Youth Go News 21 - March 2022

Editor, Toby Manning.

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NEWS

February Rapid Tournament

On 20 February we held a rapid-play three round tournament on OGS. We had 13 players (plus Toby Manning who acted as the ghost). Congratulations to Lea Wong who won the Tournament with 3/3.

European Teams

Congratulations to our Youth team who defeated Romania 3-2 in the third round of the European Youth Go Team Championships, played online on KGS. Player of the match goes to Edmund for stepping up at very short notice to ensure we did not default a game. One of our newest squad members, Jin Cheng, was making his debut for the team. He had a good game on board 4 but could not quite achieve a win and lost by 11.5 points. Next to finish was Scott Cobbold who took an easy win by resignation after he had surrounded a large eyeless group of his opponent. Andrew Volovich on board 5 made full use of his time limit eventually taking a win by 6.5 points. Isabella Qiu on board 2 had an exciting game (for the spectators) involving a large ko. Isabella held her nerve and took a 9.5 point win. That left us 3-1 up with the final board 1 to play Sunday morning. Due to a mix up on agreed times our original board 1 turned out to be unavailable. Edmund Smith stepped up at very short notice to play on board 1 against a strong Romanian 4 dan. Edmund had an exciting game, surrounding and attacking his opponent's central stones, but this took up a lot of his time leaving him short of time in the latter stages of the game where his opponent's greater experience prevailed. So the UK team finished with a match win 3-2.

In the final round against Russia B we had the slight edge on paper, but their team comprises rapidly improving U12 players where paper grades might well be out of date. We knew that a win would put us in the medals provided that Germany lost to Russia A (which they subsequently did). In that scenario the number of boards we won by would be critical to determining our position between second and third - so no pressure on the team!

Isabella took our first win comfortably on board 2, never in any danger, played two days early. Scott also showed off his skills with another excellent win on board 3. George had the mostly evenly matched game and it was an exciting game to watch, with both players having good chances through the game - unfortunately George could not hold on to an early lead and lost by 5.5 points. On board 1 Claire won her game by resignation. In the final game, played the day after the main match games, where we were significantly outgraded on paper, Andrew fought valiantly but was not able to overcome his much stronger opponent. This meant we won the match by three games to two.

This win against Russia B meant the team ended third overall. This is an excellent result especially since our team this year had so many new faces. Russia were again champions, with France (who had beaten UK in round one) second.

Well done to our team of Jacob Zhang, Yuji Claire Chen, Edmund Smith, Isabella Zheyu Qui, Scott Cobbold, Sam Barnett, Gene Wong, Daniel Chun Yang, Lea Wong, Spike Shamoon, George Han, Derek Duan, Jin Cheng, Andrew Volovich and Lukasz Kudla. Claire and Scott deserve special mention for being unbeaten in their two games whilst my team player award goes to Isabella - making her debut for the team this year and achieving two wins out of the three matches she played.

EYGC

The European Youth Go Championships were held in Prague from 10 to 12 March. As usual it was split into three sections. There were 32 players in the Under-12s. Bende Barcza of Hungary was the winner and Alper Sulak of Turkey was second. Our Andrew Volovich and Lucasz Kudla both won 3/6 to place equal 11th. In Under-16 the best of the 42 players was Vsevolod Ovsiienko from the Ukraine, with Yuze Xing of Germany second. Lea Wong won 3/6 to end 8th and Lawrence Baker also won 3/6. In the top Under-20 group first of the 40 players was Arved Pittner from Germany and second Davide Bernardis from Italy. UK's Spike Shamoon was 18th with 3/6, Edmund Smith had 1/6, David Baldwin 4/6 and remarkably Julia Volovich won 5/6. Results

Girls Who Play Go Tournament

The American Go Honor Society is holding its second Girls Who Play Go tournament! Inspired by Girls Who Code, this tournament aims to promote go among young female players in the go community,” says AGHS Co-President Sophia Wang. “All under-18 female participants from across the globe are invited to participate. Rounds will be held on Sundays 20 March and 27 March on KGS.” If you would like to participate, please read the rules/regulations and sign up here by 16 March. Feel free to email aghsregister@gmail.com for any questions or concerns.

