[This is a guest article by Professor Daniela Trinks from Myongji University.]

Myongji University Baduk Studies

The Department of Baduk (Go) Studies at Myongji University in Korea was founded in 1997, as the pioneering academic center offering Baduk studies as a major.

The Department of Baduk Studies at Myongji University.

Twice a year, students enroll for the Bachelor course (four years long, or two years for transfer students), Masters course (two years) or Ph.D. course (three years).

Recently, the number of foreign students in the graduate school has increased. Most of them play Go at a high amateur (dan level) or even professional level, although that is not an entry requirement.

The Department is expected to host more foreign graduate students than Korean students come September 2015. This includes students from China, Turkey, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

Classes are conducted mainly in Korean (and very occasionally in English); however, assignments, exams and theses may be written in English.

Those who lack basic Korean language proficiency are advised to take advantage of free Korean language courses online and/or take Korean classes after arriving.

Applications and scholarships

Interested applicants should investigate Myongji University’s scholarship programs and the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). The latter covers tuition (including language study), flights to Korea and provides a monthly stipend.

So far, four applicants have been selected to enjoy its benefits. The KGSPs for the graduate and undergraduate programs do not run concurrently.

The KGSP deadline for the graduate program is March 27th, 2015, while undergraduate applicants have until September 2015 to apply. See the 2015 Korean Government Scholarship Program Guideline for more information.

Those who don’t fulfill the requirements for the KGSP may apply to Myongji University in May or November.

Further information

For further information on Baduk Studies at Myongji University and/or the scholarship programs, please contact Prof. Daniela Trinks: dtrinks@mju.ac.kr

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[This is a guest article by Harry van der Krogt.]

The European Go Centre announces the 2015 World Wide Iwamoto Awards.

The European Go Centre is happy to announce the World Wide Iwamoto Awards.

Following on from the success of the European editions in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2012, the Iwamoto Awards have now become global!

Thanks to the internet and social media, the world has become smaller, so we think it’s time to invite people worldwide to submit Go promotion projects.

These projects are collected in our public database. With this information, everybody who’s involved in the promotion of Go can find new ideas and inspiration for their own projects.

Have a look at our website to see past and present Iwamoto Awards submissions.

The Iwamoto awards continue in the spirit of Iwamoto Kaoru 9 dan’s dream to popularize Go worldwide.

The European Iwamoto Awards were much appreciated by the contestants, the European Go Federation and the Nihon Ki-in.

Therefore we want to extend this project and improve it, as the World Wide Iwamoto Awards.

An international jury, with representatives from all continents, will judge the entries.

The best project will be awarded €1000 (approximately $1100 USD at the time of writing) and two runners-up will receive €500.

You can find all the details and criteria for submitting projects on our website.

Click here to learn more

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Younggil is going to show you a game played between Kim Jiseok 9p and Tuo Jiaxi 9p from the CCTV Chinese New Year Cup final.

The game was interesting from the beginning, and there’s new pattern on the right side that’s even new for Younggil.

Both players were playing intense and strong moves with their fighting spirits, and you can feel it from watching the game.

There are complex ko fights and you’ll learn how to deal with a ko as well.

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This is game 2 from the 2013 Samsung Cup group stage.

The game was played between Gu Li 9p and Park Junghwan 9p on September 4, 2013, in Shanghai, China.

Park Junghwan 9 dan (left) and Gu Li 9 dan at the 2013 Samsung Cup

Group stage

Gu Li and Park Junghwan were both in group H, along with Yuki Satoshi 9p and Liao Xingwen 5p.

Both Gu and Park defeated Yuki and Liao respectively in game 1 of the group stage and the winner of this game would proceed to the round of 16. Meanwhile, the loser of this game had to win one more game to go on to the next round.

Gu Li

Gu Li was ranked #5 in China, and he was in good form at the time. He became a father just before this game and I have no doubt that he was very happy to meet his daughter.

Gu Li 9 dan at the 2013 Samsung Cup

He married Lu Wenyang on January 1, 2013. Lu is a renowned gymnast, who won a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Lu gave birth to a daughter on August 29, and that was just a week before this game. This was Gu’s first official game after the birth of his daughter.

2012 Samsung Cup final

Gu was in the final of the 2012 Samsung Cup, but he certainly wouldn’t have good memories of that match. He faced Lee Sedol 9p in the final, and was defeated 2-1.

The two games which Gu lost were decided by only half a point, and he missed so many chances to win in those games.

The 2012 Samsung Cup final was the starting point for the MLily Gu vs Lee Jubango. Ni Zhanggen, the president of the MLily, is a big fan of Gu, and he couldn’t believe that Gu lost against Lee Sedol.

Ni regarded Gu to be stronger than Lee, but Gu lost because of bad luck. A year after the 2012 Samsung Cup final, both Gu and Lee agreed with the Jubango and it began in January 2014.

Park Junghwan

On the other hand, Park Junghwan was ranked #1 in Korea at the time. He won the 31st KBS Cup, 14th Maxim Cup and 9th Price Information Cup in 2013.

Park Junghwan 9 dan at the 2013 Samsung Cup

However, he wasn’t satisfied with that because he’d lost in the finals of a couple of international tournaments.

In the 7th Ing Cup final, Park played against Fan Tingyu 3p in early 2013. Many Go fans expected Park to win easily because Fan Tingyu wasn’t yet well known.

However, Park was defeated 3-1 and the Korean media and his fans were shocked. In addition, he was defeated by Iyama Yuta 9p in the 25th Asian TV Cup final too.

It was very sensational at the time, because it had been a long time since Japanese players won an international tournament.

All the major international tournaments were won by Chinese players in 2013, and it was already apparent that this Samsung Cup was the last chance for a Korean player to win an international tournament in 2013 when this game was played.

Let’s have a look at the game 2 from the 2013 Samsung Cup group stage.

Commented game record

Gu Li vs Park Junghwan

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