A few simple rules ... limitless possibilities

The 26th Welsh Open proved to be a hot one - both in the air temperature approaching 30C and the fierce competition for overall winner. The regular organisers & tournament directors Helen and Martin Harvey apologised the previous year for ineffective sun-dancing leading to rain. This year the TDs sought forgiveness - for over-zealous sun-dancing, however. The resultant queuing at the bar at least kept the hotel-owner happy, and meant we could avoid the queues if players wanted hot drinks or - in many cases - cold water.

Held in its constant, scenic coastal town of Barmouth since 1993, the event again passed off smoothly and enjoyably. A slight increase meant that 33 played in at least one of the six rounds, including three shodans and down to a 17-kyu. Participants once more travelled from across the UK – from Dundee, Cambridge, London and yes, two from Wales! Numbers and conversation at the evening meals were enhanced by non-playing partners.

Twenty-four players contested the Scottish Open 2018 over two days at the Offices of Skyscanner in the centre of Edinburgh. Thanks to Skyscanner, as well as hosting the event, the participants were fuelled throughout the contest with drinks and copious pizza. Also on the Saturday evening the movie "The Surrounding Game" was shown.

Local player Boris Mitrovic (2d) retained the title by winning all his games. On four wins out of six were Neil McLean (1k), Toby Manning (1d), Alistair Wall (1d), Rob Payne (6k) and Roger Daniel (7k). James Richards (2k Edinburgh) won the 9×9 small board contest.

Results

The 2018 Durham Go Tournament was held at the Oriental Museum for the second year running. Numbers continue to increase, and the 35 entrants ranged from 20k to 4d, reported organiser Andrew Ambrose-Thurman.

As usual, the Durham tournament has a number of opportunities for socialising - including our annual all-you-can-eat Go BBQ. Luckily the weather was sunny and warm (far better than it has been in previous years!), and there were 25-30 people playing Go on picnic blankets (as shown in the picture) and garden tables, including some who hadn't been able to attend the tournament itself.

The top board games were broadcast live over the internet and shown on a big screen in the side room (where there were refreshments available and boards for reviews and side events), although sadly this didn't work properly for some of the games.

The 38th British Pair Go Championships was held as the last few years at the Red Lion in Hatfield, who always make us welcome and sell a good lunch. 16 pairs played, split as usual into two sections, and it was again pleasing to see so many young players in the handicap group. To select the top Championship group it looked like the three pairs at 3.5 kyu would have to be split, but in the end the pair of Andrew Simons and Yansai Noeysoongnoen sadly had to withdraw because of illness.

The battle for first place was then expected to be between three former champion pairs and a pair of strong Chinese from London. However Alison and Simon Bexfield beat Kirsty Healey and Matthew Macfadyen, and then beat Xiao Yu Gong and Ho Yeung Woo to reach the final. Joanne Leung and Bruno Poltronieri beat Natasha Regan and Matthew Cocke, to also reach the final. After a tough game, it was Joanne and Bruno who became the champions for the second time.

Over the first three days of the Challengers' League the London Go Centre also hosted the first Not the London Open Tournament. 22 players took part, but not all every day. Winner was Weijin Chen (5d London) with six out of six (emulating his clean sweep at the last LOGC). Second was Finland's Jesse Savo (4d) with five wins and Zihe Zhao (4d Oxford) came third. Czech player Jan Adamek (10k) won five games, Alexandre Kirchherr (6k) won four and Sebastian Pountney (7k) won four out of five.

Results

On the Saturday evening the organisers showed the documentary movie "The Surrounding Game", which follows the quest for the first American Go professional. Appropriately also at the event was Pavol Lisy, who was the first European Go professional, analysing games and giving lectures. They also held a small lightning tournament on the Sunday evening.

The Challengers' League took place over the bank holiday weekend (plus Tuesday) at the London Go Centre. Sam Aitken won all of his games to lead the field, as at Candidates', but it was much closer in the race for second position.

Going into the final round there were permutations which could have led to tie breaks and any of Andrew Simons, Alex Rix and Boris Mitrovic ending up with second place. In the end, Alex lost his game to Sam Bithell and Andrew beat Boris meaning that he took second place with no need for a play-off. Alex was third with four wins, Boris, Charles Hibbert and Sam Bithell won three, Alistair Wall two and Tim Hunt one.

Sam Aitken and Andrew Simons will now play in the title match games to decide this year's British Championship.

Results

The eight-player Challengers' League has got underway at the London Go Centre. The players, selected at the Candidates' Tournament earlier in the month, are playing an all-play-all to find the two challengers to play the British title match later in the year. After the first day it was Sam Aitken and Charles Hibbert who were on two wins. On one win were Alex Rix, Andrew Simons (who lost to Charles), Boris Mitrovic and Sam Bithell. Alistair Wall and Tim Hunt were yet to score. The epic game of round 2 was Boris Mitrovic against Sam Bithell which lasted for an hour and a quarter of overtime and saw Sam (1k) beating Boris (2d). The League continues until Tuesday.

Alongside the League, the London Go Centre was organising its Not the London Open Tournament with 22 players. On the Saturday evening they showed the documentary movie "The Surrounding Game" which follows the quest for the first American Go professional.

North-West schoolchildren lacked a local Go event for their Summer term, and thus a new Manchester Summer tournament came into fruition. This was kindly enabled by a generous offer by managers of the use of the top floor (not for the first time) of the Bank of East Asia in Chinatown. We have a local connection with them, with local club player Peter Yim being a longstanding BEA customer. Big thanks go also to Peter, for facilitating use of the venue.

On a hot, Summer's day would you ... (is there a song, there?) appreciate that great use was made of the expansive balcony space, between rounds.

On a warm Saturday, 20 players defied the clamour to watch the Royal Wedding and FA Cup Final by playing Go at the Bridge Centre in Welwyn Garden City's Gosling Stadium. Prizes were presented by Sheila Gabriel, deputy chair of the Bridge Club, as shown in the picture.

The overall winner was Min Yang (3d) from Oxford, who included Lucretiu Calota (4d) in his list of conquered. Also winning three games were Edmund Smith (5k) (Kiev-inspired?) from Cambridge, Aorja Harris (12k) from Letchworth, and Theodor Calota (16k) from St Albans.

Results

Gong Cheng (3d London City) won the Bracknell Tournament, beating Min Yang (3d Oxford) in the final (as seen in the photo). Others of the 29 players taking part in the event, held as usual at Woosehill community Centre in Wokingham, who won all three games were Neil Cleverly (10k Bournemouth) and Lueming Yang (16k Oxford). The Team prize was won by the youngsters of "I like lunch" and Paul Barnard was the winner of the puzzle competition. Organiser Ian Marsh claimed to be the winner in the 13x13 side event as nobody played in it.

Results