To promote go activities, AGA sponsored tournaments and to expand the appreciation of and participation in go.
2008: In discussions with high level competitors at the 2007 Congress it was apparent that a change to a 32 person field was seen very favorably. Players included Americans and Canadians, professionals and amateurs. There was also acceptance of the selection process which requires participation in qualifying tournaments run during the year. This year there will be 6 local qualifier tournaments - two in each region - and two Internet tournaments. Players can accumulate points from up to two of these events. Professionals are invited into the NAIM and do not need to compete in qualifiers.
I. Eligibility:
For US players
Amateurs:
Citizen or green card equivalent
AGA membership current for 12 months prior to beginning of qualifiers (January 2008).
Physically resident in US for at least 6 of last 12 months before the date of the first qualifier
Professionals
Citizen or green card equivalent
Physically resident in US for at least 6 of last 12 months before the date of the first qualifier
For non-US players
Citizen or green card equivalent of sending nation.
Qualified by national association of sending nation.
II. Qualifying tournaments:
There will be a total of 8 open qualifying tournaments:
6 regional events with 2 in each AGA region (East, West, Central) and 2 Internet events.
Players wishing to compete may participate in up to 3 qualifier tournaments, but only 2 may be used to calculate points. An eligible player who obtains a clear win (not tied with another) in any of these tournaments automatically qualifies for the finals, and will not be allowed to earn points in any further events.
Points will be awarded to top finishers in each qualifying tournament using the point protocol established for selection of finalists for selection of the WMSG team. Note however, unlike the WAGC, points will be split for ties. (insert link to calculator).
Points can be earned by, and will be spread among, only those players eligible under Section I above to compete in the finals.
Qualifying tournaments will be advertised in the AGA E-Journal and on the AGA website a minimum of 21 days prior to the event, and will occur not later than June 15,2008.
III. Finals invitations
The field of 32 players to compete at the Congress will be invited as follows:
1. All North American professional players (seeded)
2. The top 5 players from the 2007 Ing Championship, including any North American professionals(seeded)
3. 3 amateur players selected by the Canadian Go Association
4. All clear winners of qualifier tournaments
5. As many additional players as needed from the qualifier events in order of their point totals.
Invitations will be sent no later than June 30. Invitations not accepted prior to July 14, 2008, or within 7 days of receipt, whichever is later, will be treated as declined. Top 16 seeds and qualifiers (based on qualifying points) will receive full complimentary Congress registration. Seeded players also receive complimentary room and board (double occupancy dorm) at the Congress. (Players may upgrade at own expense.)
IV. Go Congress Competition
A total of 32 players will compete for the NAIM title at the Go Congress in 2008.
The format will be a 5-round swiss system tournament for 32 players.
Schedule:
Round 1 Sunday 7:00 PM
Round 2 Monday 7:00 PM
Round 3 Tuesday 7:00 PM
Round 4 Thursday 2:30 PM
Round 5 Friday 7:00 PM
Pairing protocol for finals: Round 1: Seeded players followed by Swiss pairing based on AGA rating only. Round 2 to 5, Swiss pairing based on AGA rating only.
1st and 2nd places will be awarded to the players in the final game between the two players with 4-0 scores.
Tie breaking: Tie breaking after 2nd place will be done by the Ing system.
V. Rules
All games will be played under Ing rules.
Note: Because no Internet servers has implemented the complete Ing rules, Internet qualifiers will use New Zealand rules with Ing counting, which is a functional equivalent with rare exceptions. The TD will hand-manage any situation that the programming cannot resolve. i.e. hot stones, triple ko, etc.
Time limits:
Qualifiers: Minimum 45 minutes basic time, Overtime TD option
Finals: 90 minutes, Overtime 5 times 60 seconds
Internet events will require minimum 14 days advance registration, and a minimum rating of 6.0.
Registration must include Name, AGA number, CGA number, phone number, email address, and IGS logon name.
VI. Prizes:
Qualifiers:
Each qualifier event will award $500 in prizes, to be distributed per the tournament organizers.
Finals:
Finalists in the NAIM will receive cash awards as follows:
1st $3,000
2nd $1,600
3rd - 6th $800
7th - 16th $200
17th - 24th $50
