large wood bowls, hold 8mm stones ($35); Pair of large antique dark-wood bowls with crack nicely repaired, hold 10mm stones ($15); “Go for Kids” paperback book, like new ($10). Buyerpays shipping. Email Anton at antonninno@yahoo.com  (12/20/04)

WANTED: 3d+ players to participate in the Western Go online tournament as it starts its second year.  Play some of the best US middle school, high school, and college players online in this insei-style training ground. Sign up at:  http://westerngo.org/   (12/13/04)

FOR SALE: Original ukiyo-e woodblock Kuniyoshi print.  Peter Shotwell: Shotwell@nyc.rr.com  (11/29)

INSTRUCTION, TEACHERS:
- WANTED: 14-year-old with a ranking of 17k would like a teacher to play games with, and help my game improve to shodan level. E-mail meat TarenSolther@wmconnect.com
- DIANA KOSZEGI, Hungarian 6 dan, is now offering lessons on KGS. For more information please visit diana.koszegi.hu
- JOEY HUNG 8d is giving lessons on both IGS and KGS using voice chat skype.  For detail, email egogames@yahoo.com Joey is alsogiving free lessons on KGS from 8-9P PST. (11/29)
- CORNEL BURZO 6dEGF (7d AGA) is teaching online on IGS and KGS, also using skype voice chat, for pricing check http://www.golessons.com or email  cornelburzo@yahoo.com  (12/6)

GO PLAYERS WANTED:
AK: Juneau, Alaska ; stevekrall@yahoo.com (8/23)
AL: Birmingham or Hoover: email goboard@bellsouth.net I‘m about 5k; any level is welcome. (9/6)
AZ: Phoenix, AGA 5d looking for go players; michaelscai@yahoo.com (8/23)
CA: Fresno/Visalia, meeting at Borders, 4kyu player, larrygates@sbcglobal.net
CO: Grand Junction: Beginner looking for players; email bevans@hospicewco.com  (12/6)
FL: Ft. Myers: Looking for players in thearea interested in starting a go club; email kent=5Fno=5Fgo@earthlink.net  (11/29)
FL: Tampa Bay; Looking for players within 30 minutes ofTampa Bay to help create a club which might be located near USF. rruiz002@tampabay.rr.com  (9/27)
IL: Northern Illinois, Gurnee area.Any rank, age, or shoe size welcome. Looking for friendly or teaching games. Contact (15 kyu) Joe at nothing217@comcast.net (9/6)
IN: Bloomington: Want to help start an AGA chapter?  Contact me now at sfcowling@bluemarble.net  (11/08/04)
KY: Louisville; I would like to start a go chapter in Louisville; I am a
total beginner, but I would still like to play with some actual human
beings. Interested folks should contact ed.hammerbeck@gmail.com
MA: Looking for players to meet on the South Shore, possibly at Thomas Crane Library or Panera‘s Bread in Quincy. E-mail Adam@polymathsblade.com
NEW! ME: Looking for players in the Southern Maine area; allenfr@waterboro.com
NH: Hanover, Meets 2-5 PM Wed at Hopkins Center Cafeteria; efeustel@direcway.com
NV: Las Vegas; Looking for players a new, and I believe the first, area go club. Anyone interested should contact Aaron Thomas at avontron@gmail.com (11/29)
NV: Reno: The Reno Go Club ( http://www.renogo.org ) is looking for people interested in go. Email: info@renogo.org
NY: Syracuse; The Central New York Go Club invites players who live anywhere near Utica, Geneva, Oswego, and  Cortland to join them on Monday nights. Visitthe club‘s website at: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/cnygo/
PA: Philadelphia; the Penn Go Society now meets every Wednesday evening beginning at 5:30 pm in Houston Hall, on the University of Pennsylvania campus,3417 Spruce Street.  Players of all levels are welcome, we are looking to ramp up our membership and visibility - come be a part of an emerging Go scene! Email either Matthew Bengtson mattbengtson@earthlink.net or Peter Nassar pnassar@vet.upenn.edu for details  (12/6)
SC: Charleston/Lowcountry area. Total beginner looking for teaching and friendly games. Contact Doug: dougsimpson@email.com

GOT GO STUFF TO SELL, SWAP OR WANT TO BUY? Do it here and reach over 5,000 Go players worldwide every week at Go Classified! Listings are free and run 4 weeks; send to us at journal@usgo.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 8:  Piscataway, NJ
3rd Feng Yun Go Tournament
Feng Yun 973-992-5675  Golesson@yahoo.com

January 8:  Plano, TX
2005 Spring Tournament
Christopher Vu 281-480-8615  wasonlyyesterday@yahoo.com

January 8 & 9:  Sunnyvale, CA
13th Jujo Jiang Goe Tournament
Ernest@goedharma.com

January 9:  Salem, OR
2005 Winter Tournament
Jim Levenick 503-370-6486  levenick@willamette.edu

January 15:  Kalamazoo, MI
KZoo‘s 2nd Go Tournament
Benjamin Schooley 989-287-0123  benjaminschooley@hotmail.com
http://votar.org/kgc/tourney.html

January 15:  Seattle, WA
Mid Winter Tournament
Jon Boley 206-545-1424  jon@seattlegocenter.org

January 15-17:  Evanston, IL
6th Annual Winter Workshop
Yang Yilun 7 Dan
Mark Rubenstein 847-869-6020  mark@evanstongoclub.org

January 15-18:  Belchertown, MD
Guo Juan Workshop
Bill Saltman 413-323-8658  b1saltman@charter.net

January 16:  Somerville, MA
MGA Winter Handicap Tournament
Zack Grossbart 617-497-1232  zack@grossbart.com
http://www.massgo.org

January 22:  Richmond, VA
The Slate and Shell Open
William Cobb 804-740-2191  wmscobb@comcast.net

March 17-20:  Germantown, MD
10th Annual Maryland Yang Workshop
Gordon Fraser 31-540-2640  gordon@wui.net

This is a digest of events for the next month only; for a complete listing see the Tournament Calendar on the AGA website: http://www.usgo.org/usa/tournaments.asp
For the European Go Calendar see http://www.european-go.org/TOURNAMENTS/TListbyDate.htm

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