gowan wrote:It seems that not very many L19 members care about the AGA Congress results. No one has remarked that our L19 member Kirby won all six games in the open tournament and, apparently, placed 3rd overall! Congratulations to Kirby.
Enjoy the straightforward approach to journaling he does here and found this news pretty inspiring particularly in light of the last several journal entries. Congratulations Kirby! Would be wonderful to read a tournament report if ever feel like writing one up.
"Tsumegos are for reading power and Tesujis for knowing which moves to read"
RobertJasiek wrote:Uh, there is at least one person providing some information about the European Go Congress 2015 and even with some note about Mateusz Surma:) So far there are these reports:
Calvin Clark wrote:That being said, this was my 11th U.S. Go Congress and I'd be happy to summarize my experiences and compare this U.S. Congress to others. (I think this one was quite good.) Unfortunately, I've never been to the EGC, so I can't say much about that.
...
Let me know if there is interest. Like this post or PM me.
I will post a few things in this thread in the AGA forum. It seems, however, that some of those commenting on this thread are more concerned about the marketing of the event. Please understand that this is all run by volunteers with minimal budget and likely will be for some time, unless a Kirsan Ilyumzhinov of Go comes along, and with respect to that, one should be careful about one's wishes...
The EGF website has just undergone a big revamp, hopefully the next step would be to add some better information about the Professional system to it. Like: - a list of people who had gone to study with CEGO - a list of EGF professionals, with biography, pictures, contact details - a list of old Grand Prix results, a dedicated Grand Prix calendar - information about other stuff that the EGF promised to do; advertising Chinese Rules, giving Amateur Certificates
Shenoute wrote:*mode ramble on*
The more I reflect on it, the less I understand this "pro" system we got now in Europe. I went to the EGF website and downloaded the CEGO contract. It seems the pros do not receive any salary (at least not from CEGO), all the money is for the Grand Slam Tournament, the Academy, etc.
So now I understand better why university and the like where mentioned. But then I do not understand anymore why is this called a "pro" system. In my understanding the point of having a pro system is to enable talented players to devote themselves 100% to the game.
Sure, I'm aware that even in CJK, not all pros can make a decent living with their salary and that they complement it by various kind of teaching. But these activities help making the game more visible and popular, so it benefits the go playing population.
How will it be possible in Europe? One of the new pros is postponing university for a year, but what then? Does it mean that after that he'll resume his studies and get a job? If so, what does it mean to be a "pro" in Europe? And it's been, what, two years since the first pros were selected and there is not much sign of any activity on their part*. What will it be when they'll have a "real" job?
I can't help but have the feeling that either I'm missing something obvious here either this "pro" system is close to being meaningless.
* Not meaning to be disrespectful to anyone here and maybe I'm not very well informed. But every anouncement I see for go related events (courses, camps, stages) or almost every commented games I can get my hands on is done by others. Being EGF pros I would expect something like them playing a round robin every month or so and then posting their commented games on the EGF website for instance. Their is literally nothing on the EGF website to even advertise that there are pro players in Europe, that people interested in courses, workshops and the like can contact them at such and such adress, no price list is given for their various teaching activities, etc.
"The question was does anyone give a darn about GO in the West?"
Answer: "Yes."
So why did we not post about the European GO Congress?
For a host of reasons. I was not there. I work shifts, and have other responsibilites, my life is busy, and I need easy access to games. This is not meant as snarky, but as a simple rejoinder that for many of us we do not have time to be interested in all the aspects of GO. I would have loved to attend the European GO tourney. And I think the Czechs have made some great videos about matches. Hat tip!
There were also many interesting well thought out responses above. Some of which I agree with. We have a Pro system here in the US but I am far more familiar with Nick Sibicky, Drywin, Shawn Ray, and Hajin Lee than our own pros. When I heard we were starting a Pro system I thought that's nice, but how can it really work when we do not have any big money tourneys? What does it mean to be a Pro when you can't make a living off it? (Especially when there is only a handful of you) I mean can you do enough lessons to really put food on the table? So while I think it is admirable to have a Pro system, I am not sure how we are to best implement it here.
Truth is I am far more concerned about getting word out about GO and getting more people aware of it and playing it at all levels. I tend to think even if we have Pros it will not generate a large interest in the greater community, such as what happened with Bobby F and Boris Spassky. That was a unique convergence of factors.
I applaud the AGA for televising as much as it did. I think there having a Youtube channel is great! An active Facebook Page is also useful. I think more energy should be applied to helping promote GO at the local level. Intro videos, promotional videos, that are done well. Fliers, press releases, downloadable powerpoints, equipment for new clubs at an excellent rate. Other promotional items. Please note it is easy to say this and so hard to implement with limited funds and mostly volunteers.
I think a competition between our Pros and the European Pros ( Best in the West?!) every other year, televised, with commentaries, a web page updates and game files would be of interest for our communities. And maybe we need to move the two Congresses further apart, they are too close. One in August and one in June? And definitely have some Pros attend from our two communities, give demos, teaching and a match between team Europe and USA!
In closing we all have ideas, and wish to see GO flourish. But there is no magic bullet, or scheme to grow it quickly. I want to thank all of those who work so hard to spread the love of the game, in the AGA, European GO Federation, our local clubs, L19x19, Senseis library, etc... And of course the large Professional organizations in Asia, that have supported us with time,and talent.
