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Last 3 months News
05-Dec: Youth Championship Grows in SizeThe 2018 British Youth Go Championship (BYGC) featured 57 competitors, aged from 5 to 18. This is believed to be the second largest such event (the largest was in 2005 with 74). There were two minibuses from Cheadle Hulme School and groups from two new clubs, Rednock School (Dursley) and Sheffield Chinese School. The event would have been bigger but the Edinburgh team had to withdraw through illness and there were no locals from the host, King Edward VI (Aston) School.
This year, due to an easing of the qualifying rules,... |
27-Nov: Philip Leung Wins Coventry Again
The 2018 Coventry Tournament was held on 24th November in its usual Warwick University location. This year 38 players took part and Philip Leung (4d University of Warwick) won the event for the third time in a row and the fourth time overall. This is particularly noteworth as Philip was also the event organiser. Honghao Lu (2d Manchester University) and Peikai Xue (1d Central London) were first and second runner up respectively, with two wins out of three both only losing to the winner. The picture shows Philip (right) with Peikai. James Taylor (8k... |
25-Nov: UK Youth team wins 3-2 against CroatiaAlison Bexfield, UK Youth Team Captain, brings us these 2 stories - the first pre-match, and the second post-match - to follow on from her UK Squad announcement. The 2018/19 European Youth Go Team Championship (EYGTC) is held online over four rounds, on KGS. Pre-match The UK Youth team is today (24th November 2018) playing its first international match of the season, with a game against Croatia. The UK is starting in the second half of the 12 national teams, so is playing another of the teams in our half of the draw. My UK team selection takes account of a number of things... |
25-Nov: Some new UK Juniors in the 2018/19 European Youth Go Team ChampionshipAlison Bexfield, UK Youth Team Captain, writes: I am pleased to announce this year's UK Youth Team for the European Youth Go Team Championship 2018/19 (EYGTC). This is held online over four rounds on KGS. The standard in the UK team has increased every year, with this year no exception. I put together a talented UK Team Squad with up to 15 Juniors, and then I select a team of 5 for each match, from three age groups. Each match is played over five boards - one U20, two U16 and two U12. Traditionally we have done quite well in the U12 age groups, but less so at the top end, where often board 1 is a mid-rank dan player... |
20-Nov: Jamie Taylor Only Winner Against BelgiumJamie Taylor was the only one of our team to win a game in the third round match against Belgium. He wrote: I won my game against Lucman Bounoider, despite my best efforts. I think we were both a bit tired, as my opponent died big quite early on, then I made a colossal mistake to allow it to live instead. After that I think we both just started playing worse and worse, donating points to each other all over the board. Eventually he resigned, after I got out of several narrow scrapes, none of which I had any business being in in the first place. I can't complain though, a win's a win. Alex Kent wrote about his board one game against Lucas Neirynck: I lost by resignation. As black I opened with a Kobayashi style... |
18-Nov: Sam Aitken New British Champion
Sam had not previously played the title match; Andrew had in 2013, 2015 and 2017, winning it in 2015. |
12-Nov: 17 BGA volunteers demo Go all day to youngsters
On a pleasant autumnal day, this year - as ever - the splendidly organised Doki Doki Festival was held in Manchester, helped a lot by members of the friendly Japan Society North West (JSNW). This is an exciting event, with all imaginable Japan-themed activities, stalls & competitions, attracting a huge and youthful attendance. For each such occasion, the organisers invite us back (we're the British Go Association - BGA), to give free Go demos to large numbers of the public.... |
11-Nov: Youth Championships Entry Forms OutThe entry forms for the BYGC are now on the BGA Calendar - the event is in Aston on Saturday 1st December 2018. Please note the qualifying rules were initially incorrect and a modified form was issued on 15th November. |
