BGA Newsletter 304 July 2023

FROM THE EDITOR

Contributions are always welcome, both from our members and others. We ask that they be Go-related and "newsy". The place for debate and general discussion is the BGA open mailing list Gotalk. However, an introduction to a new topic is fine in the Newsletter. A brief introduction to Gotalk, with a link for joining, is on the BGA page Go on the Internet.

Instructions for Contributors: Please use plain text not file-attachments. Keep it fairly brief, and give web-links and contact details. It's good to include pictures. If they are on the internet, send me the URL, otherwise attach the picture files to your email. Send your contribution to newsletter@britgo.org to arrive by the first day of the month.

Jil Segerman

NEWS

The full set of recent news items, including further details of some of the items shown here, are on our News Pages.

New: BGA Online Activities

The BGA is now running an online club. It runs every two weeks on Saturday at 19:00. The next few dates are 8th July, 22nd July, 5th August and 19th August. Normal club nights are also interspersed with teaching events and tournaments (but you can simply just play if you wish). It is held on the BGA’s discord server and OGS Group 13219. If there are any problems with joining either discord or the OGS group please email daniel.l.milne@gmail.com.

Pandanet Go European Team Championship

In the Pandanet Championships the UK team ended up second in League C. The winners (Ireland) achieved automatic promotion: we had to play a match against the bottom-but-one team in League B (Finland) to determine if we would also be promoted (and Finland relegated). Despite fielding one of our strongest teams we were defeated 5-0. Details here.

British Open Pair Go Championships

This year's event was held in Frodsham on 10th June, home town of new organiser Pat Ridley. In the Main Tournament, the winning pair was Yanming Zhang and Yue Matt Xi, currently studying at UCL, who beat Wai Yi Chung and Ho Yeung Woo in the final round. The Handicap Tournament was a closely fought affair, with four pairs on two wins; however, Shobita Bhumbra and Tim James took first place with a slightly better tie-break score.

Former organisers Jenny Rofe-Radcliffe and Francis Roads won both the traditional quiz (a fiendishly difficult one on currencies kindly set by Tony Atkins), and the Best Dressed Pair prize. Olivia Jennison and Claude Robinson also received a prize as the Best Dressed Junior Pair.

Full report and lots of photos here.

Durham Tournament

The 2023 Durham Go Tournament was held in Elvet Hill House, next to the Oriental Museum, as has become traditional over the last few years.

30 entrants played over the weekend, ranging from 20k to 5d - including students from a number of universities, and some Youth players. The tournament was won by Sicheng Shang, 5d. Full results here. Sam Bithell (2d, Durham) - along with other strong players - gave game reviews throughout the tournament.

On the Saturday night was an all-you-can-eat BBQ, with informal Go games, and non-Go-playing friends, partners, and family members.

EGC Ukraine Donation

BGA members raised £736 for the Ukraine Youth Go players to attend the European Go Congress, and this was brought up to £1,081 with a further £345 from the BGA itself. A great result, approaching enough for three children each with a parent to attend. Thanks, everyone who made a donation.

ADMIN

Referee needed for Championship Match

The British Championship Title Match will take place on 26th/27th August (and 28th if needed) in the London Go Centre. It is best of three, one game a day starting at 12:00. The contenders are Bruno Poltronieri and Ho Woo.

We have a volunteer to attend as Referee on the 26th, but still need someone for the 27th and optionally the 28th. The duties are not onerous. We also need someone who can relay the game on OGS or KGS, which could possibly be the same person. If anyone is free and able to help on those dates please contact tournament-chair@britgo.org. Your help would be very much appreciated.

EVENTS COMING SOON

This Month: European Go Congress (Leipzig, Germany)
August: Youth Go Camp (Lincolnshire), Mind Sports Olympiad (London), British Championship Title Match (London)
September: Edinburgh, Doki Doki (Manchester), Swindon provisional, Confucius Cup (Dublin), Youth Squad Selection Tournament (online), LGC Summer School (London)
October: Sheffield, UK Go Challenge Finals (online), Wessex provisional
November: Bar Low (London), T Mark Hall Rapid Play (London), Three Peaks (Ingleton), British Youth Go Championship (Leicester), Northern (Cheadle Hulme)
December: London Open