Walla Walla GO Club -(on FB)
We play because we enjoy the beauty of the game, the snap and feel of real stones, and meeting interesting people. Hope to see ya there! お願いします!
The EGF website has just undergone a big revamp, hopefully the next step would be to add some better information about the Professional system to it. Like: - a list of people who had gone to study with CEGO - a list of EGF professionals, with biography, pictures, contact details - a list of old Grand Prix results, a dedicated Grand Prix calendar - information about other stuff that the EGF promised to do; advertising Chinese Rules, giving Amateur Certificates
Agreed this would be a nice list of things to have, but it appears to be asking a group of unpaid amateurs to do a lot of work for a group of people who want to make money out of go - and, unless I've missed something, for a group of people who haven't collectively done a huge amount for European go. On top of that, if time and resources of the amateurs are limited, are they not better off devoting what they have to the vast majority of their members, i.e. amateurs.
I would suggest your request could usefully be restated:
"The EGF website has just undergone a big revamp. With luck, as the next step, the European professionals will delegate/pay someone to add some better information about the Professional system to it."
Don't forget that the EGF voted democratically to set up the system. Therefore the EGF ought to do it, or delegate somebody to.Li Ting presented a large document on the subject at the latest AGM; so perhaps some of this is already planned; I really must read the document to see. From the EGF accounts I saw, it appeared to me that either the webmaster was paid a nominal amount, or they paid a proverbial-load for web hosting.
goTony wrote: When I heard we were starting a Pro system I thought that's nice, but how can it really work when we do not have any big money tourneys?
I don't understand why the AGA is so reluctant to post prize winnings for various events. There's at least one big money tournament every year (depending on your definition of "big"). The US Open Masters tournament at this year's Go Congress awarded over $12,300 in cash prizes. This is its second year in this current, nine round format (the web page is woefully out-of-date).
Javaness2 wrote:Don't forget that the EGF voted democratically to set up the system. Therefore the EGF ought to do it, or delegate somebody to.Li Ting presented a large document on the subject at the latest AGM; so perhaps some of this is already planned; I really must read the document to see. From the EGF accounts I saw, it appeared to me that either the webmaster was paid a nominal amount, or they paid a proverbial-load for web hosting.
As far as I understand the issue right, there are at least two important issues in the pipeline:
-- How to make the public relations professional-like ? -- How to make the EGF getting a professional approach ?
goTony wrote: When I heard we were starting a Pro system I thought that's nice, but how can it really work when we do not have any big money tourneys?
I don't understand why the AGA is so reluctant to post prize winnings for various events. There's at least one big money tournament every year (depending on your definition of "big"). The US Open Masters tournament at this year's Go Congress awarded over $12,300 in cash prizes. This is its second year in this current, nine round format (the web page is woefully out-of-date).
I am glad to hear of it. However, once that money is spread out to 1st and 2nd place, etc., it is definitely not enough to live on or entice people to devote themselves to go. Which proves the point one can hardly make a living at GO in the West. Our Professionals are sanctioned, very good players but GO in the West is struggling with making a relevant Pro system. Pros bring excitement, and great games and generate interest but you need enough of a base to get excited about the Pros themselves.
I wonder has the AGA ever done a community outreach at its US GO open? Some type of event at a local mall, or invite schools, teachers etc... It seems like an excellent opportunity.
Walla Walla GO Club -(on FB)
We play because we enjoy the beauty of the game, the snap and feel of real stones, and meeting interesting people. Hope to see ya there! お願いします!
Cassandra wrote:As far as I understand the issue right, there are at least two important issues in the pipeline: -- How to make the public relations professional-like ? -- How to make the EGF getting a professional approach ?
I saw that some people from the EGF had been working on a brochure for publicity, although it looked to be a bit too long for my tastes. So far, I was impressed by the publicity generated in China, but not by that generated in Europe.
To my mind, the EGF could actually end up just splitting into 2 separate parts if it genuinely tries to support both amateur and professional Go at the same time. That seems to be the natural course.
Javaness2 wrote:The EGF website has just undergone a big revamp, hopefully the next step would be to add some better information about the Professional system to it. Like: - a list of people who had gone to study with CEGO - a list of EGF professionals, with biography, pictures, contact details
There is this page if you click through about the CEGO online academy (and many of those players also went to train in China and includes the 4 now pros): http://eurogofed.org/cego/#players
goTony wrote:I think a competition between our Pros and the European Pros ( Best in the West?!) every other year, televised, with commentaries, a web page updates and game files would be of interest for our communities.
Or even easier that real-life games (which requires lots of jet fuel) would be an online tournament. I think a win-and-continue (there are 4 AGA and 4 EGF pros) with a game or two each weekend could be a good format. Another of the pros could provide commentary.
Uberdude wrote:There is this page if you click through about the CEGO online academy (and many of those players also went to train in China and includes the 4 now pros): http://eurogofed.org/cego/#players
That is close to what I would I expect to see on the website. I suppose I had in mind the kind of thing an organisation like the Nihon Kiin has, except the EGF should add GoR and marketing information.
