Chris Ball: Go tournament.

Go tournament.

Chris Ball — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 01:06:00 +0100

Just back from the Massachusetts Go Association's Spring tournament. I entered at 1-dan for the first time, and had a fun few games:

Against 1-dan, 7.5 komi, loss by 2.5 points.
Against 2-dan, 0.5 komi, win by 13.5 points.
Against 2-kyu, giving two stones, win.
Against 2-dan, 0.5 komi, loss by 0.5 points.

Having both losses be marginal was a shame, but I feel pretty good about the day. But, do I feel like shodan yet? Well, no, not really. The numbers suggest I can hold my own, but I still feel like a beginner to the game. In the last round, I even managed to misplay a 3-3 corner invasion (against hoshi-ogeima), dying completely instead of living in gote.

I'll resume normal blogging service shortly. While I'm talking about non-computer stuff, though, I should add that I've been vegetarian for the last month or two. I'd rather be vegan, and Mad is managing to mostly do so, but for now cheese is just too good to say no to.

"Go tournament." by rpg games

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:18:49 +0100

Always cool to hear about another vegetarian! I've been vegetarian myself for the last 8 years and i totally agree, cheese is probably the hardest part (vegetarian/vegan). But imo, to be vegetarian is way enough, we save so many animals and we now know that eating meat doesn't help the earth at all or the hunger problem :)

"Go tournament." by Alex

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:24:13 +0100

How about adding some game records?

"Go tournament." by ken

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 21:13:27 +0100

Wow, do we need to start a "Vegetarian Go-playing GNOME user group"? I had no idea we were so well represented.

"Go tournament." by anonymous coward

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:53:27 +0100

Couldn't resist this joke http://www.threadless.com/product/490/Meatis_MurderTastyTastyMurder

"Go tournament." by NannyOgg

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:09:06 +0100

Ah, you are THAT chris, now I remember. Had been trying to figure out who you were.

Nanny/Karen

"Go tournament." by NannyOgg

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:40:57 +0100

Gratz at reaching 1d!

I was in Mass too, but never played against you.

I am vegetarian too, and playing with the idea of going vegan, but not there yet.

Nanny

"Go tournament." by Chris

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:39:17 +0100

Thanks! Yes, I'm doing it for ethical reasons, so there's no need for me to be uncompromisingly strict about it. Now, if only I knew how to cook, the whole thing would be a lot easier..

Chris.

"Go tournament." by Ashley

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:34:52 +0100

Re the vegetarianism, in my experience (having been more or less vegan for the last 6 years), I just wanted to say don't be hard on yourself if you still eat cheese or another animal-derived food every now and again. I believe more people would consider becoming vegetarian-ish or vegan-ish :-) if it didn't seem like such an all or nothing thing, and I believe that would be a great outcome for everyone.

Really keen to learn to play Go too, well one of these days!

"Go tournament." by Chris

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 04:11:38 +0100

Hi David! Yes, another Go player -- I think I first found your blog from your Go bibliography, in fact. I've managed to avoid blogging about Go so far; I find it very hard to write about Go in a way that doesn't actively discourage people who don't know the game from wanting to learn. ;-) There's an awful lot of jargon.

You should definitely drop by the MGA club. Tuesday and Friday nights are pretty busy, and there are still several life members around.

Chris.

"Go tournament." by David Carlton

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:44:10 +0100

I didn't realize you were a go player! Or in/near Massachusetts, for that matter. I certainly enjoyed many a game (and tournament) at the MGA during my years there... I should drop by the MGA when I visit Boston this summer; I wonder how many of the regulars of the 1990's are still there?