Crystal Lake South High School Chinese Club, in Illiinois, launched its first event of the semester with an introduction to go (weiqi) by Chicago teacher and weiqi enthusiast Simon Xinming Guo, on Sept. 22nd. Guo came at the invitation of Ms. Lin Hsieh, the Chinese language teacher at the school. Ms. Hsieh hopes to use Weiqi to help her students to understand Chinese culture and to learn strategic thinking. Altogether, about 110 students from Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove High school learned about weiqi in their Chinese language classes. Check out Guo’s page for the event for more info. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo by Xinming Guo.
American Go E-Journal » Youth
Crystal Lake High Students Learn Go
Monday October 10, 2011
Ing’s Youth Cup October 23rd
Monday October 3, 2011
The 14th annual Ing’s Youth Cup Goe tournament will be held October 23rd, at the Chinese Cultural Center, in Sunnyvale California. The popular tourney is organized by Mingjiu Jiang 7p, and sponsored by the Ing Foundation. Last year’s event drew over 100 youth, who enjoyed prizes and trophies in ten different bands, sorted by rank. There is also a 13×13 tournament for newer players. Registration is $35, including lunch, but goes up by $10 if you register after October 10th. For more information, and to register, go to Gomasters.com. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo: Last year’s tourney, from the Go Masters site.
International Go Art Contest
Sunday September 4, 2011
“The 1st International Children’s Go is Art Painting Contest received submissions from the US, Mexico, Japan, the Philippines and India,” reports Alma G. Juarez, of Mexico City. “We wanted to make go culture flourish among children, and promote it through a creative exchange with the painting contest,” Juarez told the Journal, “there were three categories A, B and C from 6 to 15 years old, and kids were free to use any technique they wanted for their artworks. All the paintings we received were amazing and we could see the creativity and love that these children have for go.” The submissions are all online, and can be seen here. ”The decision about the finalists was hard for the panel of judges,” said Juarez, “but we can say that the experience was great for everyone. We included a Special Mention for Takumi Shimada, a four-year-old Japanese boy. Even though his age wasn’t under any category, he submitted a painting showing his love for go and his will to learn. Also we had the finalist submission of Aaron Ye 4d, who recently represented the US at the World Youth Go Championship, he’s not just a strong go player but also a great artist! For all the children that didn’t have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Go is Art’ Painting Contest, it will be an annual event, so don’t hesitate to send your submissions next year!” -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Quotes translated from the Spanish by Siddhartha Avila. Photo: Jamia Mei Tolentino’s ”Happiness with Go” An entry from the Philippines.
Results
Chicago Teens Learn Chinese and Go
Sunday September 4, 2011
“This summer, fifty high school students from the Chicago area attended the Startalk Learn Chinese program, and filled their summer vacation with an intensive college-level Chinese language experience,” reports Xinming Simon Guo, “sure, they were immersed in activities typical of a language program: listening, speaking, reading and writing in Chinese. What the students did not know they were in for was the use of weiqi (go) to help them understand Chinese culture and thinking. What’s the relationship between Chinese language learning and weiqi? Research from Wellcome Trust showed that Mandarin Chinese speakers use both sides of their brains to understand language, whereas English speakers use just the left hemisphere. Meanwhile in another research study, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare the brain activities of people playing chess as opposed to weiqi. The result indicated that the right hemisphere of the weiqi players worked more actively than that of the chess players during the game. By being exposed to weiqi, Chinese language learners are more likely to tap both sides of the brain and learn Chinese more quickly.” Guo and other teachers were involved in the project, which was held at Depaul University. A full report on the program, and more photos, is here. -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo:
The Traveling Board: College Students Discover China
Saturday August 20, 2011
Cherry Shen 6d reports on her experiences this summer:
I’ve traveled to China several times before but none of my trips were quite as insightful or fun as this one. On July 22-30, a team of 11 American undergraduates and graduates had the amazing opportunity to attend the 1st U.S.-China Go Camp/College Student Exchange, simultaneously playing go and learning about China’s rich culture and history. The group consisted of 10 students (William Lockhart, Steven Palazola, Cherry Shen, David Glekel, Zachary Winoker, Michael Haskell, Michael Fodera, Dan Koch, Brian Lee, and Cole Pruitt) and one team leader (Walther Chen), most of them hailing from the East Coast . Exploring China with a group of go enthusiasts was hilarious, eye-opening, and extremely memorable. As soon as we landed from the airport, we were showered with generosity and overwhelming hospitality from the members of the Ing foundation, Mrs. Lu, translators, other go players, and everyone else. The university hotels we stayed at were great and the authentic Chinese food was incredible. Aside from the mind-blowing go-themed hotel, go schools, and go lectures hall, I also learned about the many cultural aspects of China during our trips to the Great Wall of China, Yu Garden, Shanghai Financial District, and more. The presence of go in China was so impressive, especially when we were introduced to numerous 4-5 dans who were 7/8 year-olds at the Hangzhou Go School. We also had unique opportunities to receive teaching games from professionals, meet other college go students, and tour go facilities. This journey has been unbelievably amazing and enriching; and I hope we can reciprocate this experience to future visiting Chinese college students. - Special E-J Report by Cherry Shen. Photo: At Fudan University, with various college go players.
