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British Go Journal No. 62. July 1984. Page 8.

Cheshire

Despite the tempting first prize of a go-ban, offered by sponsors NMW Computers of Nantwich, only 32 players made the trip to Crewe to compete in this brand new tournament held on January 28.

Organiser Brian Timmins is to be congratulated on finding a spacious, warm, and comfortable venue, however, which, it is hoped, will attract more players next time.

In the event, the glittering prize was carried home by Mr. Choi Kee Chul (5 Dan), a Korean visitor currently taking a course in business studies at Aston University. Other winners, who received a bottle of sake, included Andy Benyon (2 kyu) of Manchester, S. Hinsley (4 kyu) from Coventry, and P. Collins (20 kyu) from Malvern,

Cambridge

55 players, including a party of schoolchildren from Maidenhead (organised by Mr. Ellul) locked horns at Cambridge University Go Society's 'Trigantius' meet on March 17. Fortunately the organisers had the foresight to include a number of Fitzbillies' cakes among the usual bottles of wine as prizes, since schoolboy G. Cony (18 kyu) won all three games.

First prize, however, went to Terry Stacey (5 dan) for the third year running. Others with 3 points included M. Cumper (CLGC, 1 dan), I. Marsh (Bracknell, 3 kyu), S. Hood (Cambridge, 6 kyu), and H. Roberts (Cambridge, l6 kyu).

British Congress

There was a slightly disappointing turnout for this year's tournament, considering that it used to be the premier British event. However that didn't prevent those who were playing from thoroughly enjoying themselves. The tournament was actually held in Manchester's Pollock Halls, in a playing room one participant described as a "concrete box".

On the Friday night there was a lightning tournament which was won by Piers Shepperson (2 Dan). Simon Carter (then 7 kyu) from the Furze Platt school lost only to Piers and beat among others; our 3 Dan President.

In the main tournament proper first prize seemed likely to be a tussle between former British Champion, Jon Diamond (6 Dan), and our strongest 4 Dan, Jim Barty. Unfortunately for Jim, he lost in the first round against John Rickard, who has recently been something of a bete-noire. This meant that despite beating Jon in a later round, when both finished on 5/6 Jon was found to have amassed a superior SOS (sum^* of opponents' score).
* [BGJ had 'some'!]

Our congratulations therefore to Jon (whom it would be nice to see in more tournaments), and commiserations to Jim.

A full list of prizewinners:

Division	Name	Strength	Score
1	Jon Diamond	6 Dan	5/6
2	Piers Shepperson	2 Dan	4/6
3	Chris Stevenson	1 Dan	4/6
4	Steve Heavens	2 Kyu	4/6
5	P. Barton	3 Kyu	5/6
6	Andy Finch	6 Kyu	4½/6
7	A. Thompson	7 Kyu	5/6
8	A. McKendrick	9 Kyu	4/6
9	G. Scott	12 Kyu	3/6
10	Don Gilder	14 Kyu	6/6

Gathering of the clans

Jim Cook writes from Edinburgh...

There are signs of Go playing in Scotland. During British Go Week Dave Hall trebled membership of the Aberdeen club, and now Mark Lawrence has restarted a club in Glasgow.

On the 27th of April members of both clubs visited Edinburgh for a friendly club match. There was no formal structure to the event, but Murdo McKissoch has manipulated the 39 known results to claim that Edinburgh managed to keep just ahead of Glasgow, with Aberdeen gaining useful experience.

All eighteen participants enjoyed the day and look forward to future friendly inter-club rivalry.

Scotland may never challenge the Auld Enemy (this comment was almost censored by your Scottish Editor), but does Welsh national pride extend beyond the rugby pitch?

How about it Wales?

Bracknell

A strong lineup at this year's tournament (perhaps the heavies wanted to flex rusty Go muscles before the Challengers, which was the following weekend).

At any rate Terry Stacey beat off the threat of 4 dans Jim Barty, Jim Bates and New Zealander Graham Parmenter, to win yet again.

Other lesser mortals who also notched up three wins included Bob Thompson (1 Dan), Graham Clemow (1 Dan), the irrepressible Lee Rutland (7 kyu and falling), B Adams (8 kyu), and J Garret (17 kyu).

In all 72 players took part, with an encouraging contingent of high kyu players, while the tournament was run as efficiently and whimsically as ever (e.g. announcing White as first-named player) by Bob Lyons and the Bracknell team. Incidentally the Bracknell coffee has got to be the best on the European Go circuit.

London Go league 1983

	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
L. Vegetarians	8	5	3	0	13
Reading	7	3	3	1	9
Bracknell	5	2	1	2	5
AHNO	5	1	2	2	4
Hammersmith	3	2	0	1	4
WELGO	5	1	0	4	2
NW London	3	1	0	2	2
S London	2	0	2	0	2
Central London	4	0	1	3	1

Last year's league had the usual difficulties in getting all the matches played, despite diligent nagging by Chris Whitehouse. Fittingly, therefore, the team that managed to play all its games ended up winners. Unfortunately Chris will be unable to run this year's league, so INVITATIONS ARE INVITED for a new coordinator. Contact Chris direct at [Address omitted] or any BGA officer.

Northern Go league 1984

	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
Huddersfield & Sheffield	8	6	1	1	24
Manchester	8	4	4	0	22.5
Nottingham	8	3	3	2	19.5
Leeds	8	2	1	5	10.5
Canute	8	1	4	3	9
York	8	0	3	5	4.5

John Smith reports...

For the second year running the league was won by a combined Huddersfield and Sheffield team. They were closely followed by Manchester, who drew consolation from being the only team to remain unbeaten.

