Macworld senior contributor Kirk McElhearn provides a terrific overview of go apps on his January 31 Improve your game of Go (or just keep playing) with this collection of apps column. “If you want to play Go, or want to improve your game, there are a number of excellent iOS apps that can help you learn how to play and try to master the game. Here are the best ones,” writes McElhearn. McElhearn writes The Ask the iTunes Guy column and writes about Macs, music and more on his blog Kirkville. 

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January was the first month of the AGA Chapter Rewards program (AGA Institutes New Chapter Rewards Program 12/31 EJ) in which AGA chapters can earn rewards points from new or renewing memberships or members playing rated games. The points will credit to a chapter only if the member has set that as their affiliated chapter in their member profile.

Don’t know your chapter or want to change it? Here’s how: In the menu on the left of the AGA home page select Member/Chapter Login under the Membership and Chapters section. This will take you to the login page where you can login by email address or AGA number. There are links there if you either forgot your password or never set one. Log in and you’ll get to the home page for the Members/Chapters area. From there, click on the link to view or update your membership info. Once you reach that page, scroll down to the section titled Other Info. There is a field there for Chapter with a drop down box that will give you a list of active chapters to choose from. Pick the chapter you would like to be affiliated with and then click on Save at the bottom of the page.

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The recent resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba has renewed hope that a Cuban delegation will be able to attend this year’s US Go Congress. An effort last year stalled because of problems getting visas from the US State Department. “We are quite hopeful of better success this year,” says Bob Gilman, AGA Director for the Central Region. “We have learned some things from the 2014 effort, and the recent thaw in US – Cuban relations can only be helpful.”

The AGA has invited three Cuban players to the 2015 Go Congress in St. Paul, MN, including Rafael Torres Miranda 2d, President of the Academia Cubana de Go, Roylan de la Torre Marrero 5d and Orlando Mederos Trujillo 5d.

The invitation builds on 2013 visit by US players to Havana, where a friendly competition between US and Cuban players was a great success. “There are Cuban go players in all provinces of the country, and they were a serious and enthusiastic group,” says Gilman, who organized the visit.

Fundraising is now underway to enable the Cuban delegation to attend the Congress. “Cuba is a poor country, and the Cuban players cannot afford this trip without help from the US go community,” says Gilman. “The US go community has received wonderful support from Japan, Korea, and China and we’re now in a position where we can help the growing go community in Cuba.” While the details are worked out and the costs are finalized, those interested in helping can make a pledge here. As in 2014, if donations cannot be used, they will be returned, e.g., if visa problems should again prevent some invitees from coming. Contributions will be made through the American Go Foundation (AGF), and may be taken as a deduction on the donor’s federal income tax. 

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Pandanet has begun posting E-Journal articles on their site, translated into Japanese. The first one is the EJ’s recent report on the AGA pro tournament. “We’re tremendously pleased that EJ reporting is now available in Japanese,” said E-Journal Managing Editor Chris Garlock.  Pandanet plans to post a translated EJ article each week.

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Go drives the plotline in a second-season episode of JAG entitled “The Game of Go.”  “Harm and a Colombian drug lord play a high-stakes game of go, with the prize being a Marine who was left behind during a covert mission, as Webb and the JAG team once again butt heads,“ reports Dave Holland.

“My recollection of the episode is that several moves were spread out over the unfolding of the plot with closeups of the contested part of the board. It represented middle game fighting. A little far-fetched for a US Navy lawyer and a drug kingpin to be such accomplished players but good exposure for the game nevertheless.“ Note that the moves are played inside the board squares rather than on the intersections.

“I enjoy the EJ’s ‘Go Spotting’ column as go has a way of showing up in unexpected places,” says Holland. “I live in Minneapolis and recently met a young player from northern Minnesota whose grandfather learned baduk during the Korean War. He also went to high school with Bob Dylan.“

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Peter  Freedman (at far right), Hikaru  Saito, Glenn  Peters, Jessie  Jenkins  and Jessie’s friend, Austin,  taught  at  least  50 people  to  play  go  at Portland’s Mochitsuki  Festival  on Sunday  January  25th. Held  at  Portland  State  University from  10  to  4 , thousands came to  celebrate  the  new  year, eat  traditional  food  and  experience  traditional  Japanese  culture. -Photo and story courtesy Peter Freedman

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The Open Section of the Jin Chen Memorial Tournament at the Seattle Go Center drew twelve players, including two 7 dans and three 6 dans.  Since the Jan. 4 tournament had only three rounds, there was a tie for first place between Boyang Chen 6d from Oregon, and Chan Chung 5d from the Seattle area.  Edward Kim placed 3rd, after losing one game on time.

Go Center members were intrigued to meet the teacher of Edward Kim 7d, since Edward has taught many of the strong players in the Northwest.   Years ago, Edward’s teacher was his older brother Hong Kim, who also lives in the Seattle area.  This was the first time Hong played in an AGA rated tournament.  He won the handicapped section for players 2 kyu and stronger, playing as a 2d.  Second place went to young Chanseok Oh.  The 3 kyu to 9 kyu band was won by local Frank Brown, with new player Ben Resnick placing second.  The double digit kyu player’s section was won by Elan Ma, with second to California visitor Barry Stiefel.  Elan also won the children’s prize.  There were 30 players at the tournament, which is held on the first Sunday in January every year to mark the birthday of our old friend Jin Chen.  Report and photo illustration by Brian Allen

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