China Sweeps World Youth Championships
Wednesday August 17, 2011
Thirteen-year-old Ki Jie 2p and his compatriot, ten-year-old Liao Yuanpei have conquered the World Youth Go Championships, shutting out 11 other nations who sent representatives to Bucharest, Romania, to compete. The semi finals, held this morning, August 17th, saw Ke take down Chen Cheng-Hsung 7d of Chinese Taipei in a pay-back match. Chen was the only player to beat Jie in the previous rounds, but couldn’t do it a second time. Meanwhile, Korea’s Song Sang-Hun knocked out Japan’s Koyama Kuya, setting the stage for the final showdown this afternoon. Song (at left above), was overwhelmed by Jie (at right), and forced to resign in just 102 moves. In the Junior Division US champ Aaron Ye 4d did his best against China’s Liao Yuanpei 5d, but had to resign when the situation became hopeless. Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chi-Jui 6d rose to the occasion to defeat Korea’s Lee Ye-Chan 4d, and then went on to face Liao again in the finals. Chen drew black and opened with the Low Chinese, fitting in a game with two Chinese boys under 4.5 feet tall, and seemed to be getting everything he wanted. Liao seemed perfectly happy to crawl on the second line in his own moyo, perhaps planning on demolishing Chen’s third line stones even then, ultimately forcing him to resign. SGF game records of all of these matches are available on EuroGoTV. With all the fighting on the go board, the kid’s all got a chance to have some fun on yesterday’s sightseeing tour. Everyone was delighted with Peles and Bran Castles, and the kids found time to blow of some steam playing soccer as well . New friends have been made all across the globe now, and international barriers seem small when kids like this can come together from all over the world. No one seemed happier than Yang Yu-Chia of the Ing Foundation himself, who jumped right in to play soccer with the kids even after a long day of sightseeing. The Ing Foundation has sponsored the WYGC for the past 28 years, and has made it possible for strong children to compete live internationally. Winners Report: Junior Division: 1st: Liao Yuanpei (China), 2nd: Chen Chi-Jui (Chinese Taipei), 3rd: Lee Ye-Chan (Korea), 4th: Aaron Ye (US); Senior Division: 1st: Ke Jie (China), 2nd: Song Sang-Hun (Korea), 3rd: Chen Cheng-Hsun (Chinese Taipei), 4th: Koyama Kuya (Japan). Story and photos by E-J Youth Editor Paul Barchilon, who is covering the event from Romania. Photos: Top: Song Sang-Hun 4d, Korea (l) vs. Ke Jie 2P, China (r); bottom: Liao Yuanpei 5d, China, waves to the camera while visiting Bran Castle on the day off.
China Leading in World Youth Championship
Monday August 15, 2011
E-J Youth Editor Paul Barchilon reporting live from Romania.
China is at the head of the pack in this year’s World Youth Go Championship, in Bucharest, Romania, with a first place lead in the Junior Division, and a finalist in the top 4 in the Senior. Round 2 saw Liao Yuanpei 5d (China) take an early lead by defeating Shibano Toramaru 6d (Japan) in the Junior Division (under 12), while Ke Jie 2P (China), Koyama Kuya 6d (Japan) and Cheng Cheng-Hsun 7d (Chinese Taipei) all won their games in the Senior division. Yuanpei continued his lead in rounds 3 and 4, by defeating Chinese Taipei and Korea in the Junior, while Cheng-Hsun pulled a surprise upset in the Senior Division, by defeating 13-year-old Chinese pro Ke Jie, but then lost to Japan’s Kuya in Round 4, who in turn was defeated by Ke Jie in round 5. The top four in each bracket are now set for the finals: China, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei in the Senior; China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, and the US in the Junior, which will be held Wednesday Aug. 17th. American Junior contestant Aaron Ye 4d won entry into the finals by a stroke of luck – he drew China as his first opponent, a game he lost, but then gained three wins in a row by competing against other kids who had lost, narrowly edging Shibano Toramaru 6d (at left, in photo below, in his match against Singapore’s Yi Fei 3d).