In the crunch Huddersfield-Manchester clash Robert Berry ruined Brian Chandler's unbeaten record and preserved his own, giving him fourteen straight wins.

Amsterdam

Report by Ian Meiklejohn...

Although not quite equaling the Paris tournament, this year's Amsterdam still attracted well over 200 participants to the former gas-works-now-sports centre which is its traditional venue.

The British contingent, slightly smaller in numbers than last year, was headed by Jim Barty and Jim Bates (4 Dans), Francis Roads (3 Dan) and Harold Lee and myself (2 Dan). Unfortunately none of us succeeded in winning any prizes, although Jim Barty and myself did manage plus scores. Francis and Jim Bates had undistinguished results (2 wins), while further down the lists Bob Thompson (1 Dan) and Jeremy Roussak (one of our stronger 1 kyus) had to bear the brunt of the infamous Dutch 1 kyus. This year three of them scored five wins, while one wolf in sheep's clothing notched a perfect score.

Up among the heavyweights the surprise result was that the Korean Yoo, who has looked un-beatable by anyone without professional training, was humbled by Frenchman Moussa. Both players finished with 5/6 but Moussa won on countback. A fine victory.

Challengers

This year's challenger to Matthew Macfadyen for the British Championship (and incidentally the person who will represent us at the World Amateur 1985) is once again Terry Stacey.

Terry scored 6/7 to finish a clear point ahead of the two 4 Dans, Jim Barty and Jim Bates. The former actually beat Terry in their game, but lost twice - to Jim Bates and 3 Dan John Rickard. In fact the tournament went very much according to the form book (a triumph for the grading committee?). Behind the two 4 Dans (on 5/7) came John (4.5), followed by 3 Dans Andrew Daly (3), Richard Granville and Francis Roads (2), with John Smith (2 Dan) finding that life is tough at the top. A fuller report on the tournament plus the Stacey-Barty clash will appear in the next issue.

York

Twenty-five players assembled in Goodricke College on an allegedly very sunny morning for this year's York Father's Day tournament. Eight hours later there were four winners:

John Smith (Manchester, 2 Dan), Eddie Smithers (Leicester, 3 kyu), Patrick Dorey (Cambridge, 7 kyu), and Mike Robinson (Leicester, 10 kyu). All received a bottle of sake from Brown Owl organiser Jennifer Payne.

Kyu players' help scheme

Even run across a position where you just had no idea where to play next? Or had a group which you just couldn't work out the status of? Even wondered what the worst part of your game is?

The answers to these, and many other questions can now be found via the BGA's advice scheme for kyu players, The idea is that kyu players who are really stumped by a problem or feel they might benefit from a commentary on one of their games can write to the scheme's coordinator, Toby Bailey [address omited] . He will forward the query to someone of suitable strength.

Questions should be of the 'where do I play next', or 'is this group dead' sort. In the case of game commentaries, notes will be fairly brief, limiting themselves to general remarks and suggestions, unless otherwise requested.

Hammersmith Go club - R.I.P.

Regrettably we have to announce the demise of one of London's clubs. Although the decor was unrelievedly dingy and the roam impenetrably smoky, Hammersmith provided a welcome central venue at weekends. Unfortunately its desertion by several stronger players, followed by a [Word missing in BGJ] has forced it to shut its doors.

It is to be hoped someone rapidly comes up with an alternative.

Diplomas for all

The BGA has decided to issue a new series of coloured diplomas for kyu players of strengths between 3 and 25 kyu. The idea is primarily to encourage young players by giving them something to aim for. The grades of the diplomas and the criteria for their award are as follows:

White - 25 kyu

Know the object of the game.
Understand eyes, false eyes, territory, liberties.

Yellow - 20kyu

Know about ladders, geta, the ko rule and seki.
Can beat a green, blue or brown diploma holder taking 4 stones on a 13 by 13 board.

Orange - 15 kyu

Know about snap-back and oiotoshi (throw-in).
Can beat a blue or brown diploma holder taking 9 stones on a 19 by 19 board.

Green - 12 kyu

Know about sente, gote, and rules for the death of a group (e.g. bent four in the corner).
Can fight a ko in the proper manner.
Can beat a blue diploma holder taking 6 stones on a 19 by 19 board.

Blue - 6 kyu

Know about shimaris, kakaris, thickness and semeais.
Can beat a brown diploma holder taking 3 stones on a 19 by 19 board.

Brown - 3 kyu

Can fight a semeai correctly.
Can beat a shodan taking 3 stones.

Brown diplomas may only be awarded by dan players. The others may be given by club secretaries, however advice should be sought from a dan player, or a player at least two diplomas stronger than the recipient.

The diplomas should be countersigned by the authoriser.

Bon voyage

This month Lee Rutland (who shortly before going to press we discovered is called Leigh) will be playing in the World Youth Go Championships in Taiwan. At the last report Leigh is now 5 kyu and still improving. Our good wishes go with him, and we hope to have a report on the tournament and his exploits in the next journal.

Births, deaths, and ...

Those of us who leave lonely girl friends at home to seek out iniquitous Go clubs, take heed. Two of Leicester's regular members, Chris Holmes and Hilary Norburn, were married on April 21st. Congratulations to them both, and, better late than never, here is a small wedding present from the BGA (courtesy of Noriyuki Nakayama). The ladder problem shown below starts with the white marked stone - see if you can read it out. (Solution on page 27).

Diagram 1 [This is on page 11]

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This article is from the British Go Journal Issue 62
which is one of a series of back issues now available on the web.

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