From: E-Journal3@usgo.org Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 11:28 PM To: E-Journal3@usgo.org Subject: AMERICAN GO E JOURNAL: 01.17.04 SPECIAL KISEI/N.A. OZA EDITION AMERICAN GO E JOURNAL: News from the American Go Association January 17, 2004 SPECIAL KISEI/N.A. OZA EDITION - HANE WINS KISEI 1ST ROUND - TOYOTA & DENSO CHIEFS KICK OFF 2ND N.A. OZA - OZA CONTENDER FIELD NARROWS - OZA PRO-PRO: Feng Yun v. Huiren Yang - HEARD ON THE BOARD - ATTACHED FILE: 2004.01.17 FENG YUN-HUI REN YANG HANE WINS KISEI 1ST ROUND: In a dramatic conclusion to the first game of the 28th Kisei, Hane Naoki won in Seattle on Friday. The hard-fought game was razor's edge close an in an attempt to eke out a half-point win, title-holder Yamashita Keigo had to leave his center group hanging and when Hane killed the group he won by resignation. The game attracted a full house on both Thursday and Friday at the Seattle Go Center as area go players gathered to watch, replay and discuss the game as the two contestants battled it out. The 7-game match will continue in Japan. - Chris Kirschner TOYOTA & DENSO CHIEFS KICK OFF 2ND N.A. OZA: "Look for the spaces between the sounds,"master shakuhachi player Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Selding urged. "Try to put aside all problems, worries and strategies. Just let the music enter you." The audience of nearly 100 go players listened raptly as the haunting, mysterious tones of the shakuhachi flute and koto harp filled the room at the Nippon Club in New York City. The concert highlighted the East Coast kick-off for the 2nd North American Oza Championship; across the country a reception at the Seattle Go Center completed the opening festivities for what's turned into the year's biggest event, with well over 300 go players participating in the two-site tournament. In New York, Toyota Motors N.A. President and CEO Mr Taguchi and Denso N.A. Chairman Mr. Takeuchi welcomed players to the Oza, expressing satisfaction that turn-out has increased so dramatically since the first Oza two years ago. Mr Taguchi, who recently toured the home of Commodore Matthew Perry, noted that 2004 is the 150th anniversary of the historic trade treaties between Japan and the United States, saying that the bilateral relationship between the the two nations is even more important now than when Perry first came to Japan in 1854. Mr. Takeuchi revealed that the President of Denso * one of the top auto component suppliers in the world * is an avid go player and fan and that the global development of the game of go mirrors the global partnership of Toyota and Denso. After the last haunting notes faded, go players mingled while munching on sushi before disbanding into the chilly night to prepare for the next day's tournament. OZA CONTENDER FIELD NARROWS: After the first day of play, the field of contenders for the 2004 North American Oza is down to just five top players. In Seattle, Mingjiu Jiang and Jie Li were undefeated, while in New York City, Feng Yun, Lu Wang and John Lee won all three rounds. The top winner at both sites after tomorrow's final three rounds will compete for $300,000 and a new Lexus later this year in Japan. OZA PRO-PRO: Feng Yun v. Huiren Yang The stones are still warm in today's special bonus game file, the third-round game between Feng Yun and Hui Ren Yang, which just finished a few hours ago. The outcome of this exciting game depends on the fate of Yang's invasion of Feng Yun's moyo. The E-Journal would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Ms. Feng, who graciously and generously delayed her much-deserved dinner to spend nearly an hour recording and commenting the game after playing three tough rounds today. We hope you enjoy the game! HEARD ON THE BOARD: "The best thing about American Go today is that it's getting so much stronger," John Lee told the E-Journal in New York City this morning, as he watched the huge Oza turn-out gather on the 18th floor of the Hotel Pennsylvania, which overlooks Midtown Manhattan and which in turn is overlooked by the Empire State Building just a few blocks away. AGA CONTACT LIST: For a full list of AGA officers, contacts & their email addresses, go to: http://www.usgo.org/org/index.asp#contactinfo Published by the American Go Association Text material published in the AMERICAN GO E JOURNAL may be reproduced by any recipient: please credit the AGEJ as the source. PLEASE NOTE that attached files, including commented game records, MAY NOT BE published, re-distributed, or made available on the web without the explicit written permission of the Editor of the E-Journal. Please direct inquiries to journal@usgo.org Articles appearing in the E-Journal represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the American Go Association. 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 mailto:journal@usgo.org Chris Garlock, Coordinator Union Cities/Streetheat Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO 1925 K St NW, #410 Washington, DC 20006 202-857-3410 cgarlock@dclabor.org