With the completion of the 2012/13 season we're pleased to announce that Chris Bryant is taking over from Andrew Simons as team captain for the next season. We'd like to thank Andrew for his efforts in the past season and hope he continues to be part of the team.

We need to reverse our relegation from Division 2 as soon as possible, so we're asking our strongest players to contact Chris if you're interesting in playing for 2013/14, starting this September/October.

We've got a new club in East Sussex; see Seaford.

Jon Diamond regained the Bracknell title after a four year gap. He beat Sandy Taylor, 2d Bristol, in the last round to win the 38 player event. The only other player to win all three was young Oscar Selby, 11k Epsom. Oscar Selby also won the 13x13. Wanstead won the team prize, which included retaining the Broken Go Stone Trophy. The Go problem prize was won by Malcolm Walker, 7k and the caption contest was won by Tony Atkins.

Results

We drew our final match against Italy, which we needed to win to avoid relegation. Both Bei Ge and Jon Diamond lost this time. A poor performance all round!

So we ended up with a really consistent record this season, no wins and 4 draws from the 9 matches. Jon Diamond must be tagged as the main culprit - no wins from 6 games.

Must try harder next year...

The Candidates' Tournament, the first stage in the British Championship, was held for the first time in Edinburgh, to allow more Scottish players to take part.

The British Champion, Andrew Kay, requested to take part, despite being guaranteed a place in the Challengers' League by the rules, and convincingly won the event, for the third year running.

14 players attended the 2013 Cambridge Bar-Low, Mike Cockburn, 1 kyu from St Albans, won the tournament again, 12 years after he last won it. He scored an unbeaten 5 wins out of 5.

Prizes were also awarded to Roger Daniel, 5 kyu from London, with 4 wins, and Richard Mullens, 5 kyu from London City, third by tie-break, with 3 wins.

Results

We are pleased to announce that articles written by Michael Redmond and some photos of his teaching trip in UK will be on the Nihon Ki-in's Go Weekly Newspaper next Monday.

Some other articles about his teaching trip in Cambridge, written by Tom Urasoe, will also be printed in their Go magazine 'Igo Mirai', which will be released on 5th June.

The Stacey Grand Prix for 2013 ended with the British Open recently and although it was close right up to the end Toby Manning needed to win at least two more games in Stevenage than Andrew Simons to take the title.

He didn't, so Andrew went one place better than 2012 and won with a total of 29 wins. Toby came second with 26 wins, with Richard Hunter third on 17 wins.

Francis Roads, who has been the most consistent player over the years and winner eight times, only managed to come 7th this year.

Full details are here

In the first Birmingham Tournament since 2002, there were 38 entrants from all across the UK. Andrew Simons won the tournament. Other notable performances were Patrick Batty (6k London) and Anthony Pitchford (11k Chester) who both won all 3 games and Oscar Selby (10k Epsom) and Fassal Mahmood (5k Birmingham) who jointly won the 13x13 side event.

Results

Letchworth Garden City Go Club met for the first time on Thursday April 18.

Nine people attended, including organizer Alison Bexfield 2d and husband Simon 1d. There was also a three-strong contingent, ranging in strength from 25k to 5k, from the Stone Free Go Friendly Association in nearby Stevenage and two other Letchworthians including a complete beginner, as well as two enthusiasts from further afield.

Ms Bexfield, who recently organised the very successful British Go Congress 2013, took on the three Stevenage players simultaneously as well as providing and checking teaching materials from the BGA for the new starter between moves!

She was pleased with the turnout and hopes, with further publicity, to attract more players in the future.

The club will meet at 8pm every Thursday during school term-time at the Central Methodist Church Hall, a couple of minutes drive from J9 of the A1(M).