Youth Go News 37 - October 2024

Editor, Toby Manning.

You are receiving this Newsletter as we believe you have an interest in Youth Go. If you do not wish to receive future Newsletters, or if you receive multiple copies, please let us know at ynews AT britgo.org

Your Newsletter

This is your Newsletter: We welcome contributions from our readers; if you have any news, an interesting article or suggestions for inclusion in future newsletters please send it to ynews AT britgo.org. If you are a parent or teacher reading this, please pass it on to your children!

NEWS

Great Result in the World Youth Championships

Edited from a write-up kindly supplied by Clare Chen:

From August 26th to August 30th, the 39th World Youth Go Championship was held in Vatra Dornei, Romania. Ryan Zhang from the UK competed in the Under-12 section, being one of the three European qualifiers (from the European Youth Go Championships) in that age group. A total of 22 young players from 16 countries and regions around the world participated. After four days of intense competition in the preliminary and final stages, Zhang Yimiao, a 1 dan professional player from China, and Kim Tae-hyuk, 7 dan from South Korea, won the championships of the Under-12 group and Under-18 group respectively.

Ryan Zhang performed outstandingly. In the first stage he defeated the players from the Czech Republic, Malaysia and a Japanese 6 dan. He only lost to Zhang Yimiao, a professional player and the eventual winner. This put him in the semi-finals. Sadly he didn’t progress past the semi-final, but making it into the top four of the junior group is a ‘first’ for a player representing Europe. As such he broke the usual monopoly of the top four seats in the World Championship by players from China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

In addition to Ryan, the other European representatives in the Under-12 section were Bende Barcza 3 dan from Hungary and Bartik Dach 4 dan from the Czech Republic, who came sixth and seventh respectively.

TOURNAMENTS

Sun 20th October - UK Go Challenge Finals
Storey's Field Centre, Eddington Avenue, Cambridge CB3 1AA. Arrive by 10:00, prize giving 16:15. Format: 13x13 tournament open to all ages (even adults) and grades including novices. Stronger players compete for the British Small Board title by double elimination; others play handicap games. All juniors will also be competing for age-band titles (based on age at the end of August 2023) for boys and for girls in the 2024 UK Go Challenge Finals; use the same entry form and make sure you put your date of birth. This is an event to celebrate 30 years of Youth Go in Cambridge. There will be lots of cakes, prizes (including cash prizes and some Go-themed posters, cards and books) and even a Go-playing robot! Novice players can play on 9x9 and without clocks.
More Info Entry Form Entries to Date

Sat 9th November - British Youth Go Championship
Leicester County Bridge Club, St. Oswalds Road, Leicester, LE 3 6RJ Registration 09:15 to 09:45. Prize giving 17:00. Youth titles at U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 (based on age at the end of August 2024) will be contested, on 19x19 boards, in addition to the title of overall British Youth Champion. Modified McMahon system will be used, 5 or 6 rounds, time limit 20 minutes + 5 secs Fischer time. Beginners and those new to the game will be made particularly welcome, and can select to play most of their games on 13x13 boards. Non-British residents also welcome, but some may not be eligible for titles. Closing date for entries 6th November. Contact bygc at britgo.org More info./Entry Form

Sun 8th December Inter-club Team Championship This event will consist of a tournament to determine the best club or school in the U.K. You will need to provide a team of 3 players. Please note that matches will be even games, although in the event of a large mis-match in grades there will be an option to play a non-competitive handicap game.

TEACHING/TRAINING

The next Double-digit kyu teaching session will be on 24 November 2024 at 14:30. If you wish to attend please email ynews AT britgo.org before 21 November.

ONLINE MEETINGS

The Online Go Club is restarting on Tuesdays from 5:30pm until 7:00pm (players can drop in at any time during this period). However, meetings will now take place on playstrategy.org, instead of OGS, in the "team" called "Euro City Youth Go League". For instructions on using playstrategy.org or any other information/questions please contact Paul Smith, email paul361smith@gmail.com.

DIARY SUMMARY

20 October - UK Go Challenge Finals (Cambridge)
9 November - British Youth Go Championships (Leicester)
24 November - DDK teaching
8 December - British School Teams (online)
2025
1 February - London Youth (London Go Centre)
13 - 16 August - Youth Go Camp at Caythorpe (to be confirmed)

USEFUL RESOURCES

Here are some useful resources/links:

BGA Youth Go Twitter ("X") account (kept fairly active, 352 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