05-Nov: Three Peaks Ends in TieThe Three Peaks Tournament was held, as the previous two years, at the Wheatsheaf in the centre of the picturesque small Yorkshire town of Ingleton. 34 players took part, but six played just the Saturday. The tournament ended in a tie as both Matthew Cocke and Chao Zhang ended with four wins out of five. Chao had beaten Matthew but had lost to Peikai Xue, who was third (just ahead of Alistair Wall). Chun Yin Wong (8k) from Lancaster was the only other prize winner for four wins. Bob Scantlebury won the prize for being the first to enter and a prize this year was given to the youngest competitor, Ryan Zhang, who is only 5. |
01-Nov: UK Lose to Strong Serbian TeamOur team lost all four games against Serbia. The result was not a surprise, as Serbia has an extremely strong team, quite likely the strongest in this league. They went top, just ahead of Sweden, after this match. Our team had fallen to eighth position after this round, round two. The next match will be on Tuesday 20th November, against Belgium. Alex Kent wrote: I lost my game against Nikola Mitic by 17.5 points. I made an effort to play a slightly calmer/simpler opening than I normally do, which gave me a playable position early in the middle game. I may have made a few moves which were too meek - in particular my pincer on move 20 probably would have been more effective if it was closer to the action. I think I should... |
31-Oct: BGJ 185 Now Available in Members AreaThe Autumn 2018 edition of the BGJ is now available for members to read. |
29-Oct: Chao Zhang Wins the Wessex
29 players took part in the 49th Wessex Tournament, held as in the previous ten editions at St. Mark's Community Centre in Bath. Chao Zhang from London was the easy winner and is seen collecting the trophy from organiser Ian Sharpe (right). His young son Ryan also received a special prize for being the youngest and fastest player. Three other players on three wins also won prizes: Toby Manning (1k Leicester), Eric Hall (6k Swindon) and James Taylor (8k Warwick University). |
23-Oct: Chinese Strong in Northern
On a fine autumn day, 41 players attended this year's Northern tournament, including players from as far away as Dundee. Helen Harvey was on hand, selling items from the N-W's BGA stock of Go equipment and books. Cheadle Hulme School (CHS) once more kindly hosted the event, providing an excellent venue. The overall winner, whose name will complete the array of mini-shields on the face of the Red Rose trophy, was Honghao Lu (2d 'Jason' from Manchester), pictured collecting the trophy and top prize... |
13-Oct: Sam Aitken Ties Title Match
On Saturday 13th October the second game of the British Championship, between Andrew Simons and Sam Aitken, took place at Andrew's house in Cambridge. After a fighting game, Sam Aitken won by 4.5 points to level the match. The game relay and a commentary by Matthew Macfadyen are available. The deciding game will be be announced on the BGA events page, with again live online relay in the British Room on KGS. |
04-Oct: T Mark Hall Remembered at London Go Centre
22 players came to the London Go Centre to take part in the first T Mark Hall Rapid Play. Before the prize ceremony, Francis Roads said a few words to inform or remind the players who T Mark Hall was, how he liked fast games and how the London Go Centre was a consequence of his bequest to Go. Winner of the tournament was Tunyang Xie (4d China) who won all five games. Second was Peikai Xue (1k London) on four wins and Zhanqi Kang (2d Winchester) was third. Lower down those who won four games were James Taylor (11k Warwick University) and Caleb Monk (20k Kings College Juniors),... |
04-Oct: Team China Dominate in London
The London International Teams Autumn edition was held at the London Go Centre on the same weekend as the new T Mark Hall Rapid. 18 players in six teams came together on the Sunday to battle in reduced handicap games for the trophy and a cash prize. Two strong teams of Chinese dominated the event. It was Team China (shown right) that won two matches to come first, thier Tunyang Xie (5d) winning all three games. Team Mango was second with one win and six games won, with their Peikai Xue (1k) winning all three. The team London Organisers was third, ahead of Nippon Club and Cambridge; Epsom... |
02-Oct: UK Starts New Season with Danish DrawIn the first round of the new season of the Pandanet Go European Team Championship B League, the UK team ended with a draw against Denmark, which was a fine start. The next match will be against Serbia, on 30th October. Alex Kent wrote: I lost by resignation to Jannik Rasmussen. I got into trouble fairly early on when I played the moves of a joseki in the wrong order. The corner ended up in a tricky fight where I decided to push and cut - I've subsequently done a quick review with Leela Zero and it judged that had I continued along on the second line the game would have been roughly equal (as opposed to a 90% win rate in my opponent's favour!). I tried to complicate the game using some of the remaining corner aji, but my... |
