A few simple rules ... limitless possibilities

Andy Liu 1P won the 2015 New Jersey Open last weekend, with Mengchen Zhang 7d taking 2nd place, Michael Zhaonian Chen 7d in 3rd and Eric Lui 7d in 4th. First place prize was $700, second $500, and third and fourth $200 each. Click here for complete results and rating and pairing details.

Although some of the players pre-registered for Sunday didn’t show up, “probably due to weather concerns,” tournament organizer Rick Mott reports that the final turnout for the 2-day tournament was 170, “still about 40 players above our previous record.”

Five game winners ($90 prize) are Meng Zhiyong (5d), Adam Connell (2k), Kasidet Hiranniramol (3k), Monsoon Shrestha (4k), Wan Shen (5k), Richard Cronin (8k) and Eric Swain (16k).

photo: Liu (r) and Zhang review their Round 5 game; photo by Rick Mott. For more photos check out Yingzhi Qian’s album on Facebook.

Daniel Chou 6D took top honors at the NOVA Chinese Lunar New Year tournament held on Saturday, February 28, at George Mason Law School in Arlington VA. Twenty-nine players participated in the eighth edition of this annual event. “As usual, the Chinese community provided trophies and prizes for all winners,” reports organizer Allan Abramson. “Ching-Sung Chin, Yeena Liu, and Hank Chau were thanked for their outstanding support of this event.”

The winners were: First place: Daniel Chou, 6D, 3-1; Yunlong Zhang, 1D, 4-0; Zhao Zhao, 5K, 3-1; Gary Smith, 9K, 3-1; Marion Edey, 10K, 3-0; Sean Lin, 23K, 4-0. Second place: Yuan Wang, 3D, 2-2; Mohan Sud, 1D, 2-2; Zongying Qiu, 3K, 3-1; Mike Lash, 6K, 3-1; Steven Manning, 10K, 2-2; Ethan Tung, 30K, 2-2.

The Nihon Ki-in Summer Go Camp will run August 21 through September 3 at the The Nihon Ki-in in Tokyo. The camp features pro lectures and workshops, pro teaching games and reviews, and, this year, a special 2-day training program. “You will stay overnight at a Ryokan, ‘Sugino Yado’ (left) on August 27-28 and will be trained for a full day from morning to night: pro teaching games, lectures, in-depth commentaries, quiz and problems” says the Nihon Ki-in’s Tom Urasoe. The legendary Fujisawa hosted a go camp at Sugino Yado every year attended by promising young pros.“We want many American players to participate in our go camp this year!” Urasoe adds. Participants can choose a full term camp, semi-full or a one week course. Register before April 1 and get a 10% discount. photo: (right) Michael Redmond 9P lectures

The Ing Foundation will be hosting the second annual International Collegiate Go Tournament this summer in Taiwan, according to the American Collegiate Go Association.  The event will begin on July 7th and will conclude on the 13th.  “I was lucky enough to attend last year’s event in Hong Kong as a guest and saw that the kids who were there playing had an amazing time,” said AGA president Andy Okun.  The event is open to any current, future, or recently graduated college student, either undergraduate or graduate, who will attend or has attended school in the year 2015. All costs related to room, board, tours, and travel during the event will be covered by the Ing Foundation.  “Players of all skills levels are welcome to participate and there will be separate divisions this year for high dan, low dan, single digit kyu and double digit kyu,” said ACGA’s Mike Fodera.  You can find out more information on the ACGA’s website. If you have any questions about the event, or would like to find out more about previous events hosted by the Ing Foundation, email Mike Fodera.
photos: (left) courtesy ACGA; (right): courtesy Mike Fodera

A photo of the robot dog Aibo playing go illustrates In Japan, A Funeral For Robot Dogs, a February 28 Popular Science report. “Robot companions are big in Japan, where they can return hugs, gently smack snorers in the face, perform in plays, and greet Presidents.” And, apparently, play go as well.
- thanks to Jon Stewart-Taylor for passing this along.
The EJ has several volunteer editor positions open for go players who want to be part of the team producing the largest English-language publication in the world; email journal@usgo.org if interested. 

A League: Boston def San Francisco (2-1), Seattle 1 def Canwa Vancouver (2-1), Los Angeles def Greater Washington (2-1). LA currently leading with 6 points. Greater Washington and Boston just behind them with 4 points each.

B League: Princeton def Bay Area (2-1). Still ongoing: NC Raleigh vs Canwa Vancouver 2, Katy TX 1 vs Washington DC 2

Princeton leading with 6 points, Bay Area trailing with 4 points. Games still ongoing.

C League: Boston 2 def Atlanta (2-1), DC Team 3 def New Orleans (2-1), SF Bay Area/Berkeley def Atlanta 1 (2-1). Berkeley leads with 6 points. DC Team 3 in second place with 4 points.
- Steve Colburn