For full results visit the WYGC website. The E-J is partnering with EuroGoTV to provide coverage, and we are broadcasting games on KGS daily. Records of many games are here, and we are providing live video streaming of several boards as well. The players will all take a break tomorrow, for the traditional day-off sightseeing trip, which will take us to Bran Castle, one of several that can claim some connection with Vlad Tepes, the real person behind the legend of Dracula. We will also visit Peles Museum and castle, and visit scenic Gradistei in Brasov. Assuming no parties are lost to vampires while we are gone, the finals will commence on August 17th, at 9 am GMT+2. Look for live broadcasts on KGS from EuroGoTV1-4, with a corresponding video feed if possible. Photos and story by Paul Barchilon: Top: I am dubbing Yuanpei , at left, “the boy with too much time on his hands.” Having recorded almost all of his games, I have noticed he barely uses any of the time on his clock, while his opponents, like Lee Ye-Chan 4d, at right, tend to run out of it. Aside from playing faster, Yuanpei seems to play better as well, and is the only player at this event to be undefeated. Bottom: neither of these boys made it to the top 4, but I felt this photo captured the spirit of the event.
For full results visit the WYGC website. The E-J is partnering with EuroGoTV to provide coverage, and we are broadcasting games on KGS daily. Records of many games are here, and we are providing live video streaming of several boards as well. The players will all take a break tomorrow, for the traditional day-off sightseeing trip, which will take us to Bran Castle, one of several that can claim some connection with Vlad Tepes, the real person behind the legend of Dracula. We will also visit Peles Museum and castle, and visit scenic Gradistei in Brasov. Assuming no parties are lost to vampires while we are gone, the finals will commence on August 17th, at 9 am GMT+2. Look for live broadcasts on KGS from EuroGoTV1-4, with a corresponding video feed if possible. Photos and story by Paul Barchilon: Top: I am dubbing Yuanpei , at left, “the boy with too much time on his hands.” Having recorded almost all of his games, I have noticed he barely uses any of the time on his clock, while his opponents, like Lee Ye-Chan 4d, at right, tend to run out of it. Aside from playing faster, Yuanpei seems to play better as well, and is the only player at this event to be undefeated. Bottom: neither of these boys made it to the top 4, but I felt this photo captured the spirit of the event.Redmond Plays Redmond
Saturday August 6, 2011
Michael Redmond 9P treated the winners of his namesake tournament to a special simultaneous game at the US Go Congress Friday August 5th. The six players were current Redmond Cup champions Aaron Ye 4d, age 9, Calvin Sun 7d, age 14; last year’s winners: Redmond Meijin Curtis Tang 7d, age 18, and Oliver Wolf 3d, age 12; and current runners-up Gansheng Shi 7d, age 17, and Sammy Zhang 4d, age 11. It was the Junior Division that scored points though, with both Ye and Wolf notching wins against Redmond, at 4 stones, while all of the Senior contestants lost! – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo: Nine-year-old Aaron Ye 4d (l) forces Michael Redmond 9P to take heed.
or : Former Redmond Junior Champion Oliver Wolf 4d, age 12, gives Michael Redmond 9P cause to reflect.
- report/photos by Paul Barchilon
Sun and Ye Sweep Redmond
Wednesday August 3, 2011
Calvin Sun 7d and Aaron Ye 4d both won their second round matches in the Redmond Cup Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, at the US Go Congress. Sun, who placed second to Gansheng Shi 7d in the qualifiers, ended up sweeping the finals with two wins in a row. Redmond finals are a best two out of three matches, so there will not be a third round. In the Junior Division, Sammy Zhang 4d fought valiantly, but was overwhelmed by Ye in both matches. All four kids won a free trip to congress to compete, and will split a $1,000 prize fund from the AGF. This year they will receive a special treat as Michael Redmond 9p will present the Redmond Cup in person at the awards banquet at the US Go Congress. Sun’s second round win is below, all of the final matches are on the crosstab. – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor. Photo: Gansheng Shi (l) and Calvin Sun (r).
US Team Down One in World Youth Championships
Saturday August 13, 2011
E-J Youth Editor Paul Barchilon reports live from Romania.
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