Who will become the next AGA pro?

yoyoma · Post by **yoyoma** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:23 pm

http://www.usgo.org/news/2014/12/8-top- ... ro-tourney

Eight top US go players will gather just outside Boston next week to determine the next US professional. Play in the 3rd AGA Pro Qualification 2014.12.28_Calvin-Sun-Wins-2013-pro-tourneyFinals starts on Sunday, January 4 and ends on January 10. The games will be broadcast live on KGS from the Nantasket Beach Resort by the E-Journal; morning rounds will begin at 9:30 AM and afternoon rounds will begin at 4:30 PM. The players are Eric Lui 7d, Ryan Li 7d, Yuan Zhou 7d, Jeremy Chiu 6d, Daniel Gourdeau 7d, Ricky Zhao 7d, Ben Lockhart 7d, and Matthew Burrall 6d. The tournament will be played in two parts, a Round Robin Prelim Sunday through Wednesday, followed by the Championship Thursday and Friday. Jeff Shaevel is the Tournament Director, AGA President Andy Okun will be on hand and Chris Garlock and Andrew Jackson will head up the EJ recording team.

snorri · Post by **snorri** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:59 pm

I think either Eric Lui or Ryan Li will make it. It would good to have someone who is into teaching like Yuan Zhou, but it would also be nice to have a youth member with a longer potential career and can really benefit from the extra experience competing in Asia.

May we see some great games in the showdown!

xed_over · Post by **xed_over** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:46 am

First round results are up
http://www.usgo.org/aga-professional-results-2014

Ryan over Jeremy
Eric over Matthew
Ben over Yuan
Daniel over Ricky

DrStraw · Post by **DrStraw** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 4:48 pm

I'm not an AGA member any more and only recognize three of these names. Can anyone provide brief biographical information about them? How long they have been playing, where they are from, their age, etc.

DrStraw · Post by **DrStraw** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 6:22 pm

I just looked up the location for this event. I looks like a pretty expensive resort hotel. Where does the AGA get the money to afford this kind of location? Is the event sponsored by some large oriental company?

xed_over · Post by **xed_over** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:15 pm

Round two results and game records are posted
http://www.usgo.org/aga-professional-results-2014

Ryan defeated Matthew
Eric defeated Daniel
Ben defeated Ricky
Jeremy defeated Yuan

Ryan Li and Daniel Gourdeau are from Canada.
Jeremy Chiu is 12 years old.
Ben's brother is making a movie about Go.

Uberdude · Post by **Uberdude** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:48 pm

Some totally unofficial dubious bios.

Ryan Li is a Canadian student*, plays on KGS as crazywind, makes nice shapes.
Daniel Gourdeau is a Québécois student, Dad some big cheese in canadian Go iirc. KGS Whiterawr.
Eric Lui, American. KGS compendium. Strong.
Matthew Burrall, American. played since young as from a Go family. Long hair.
Ben Lockhart, has studied in Korea (http://intergofed.org/13-igf-news-feed/ ... khart.html)
Yuan Zhou, older than the rest, Go teacher and author.
Jeremy new to me.
Ricky Zhao, some American kid, KGS picture had a pig.

*maybe they aren't students anymore but late teens/early tewnties age

The American pro system is supported by the Korean Baduk Association so maybe they stumped up some cash for the venue.

hyperpape · Post by **hyperpape** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:58 am

I think Ryan Li is maybe 18 or 19?
Eric is mid 20s, I think. He started college while I was in grad school.
I think most of the rest are teenagers, except for Yuan Zhou. Not quite sure about Matthew Burall either--he might be somewhat older.
Thr e-journal said Jeremy is 12.

Uberdude · Post by **Uberdude** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:24 am

From front:
Ryan Li
Eric Lui
Ben Lockhart
Ricky Zhao
Daniel Gordeau
Yuan Zhou
Matthew Burral
Jeremy Chiu

xed_over · Post by **xed_over** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:35 am

Uberdude wrote:From front:
...

and in the back...
Andy Okun (AGA president)
Jeff Shaevel (TD)

DrStraw · Post by **DrStraw** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:49 am

hyperpape wrote:I think Ryan Li is maybe 18 or 19?
Eric is mid 20s, I think. He started college while I was in grad school.
I think most of the rest are teenagers, except for Yuan Zhou. Not quite sure about Matthew Burall either--he might be somewhat older.
Thr e-journal said Jeremy is 12.

Eric Lui has to be about 25-26 I would think. I remember playing him in early 2002 when he was 5 dan. He looked about 13-14 at the time.

I actually beat him so if he turns out the be the winner I can finally say that I once took white and beat a player who is a pro. (Note, that is not the same as saying I once beat a pro.)

HermanHiddema · Post by **HermanHiddema** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:22 am

DrStraw wrote:I looked about 13-14 at the time.

Please share the secret of eternal youth with us! :lol:

DrStraw · Post by **DrStraw** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:50 am

HermanHiddema wrote:
DrStraw wrote:I looked about 13-14 at the time.

Please share the secret of eternal youth with us!

Oops!

Duly edited.

xed_over · Post by **xed_over** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:29 pm

This morning's round 3 results and game records are posted
http://www.usgo.org/aga-professional-results-2014

Jeremy defeated Ricky
Ryan defeated Yuan
Matthew defeated Daniel
Eric defeated Ben

snorri · Post by **snorri** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:40 pm

xed_over wrote:Round two results and game records are posted

Ryan Li and Daniel Gourdeau are from Canada.
Jeremy Chiu is 12 years old.

A bit more about Daniel here. It seems he was studying at Blackie's International Baduk Academy in Korea back in 2011, but was already 6D then at the age of 18.

One interesting about Ryan: as he won the 2014 Canadian Open and got enough points to go anywhere, he chose the 2015 WAGC. I would guess that if he becomes a pro he won't be doing that.

Then again, South Korea did once send a rep to the WAGC that was already a pro (in 2005. He came in 4th.)

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