Castledine-Barnes Trust

If you need money to cover for example the cost of a trip to play Go or to buy equipment for your club, then please contact the Castledine-Barnes Trust. Look out for exciting news about the relaunch of this trust later in 2022.

Badges

We now have a new supply of the youth Go badges available for collection. We have expanded the range of badges so that there is now a badge for every grade from 5 dan down to 20 kyu, with the additional 25 kyu, 30 kyu and 35 kyu badges as well as the beginner Play Go badge.

All players at any junior club are entitled to receive Play Go badges after three sessions at their club. The other badges are gained as their skill level increases. These are awarded by the club organiser until the players reach 20 kyu. After this level players only receive the next badge as their grade improves on the British Go Rating list.

Once a grade is reached, players may keep that badge as a recognition of their achievement even if their subsequent playing performance does fluctuate.

Badges cost £1 each (with an additional £1 postage if being posted individually to a player). Players may swap a badge for the next grade up, once earned, for no charge.

Any questions on how to receive your badge should be directed to Alison Bexfield (badge scheme administrator) at alison AT bexfield.com.

UK Go Challenge

If you are looking for a simple tournament to hold at your junior Go club, then do not forget the UK Go Challenge. As this is played on 13x13 boards it is great for those just learning the game and as you get points for playing as well as winning nobody ends with zero. It is very flexible, you can run a game a week or play them all on the same day, play in person or online, and there are detailed instructions on how to do the pairings.

Like the last couple of years we are not making a charge to enter and you can make your own tournament pack using the downloads on the UKGoC website. If you want a stock of small prizes (bugs and fridge magnets) and Cheer Words/Stars then let us know and we will send you some (free of charge) while stocks last.

As in the past we will be having the national finals, at which everyone is welcome, in July and probably in Cambridge.

For full details see the UKGoC website.

FUTURE EVENTS (ONLINE/OVER-THE-BOARD)

See also details of all British Go Tournaments.

OGS Go Club

The "Go Club" on OGS will meet 10 April and then 8 May, starting at 16:00.

British Schools Team Championship

On Sunday 3 April we will hold an inter-schools team championship. Teams of three - all from the same school or other youth Go club - will play even games online on OGS. It will start at 10:00 (registration from 09:30) and be 3 or 4 rounds (depending on number of teams) and will end at 18:00. Each school can send more than one team.

Please email bygc@britgo.org with the school name, the name, OGS id and approx grade of each of three team members by Friday 1 April. Reserve players can be used on the day if a player is missing.

TEACHING/TRAINING

For Stronger Players (stronger than 10 kyu):

The EGF Academy is a project that provides an online training site for Europe's most talented young players. It teams up powerful professionals from China and veteran teachers from Europe to offer European Youth a varied and solid Go education that, until now, was only available in the Far East.

The system runs in cycles, each lasting 4 weeks, and the cost is €25 per cycle, but the BGA offers a 50% discount. To obtain your discount please email youth-chair AT britgo.org. The minimum strength is 10 kyu. If you want to participate, please email Gabriel Wagner (gabriel DOT wagner DOT trier AT gmail DOT com).

For Weaker Players (weaker than 10 kyu):

Our next session for weaker players will be on 8 May at 14:00. Please email youth-chair at britgo.org if you are under 10 kyu and wish to take part.

DIARY SUMMARY

April
Sun 3 - Inter-Schools Team Championship
Sun 10 - OGS Youth Club 16:00-18:00
May
Sun 8 - DDK Training 14:30-16:00
Sun 8 - OGS Youth Club 16:00-18:00
June
Sun 5 - Rapid Play Handicap 14:00-18:00
July
TBA - UK Go Challenge Finals, Cambridge

USEFUL RESOURCES

Here are some useful resources/links:

BGA Youth Go Twitter account (kept fairly active, 126 followers)
BGA Youth Go OGS (closed group, 167 members including adult organisers)
BGA Youth Go Discord Channel
BGA Website: Youth Pages

PROBLEMS

Black to play