Top players at congress

[hyperpape]

Based on the who's coming list, it seems like the field is a bit small this year (list here: http://www.gocongress.org/list.php?o=rddalafacasa). There are 25 players listed as being eligible for the open section (7d and above), but that includes Japanese professionals who never (as far as I know) play, and one 9d entry that I think is fictitious.

There are several perenial contenders missing (i.e. Zhaonian Chen, Andy Liu). Among professionals, we're also missing Feng Yun, it seems. Any given player might have all sorts of reasons, but given the overall small pool, I wonder if there are issues with the location or economic conditions.

No bigger point, but I'm always interested to see who will compete at the US Open.

[Joaz Banbeck]

There are only 3 9Ps listed. I've met M Kim in person, and Hane appears to be too well documented to be a fake. That leaves Seong-yong Kim, who has no traces on the net under that spelling. There does seem to be a north Korean soccer player by that name.

To anyone who reads Korean: is the spelling correct? Could it be Kim SeungJun 9p?

EDIT: I misread the OP. It is the 9D named 'Meyer' who may have gotten a battlefield promotion.

[Kirby]

If it is really an authentic and current 9p, I would guess that it might be 김성룡 (http://www.baduk.or.kr/information/info ... n=1&gdiv=2), because this is sometimes romanized as "Kim Seong-yong" (though some people might prefer to throw an "r" in there to get something like "Kim Seong-ryong"). If I recall correctly, the old "hemmy" (what's believed to be 김성룡's old account) account from KGS - which is now expired and taken by someone else - used this exact spelling (Kim Seong-yong) in the profile information.

While romanization of Korean names is often varied, I think it's unlikely that "Kim SeungJun" would spell his name this way using English characters. I think it's much more likely that it's 김성룡 (Kim Seong-ryong).

If it is, it'd be pretty awesome, as 김성룡 9d is an excellent player, as well as a great BadukTV commentator... It makes me wonder if I made a mistake in deciding not to come to congress this year.

[hyperpape]

Yes, it was Mr. Meyer who I meant.

I just realized that Hane Yasumasa will have a long time lock on "Congress participant with the strongest child".

[Magicwand]

If it is really an authentic and current 9p, I would guess that it might be 김성룡 (http://www.baduk.or.kr/information/info ... n=1&gdiv=2), because this is sometimes romanized as "Kim Seong-yong" (though some people might prefer to throw an "r" in there to get something like "Kim Seong-ryong"). If I recall correctly, the old "hemmy" (what's believed to be 김성룡's old account) account from KGS - which is now expired and taken by someone else - used this exact spelling (Kim Seong-yong) in the profile information.

While romanization of Korean names is often varied, I think it's unlikely that "Kim SeungJun" would spell his name this way using English characters. I think it's much more likely that it's 김성룡 (Kim Seong-ryong).

If it is, it'd be pretty awesome, as 김성룡 9d is an excellent player, as well as a great BadukTV commentator... It makes me wonder if I made a mistake in deciding not to come to congress this year.

i am sorry to disagree with you on this.
he is not a strong professional. (i believe his ranking is not in top 100 profesional)
and he is hated by many many viewer who have seen his comment. (i am one of the hater)
his quality of comment reflect his lack of go knowledge and his running mouth offends many viewer like me.
i have no idea why they hire him as a commentator.

[Bantari]

his quality of comment reflect his lack of go knowledge and his running mouth offends many viewer like me.

Oh boy!...

[hyperpape]

i am sorry to disagree with you on this.
he is not a strong professional. (i believe his ranking is not in top 100 profesional)
and he is hated by many many viewer who have seen his comment. (i am one of the hater)
his quality of comment reflect his lack of go knowledge and his running mouth offends many viewer like me.
i have no idea why they hire him as a commentator.

You lose: http://valeriosampieri.spaces.live.com/ ... 296.entry; http://senseis.xmp.net/?KingOfKings; He is ranked in the same range as Rui Naiwei or Seo Bongsoo. Of course, they are past their prime, but they're good enough for you to listen to.

[Joaz Banbeck]

I think Hyperpape meant http://senseis.xmp.net/?KingOfKings without the semicolon
and http://valeriosampieri.spaces.live.com/ ... 1296.entry ( Kim is #68 )

...they're good enough for you to listen to.

Violence is good enough for Magicwand to listen to.

[kokomi]

7 Cheng Xiaoliu 6P

wow, i like his series about tesuji and ancient games. How I wish I could be there this year!

[Magicwand]

i am sorry to disagree with you on this.
he is not a strong professional. (i believe his ranking is not in top 100 profesional)
and he is hated by many many viewer who have seen his comment. (i am one of the hater)
his quality of comment reflect his lack of go knowledge and his running mouth offends many viewer like me.
i have no idea why they hire him as a commentator.

You lose: http://valeriosampieri.spaces.live.com/ ... 296.entry; http://senseis.xmp.net/?KingOfKings; He is ranked in the same range as Rui Naiwei or Seo Bongsoo. Of course, they are past their prime, but they're good enough for you to listen to.

i didnt lose. i dont give damm what his ranking is.
dont make any comment about what i think of him unless you speak fluent korean and have listened to his dumbass comments.
i believe more than 50% of the people actually hate his comment. (what i gathered from other viewers comment about kim)

[hyperpape]

Like who you want--I do not have an opinion on his commentary. But you are the one who took it further, falsely denigrating the strength of a professional. Next time, try saying "I don't like his commentary" without mouthing off about his strength. It could be an enlightening experience.

[Magicwand]

@Magicwand:
Could you enlighten us non-Koreans what kind of comments causes this kind of hatred? I assume it's not merely ignorance of the game.

i will try to find one and translate.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Yes, it was Mr. Meyer who I meant...

I'm here at Congress, and there is a real live person named Francis Meyer. Last I saw he was playing Burral 7D and it looked like a competitive game.

[hyperpape]

Interesting that Mr. Meyer is a high dan--I've looked around and found no references to him elsewhere. I do wonder why he registered as 9d, since that's quite an elite club.

[Redundant]

From what I just read on the kgs broadcast of Meyer's game against Myungwan, it seems that Meyer was born in the U.S. and lived in Japan. He became an insei there, and has just moved to Colorado for school.