30-Sep: Swindon won by Chao Zhang
Although spanning 25 years, the Swindon Tournament reached its 20th edition. Despite other events
on the same day, a clutch of late entries pushed the attendence up to 27. As in recent years
the venue was the back room of the Conservative Club in Swindon's old town, with the weather Winner was London's Chao Zhang (5d), pictured right against Christian Scarff. Chao then beat Simon Shiu (3d) in round two and then Alistair Wall (1d) in the final. The only other player to win three games... |
27-Sep: New Student Go Club at QMU LondonA new university society has been launched based in Queen Mary University of London's Mile End Campus. Thanks to the loan of boards by the BGA, Yuqiao Liu has been able to start a club for both learning and playing Go at their campus. They even offer the students who join complementary snacks and drinks at their weekly sessions. For more info see QMUL Go Facebook Group or BGA Club Listing. |
26-Sep: All Sweet in SheffieldAll was sweet at the Sheffield tournament, held as before in Greenhill Library. The entry of 39 was dominated by a minibus from Cheadle Hulme School, and the organiser recognised their contribution by giving all the juniors Pringles and their choice of chocolate. Winning all three games, Robin Dews (7k Nottingham) was rewarded with Ferrero Rocher, as were Adam Sharland (20k Nottingham) for playing some tough handicap games at his first event and Italy's Tommaso Pardi (4k Sheffield) for winning two out of two. The top player was London's Chao Zhang (5d) who won £75 and a large box of chocolates. |
13-Sep: Students Win in Cornwall
It was two students from London who dominated the 19th Cornwall Tournaments. Held in Penzance in The Lugger, as usual, the event proved attractive for those seeking a weekend away and the weather did not disappoint. However only 14 players took part in the Cornish Handicap on the Saturday afternoon, and 15 in the Open on the Sunday. As usual the Saturday started with a teaching session in which Toby Manning, Paul Massey and Tony Atkins gave a game review, taught joseki and some of what was taught at the recent youth camp on shape. Winner... |
13-Sep: Andrew Simons at KPMCAndrew Simons wrote: I have been playing in the 13th Korean Prime Minister's Cup. This year many game records are available online as the system is automated: every board has a camera above it recording which then has some image recognition software that converts it into a game record. The time difference meant it was hard to watch them live in the UK, but the games are saved on YouTube (and Oro server), and results and records are available on the KPMC website. It's a 6 round Swiss, with the first round pairing being split and slide based on each country's position last year. That did lead to an unfortunate initial 7d battle with Dusan Mitic of Serbia (who sent a much weaker... |
21-Aug: All Go at 22nd MSO
24 players, mostly from London but also visitors from France, Germany and New Zealand, entered the MSO Go Open, a four-round McMahon... |
23-Jul: Simons wins first British Championship gameOn Saturday 21st July the first game of the British Championship, between Andrew Simons and Sam Aitken, took place. After more than 6 hours of play, Andrew Simons won by 2.5 points after Sam failed to successfully invade a large corner of Andrew's. The title match is best-of-three. Matthew Macfadyen gave a commentary on KGS. Both the raw game record, and the version with Matthew's commentary, are available here. A commentary by Andrew Simons is available here. |
18-Jul: AWCC Player InterviewsDuring the 5th Annual World Collegiate Weichi Championship in Cambridge BGA reporter Andrew Simons had a chat with some of the players. Interview 1
AS: Hi. What's your name and where do you come from? YW: Hi. My name is Yuzhang Wu and I'm from China originally but studying at Manchester University in England. AS: What are you studying? YW: Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. AS: Did you learn Go here or in China? YW: I learnt in China, but now Eric Zhang in Manchester is my teacher, maybe you know him? AS: Ah,... |
