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DAVIS THREEPEATS AT IRISH CHAMPS; POMSTRA SLEDS TO WIN IN CORK

Irish Go Association President Ian Davis 1d beat clubmate James Hutchinson 1k 2-0 on November 27 in Belfast to take his third Irish Championship title. A week later, Willen-Koen Pomstra 5d (r, in red shirt) of the Netherlands won the UCC Cork tournament. The Cork tournament continues to be plagued by natural disasters. Several years ago the playing room was damaged by storm winds, and the entire city was flooded the next year. This year, record snowfall brought the entire country to a standstill. Still, nearly 30 stouthearted go players braved the storm and cold for the December 5 tournament, making it the biggest go tournament to be held in Cork. In addition to the usual Irish and British players, a whole host of nationalities turned out, including five players from the Netherlands, three from Poland, as well as Chinese, Vietnamese, German, Romanian, Zimbaween and Taiwanese players who are living locally. Pomstra snatched the Cork title from three-time winner Wei Wang 6d (l in photo), who has moved to London to study engineering. In second place for the fourth time was Cao Tong-Yu 4d, a local lecturer at the University. The best female player was Karen Pleit, also from the Netherlands. The best kyu player came from Poland, Przemyslaw Dyszczyk who scored 4 wins from 5. All agreed that Justyna Kleczar did a great job organizing her first tournament. Click here for full results; click here for photo album. photo by Rory Wales