Youth Go News 35 - June 2024

Editor, Toby Manning.

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NEWS

Pandanet Youth Go European Team Championships

The UK youth team played the fourth round of six of the Pandanet European Youth Team Championship on 24 April. Ukraine fielded their strongest team meaning the UK were outranked on paper on all 5 boards. Despite putting up some strong fights the team of Scott Cobbold, Ryan Zhang, Michael Mitcham-Harding, Lea Wong and Yanyi Xiong all lost to their stronger opponents and were not able to repeat some of the good results they achieved in the first half of the competition.

The team played Croatia in round five on 8 May. The team was missing two of its strongest team members and so were starting the match outgraded on three boards. Michael Mitcham-Harding Zoe Walters and Blake Shamoon were unable to beat their stronger ranked opponents. On board 2 Ryan Zhang played a very competent game to take a win by resignation while our board 1, Scott Cobbold, fought hard but ultimately lost by 8.5 points. This meant Croatia won the match 4-1.

The team then played Romania in their final match on 29 May. This match was unfortunately timetabled in half term week and some of the team's top players were not available. However Derek Duan and Emily Gan stepped up to play at short notice making their debuts in this event. The UK team were out ranked on three of the five boards so it would have been a tough match to win. In the end, the team of Scott, Michael, Derek, Lea and Emily all lost their games. This left the UK third overall in the competition behind Ukraine and Romania.

TOURNAMENTS

British School Teams

We are planning for this online competition of teams of three, competing for the Castledine Trophy, to be held during the Autumn term. Watch the BGA web site junior section or contact Paul Smith if you would like to enter a team: paul361smith@gmail.com or text 07503 898934.

UK Go Challenge

It is not too late to enter your school or junior club in to the UK Go Challenge for 2024? As usual heats can be run over five rounds on 13x13 at your leisure. If you enter we can send you a pack of small prizes free of charge.

The finals for 2024 will be in Cambridge on 20th October.

OGS Online Meetings

A reminder: you are invited to join a regular session for youth Go players on OGS hosted by Cambridge Junior Chess and Go Club. These take place on Tuesday afternoons and in the Summer term will now be 5:30pm until 7:00pm (players can drop in at any time during this period) in the Cambridge Junior Chess & Go Club group. Before you come for the first time, please set up an OGS username if you haven't already got one and let us know it so we can invite you to the group and send you a link to the Zoom call which we have during the meeting. In order to do this, or for any other information/questions please contact Paul, email paul361smith@gmail.com or text 07503 898934.

TEACHING/TRAINING

DDK Teaching (for weaker players, below 9 kyu)

The next online DDK teaching session will be in September, date to be confirmed.

Youth Summer Camp

There are still places available at our Youth Go Summer Camp to be held at the PGL centre at Caythorpe near Grantham in Lincolnshire, from 14 to 17 August. It will have the usual mix of adverture activity, Go teaching and playing. The entry form is at Flyer for 2024

DIARY SUMMARY

14 - 17 August - Youth Camp at Caythorpe
20 October - UK Go Challenge Finals (Cambridge)
9 November - British Youth Go Championships, Leicester

USEFUL RESOURCES

Here are some useful resources/links:

BGA Youth Go Twitter ("X") account (kept fairly active, 313 followers)
BGA Youth Go OGS (closed group, 155 members including adult organisers). If you are a new member, please complete this form.
BGA Youth Go Discord Channel
BGA Website: Junior Pages

PROBLEMS

Black to play