Who will the first US pros be?

[Joaz Banbeck]

In another thread...

... how many people can become u.s. pros this year?

Two.

Anyone have a guess on who they will be? ( And, no, I'm not inviting a debate on whether they are US or Korean, or whether they ar really pros. Please save that for another thread )

[oren]

Anyone have a guess on who they will be? ( And, no, I'm not inviting a debate on whether they are US or Korean, or whether they ar really pros. Please save that for another thread )

Too hard to guess without knowing who will be interested. Two of the strongest players, Andy Liu and Jie Li haven't done qualifiers yet.

[schultz]

Too hard to guess without knowing who will be interested. Two of the strongest players, Andy Liu and Jie Li haven't done qualifiers yet.

Is the Cotsen the only qualifier played so far? (They have a mix of tournaments both in-person, like the Cotsen, and online, right?)

[tchan001]

Doubtful he'll be one of the first, but there's alway L19's Leyleth hoping to become a pro eventually.
http://www.lifein19x19.com/forum/viewto ... =48&t=5029

[oren]

Is the Cotsen the only qualifier played so far? (They have a mix of tournaments both in-person, like the Cotsen, and online, right?)

Seattle was played as well with Edward Kim winning the qualifier. I think Baltimore is soon. HKA has been posting about it.

[gowan]

Anyone have a guess on who they will be? ( And, no, I'm not inviting a debate on whether they are US or Korean, or whether they ar really pros. Please save that for another thread )

Too hard to guess without knowing who will be interested. Two of the strongest players, Andy Liu and Jie Li haven't done qualifiers yet.

I don't think it follows that a very strong player will automatically want to become a pro. That has certainly been true in Japan where players like Kikuchi, who in his prime was at least 5p strength, never became pros. It is a life choice and pro-capable players might well choose to follow another career. Jie Li might be one such, for example.

[Javaness2]

Andy doesn't want to be a pro; at least that's what I heard. I don't know about Jie Li, he'll find it hard to win the WAGC if he turns pro.

I'd say one of the young kids could make it. Maybe Calvin Sun for instance.

[hyperpape]

There's a recent article about Curtis which raises all sorts of interesting questions: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/24 ... d-20120424.

In the case of Andy (http://gosensations.com/?id=2&server_id=1&new_id=1254), I wonder if he's said anything since the U.S. pro qualifiers were announced. There's a difference between saying you don't want to go be a professional when that means living full time overseas and saying that when you'd be a US professional.

[snorri]

It might seem odd, but most of the strong amateurs aren't really interested in becoming pro. The pro life is hard. I was about to post the link on Curtis, but hyperpape beat me to it.

Let's say Curtis finishes in the top 2. He's certainly strong enough. What's he going to do with this? Is he going to go to Korea? It doesn't seem that way.

[snorri]

Jie Li might be one such, for example.

I suppose one could get sick of being a lawyer.

[shapenaji]

As someone who competed in one of the qualifiers, and talking with a few of the other players. I think most of us were just along for the ride. Actually becoming pro is not an easy life (even if we believed we WERE capable of it).

Given the state of go in this country, I'm not sure anyone in the US seriously considered trying to go pro. I think most had/have other careers in mind.

I really wonder, at the end of the day, in that last deciding game, whether one or both of the players will be sitting there, making their moves, thinking "Wow, do I really want this?"

[snorri]

I really wonder, at the end of the day, in that last deciding game, whether one or both of the players will be sitting there, making their moves, thinking "Wow, do I really want this?"

Well, I hope everyone plays their best.

I can see how this could be a little sensitive. I'm sure the KBA wants the winners to really want to take advantage of the opportunity. It would be a shame for a winner to say, "nice game, but sorry I really can't go." I don't think that would be great for the Korea-U.S. go relations.

[hyperpape]

I hope that they're on top of this, and behind the scenes, someone is checking with the players.

[oren]

I don't think it follows that a very strong player will automatically want to become a pro. That has certainly been true in Japan where players like Kikuchi, who in his prime was at least 5p strength, never became pros. It is a life choice and pro-capable players might well choose to follow another career. Jie Li might be one such, for example.

That is pretty much my point exactly.

I can't see Edward Kim wanting to be a pro and yet won the qualifier.

[Joaz Banbeck]

I really wonder, at the end of the day, in that last deciding game, whether one or both of the players will be sitting there, making their moves, thinking "Wow, do I really want this?"

Well, I hope everyone plays their best.

I can see how this could be a little sensitive. I'm sure the KBA wants the winners to really want to take advantage of the opportunity. It would be a shame for a winner to say, "nice game, but sorry I really can't go." I don't think that would be great for the Korea-U.S. go relations.

Ok, I got it. We all pack one of the qualifying tournaments, and make sure that Leyleth wins it. Even if he comes in last at the main event, there will be somebody to accept the title and save Korean face.