Regarding "big" status, I would say that it depends on personal opinion. When a country wins many times, it provides many positive data points that are likely to convince a good number of people of its "bigness"... But depending on the various factors that any particular individual takes into account to define what makes a "big status" country, people may come to different conclusions. I guess that I don't think that the "big status" is well-defined, so it's more of a personal opinion (i.e. how a person defines a country as "big") than anything else.

If I had enough faith in Antarctica that they were enough of a powerhouse in go to dominate the WAGC, I might call them a "big" go country, even if they hadn't won before. But I would probably have to have some other reasoning in mind other than game results to come to this conclusion.

So personally, I don't know enough about North Korea to call them one of the "big" countries myself, but maybe somebody that's taking other factors into account could rationally come to that conclusion.

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be immersed

Yes North Korea rep is also very strong. The amazing thing about the WMSG final was that the North Korean player lost by time but the South Korean player didn't claim the win and they finished the game anyway. (I also heard that the South Korean player was leading by a few points in yose, and some said he allowed the North Korean to win as a gesture of good will for North Korean Go, may not be accurate tho ^^)

I miss the option to choose "Austria"
Bernd Scheid will crush everyone with the newest austrian special trick move

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igonoma.blogspot.com

I just looked at the list of contestants, and I'm wondering how they're picked. There's 5k from Italy, a 6k from India, and several other kyus in the list. What gives? What kind of championship is this?

In any case, best of luck to T Mark. I hope you're happier in the tournament than your mugshot makes you look.

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My blog about Macs and more: Kirkville

Many of those are actually (among) the strongest players in their country. In the case of Italy, I hear the representative fell ill and a replacement was sent, though I do not know how that person was chosen.

You can check on their forums, but I think that Italy has a points system

Many countries have a system whereby a person cannot go to the WAGC more than once every so many years. If that number of years is more than the number of dan players who are able to go then sometimes you will see kyu players. I suspect there are several of the newer countries fall into the category.

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Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

Edit: DrStraw said it better than me.

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a1h1 [1d]: You just need to curse the gods and defend.
Good Go = Shape.
Associação Portuguesa de Go

I sometimes saddens me that I am a stronger player than half the participants there, yet I have zero chance of ever participating

Nonsense, you just need to start beating Geert Groenen and Merlijn Kuin regularly and you'll be there in no time, it's as easy as that

Yeah. And Frank Janssen, Emil Nijhuis, Michiel Eijkhout and Gerald Westhoff. And all the 5 dans. Easy.

There is, of course, some benefit of living within 100 miles of a dozen active 6 dans and 5 dans to play against regularly in tournaments

That's very true - Actually, I feel sure that the kyu representatives from India and Ecuador would envy your situation more than their own!

I feel sure they envy Herman too...51 weeks out of the year.

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My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle

Herman, you can always move to kyu country, I'm sure you'd be welcome there.

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a1h1 [1d]: You just need to curse the gods and defend.
Good Go = Shape.
Associação Portuguesa de Go

The lack of sponsorship this year will have had a significant impact on the quality of the field. It's no longer a case of sending the strongest player, but the strongest player who can also afford the flight.

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igonoma.blogspot.com

I'm sure I would be, but I think the number of countries that will give me a passport in exchange for teaching their kyu players is rather limited.

No passport, no WAGC

You are still improving and you afaik won games against former representatives as well, just work on the ratio. If you need some encouragement just start a poll here