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Nominations Open for INAF Lifetime Achievement Award

The Iwamoto North American Go Foundation (INAF) is seeking nominations for the “INAF Lifetime Achievement Award” to honor individuals who, over their lifetime, have made significant contributions to the advancement of the culture and sport of Go in North America. It is expected that up to one award will be made each year. The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 31. CLICK HERE for details.

December 5th, 2023|

Terry Benson Receives the 2023 INAF Outstanding Contribution Award

Terry Benson, the president of the American Go Federation, received the 2023 INAF Outstanding Contribution Award.

The following is INAF Board Member, Dave Weimer’s remarks at the US Go Congress in presenting INAF Outstanding Contribution Award to Terry Benson:

The Iwamoto North America Foundation for Go has created an annual award to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of Go in North America. On behalf of the Foundation, I am honored to present the inaugural award to Terry Benson.

Terry learned to play Go in 1960, but only discovered the American Go Association in 1975. However, by 1976 he was editor-in-chief of the American Go Journal and president of the AGA! During his dozen years as president, Terry made the AGA a truly national organization.

Terry has made numerous contributions to American Go since then. However, I will simply note a few things, aside from his dedication to Crazy Go, that should be of interest to Congress attendees. First, as AGA president, Terry supported the successful efforts of Haskell Small to organize the very first US Go Congress. Second, he helped create and then ably lead the American Go Foundation, which has radically changed the demographics of American Go. The over $900 thousand dollars that the AGF has raised and distributed have greatly contributed to the increase in youth participation in American Go, both generally and at the Congress. Third, Terry is one of two people who have attended every US Go Congress!

Please join with me in thanking Terry for his outstanding contributions to American Go and congratulating him for receipt of this award.

July 20th, 2023|

INAF Announces Research Grant for Review of the Relationship Between Mind Sports and Cognitive Functions

On April 5, 2023, Director David Weimer announced awarding a research grant for Professor Xiuwen Wu of the National Louis University for a project that will involve and undergraduate research assistant in surveying reports in the scientific journals that link the development and maintenance of human cognition with mind sports.  Professor Wu has a background in educational psychology and has experience in using go game for the development of number concepts and skills.

April 21st, 2023|

INAF Announces the Presentation of Three Videos Produced in Cooperation with Nihon Kiin

The first is a lecture by Takemiya Masaki 9p on his choice of the “best selection of cosmic-style game”. He gives detailed commentary of the game between himself and Cho Chikun to decide the 1988 Kisei challenger. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-mC7AKWXA8.

The second video introduces several modern “AI style Josekis” in a lecture by Cho Zuiketsu 5p. These new moves are analyzed in detail using actual games between Cho and other pros as examples, including a very clever ladder-blocker that you don’t want to miss! Cho should be familiar to the western players as he was dispatched by the Nihon Kiin to the Seattle Go Center in 2018 and to Europe in 2019. See https://youtu.be/ZhRQnht3Gg4

The third video is given by Tajiri Yuto 5p on “how to use thickness for kyu players”. Tajiri visited the US Go Congress and the Seattle Go Center in 2019 and was a popular lecturer for the kyu players. In this lecture he discusses how to build and use thickness, an important topic as one moves from the kyu to dan ranks. See https://youtu.be/0mkARrIL5zQ

November 21st, 2022|

Request for Proposals: Relationship between Mind Sports and Cognitive Functions

INAF seeks to fund one or two university projects for a comprehensive literature survey and review of research linking mind sports to cognitive science. Of particular interest is how mind sports such as Go may contribute to the cognitive development of youth and to the cognitive maintenance of senior citizens. The deadline for submitting a proposal is March 31, 2023. See details.

November 20th, 2022|

INAF Solicits Nominations for a Newly Established Lifetime Achievement Award

INAF Board has approved establishing a new “INAF Lifetime Achievement Award” to honor individuals who, over their lifetime, have made significant contributions to the advancement of the culture and sport of Go in North America. It is expected that up to one award will be made each year. The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 31. See details.

November 20th, 2022|

New lectures by Michael Redmond 9P and Tsuruyama Atsushi 8P sponsored by INAF

The Iwamoto North American Foundation (INAF) is pleased to sponsor two more lectures produced by the Nihon Kiin. 

The first is a dan-level lecture in English by Michael Redmond 9-dan on “the Art of Sacrificing Stones” based on a game between the greatest master of the Edo period, Honinbo Dosaku (本因坊道策), and the multi-talented genius Yasui Santetsu (安井算哲). The URL is https://youtu.be/C-nS2xpqfQ4

The second is a kyu-level lecture on “Useful Techniques for Capturing Race” by Tsuruyama Atsushi 8-dan, given in Japanese with English subtitles. The URL is https://youtu.be/MpxuHGhiXW0

September 2nd, 2021|

A special game commentary by Ichiriki Ryo on his challenger match with Iyama Yuta.

The Iwamoto North American Foundation, with co-sponsorship by the Nihon Kiin, announces a special YouTube game analysis in English by Ichiriki Ryo 9p, current Japanese Gosei title holder.  His opponent is the 7-crown champion Iyama Yuta; the occasion is a challenge match in the Tengen title series.  The match is dubbed “Gosei vs. Kisei”– the clash between the top two Japanese pros of 2020 – 2021.  See https://youtu.be/BDKxsJLii0M.

August 19th, 2021|

Sign up for Joint INAF-Nihon Kiin Online Events

In recent years, INAF and Nihon Kiin have jointly sponsored a number of teaching events every year.  In 2021, several online events will be held instead.  Below we announce the first two of this series – two zoom lectures intended for kyu players but all are welcome to sign up.

Please sign up for the event(s) of your choosing.  The zoom links will be sent to all registrants in late July.

Event 1

August 2nd, US Eastern time 21:00 to 22:30.  Lecture for kyu players by Mitani Tetsuya 7p (三谷哲也) and Antti Tormanen 1p.  This pair has visited Europe and given many popular lectures since 2012.

Event 2

August 7th, US Eastern time 21:00 to 22:30.  Interactive AI play for kyu players with Tajiri Yuto 5p (田尻悠人).  All participants will join in to play with AI; Mr. Taijiri will lead and provide Q&A, quizzes, and commentary.

Future events include:

Lecture by Tsuruyama Atsushi 8p, a student of Cho Chikun, on “Key points of Capturing Race” (single-digit kyu to 4d players);

Lecture by Michael Redmond 9p on Technical Improvements (dan players);

Lecture by Mitani Tetsuya 7p and Antti Tormanen 1p on “Understand Go Rules and How to Play on 9×9” (beginners);

Lecture by Ichiriki Ryo 9p, commentary on his games (all players). 

Watch here for announcements!!!

July 11th, 2021|

National Go Center Renewed for Five More Years

The National Go Center, partly funded by INAF, has been renewed for five more years from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026.  Review of the renewal request was led by Dave Weimer and involved three external reviewers in addition to the directors.  The effort of the NGC staff and its army of volunteers in the first five years was well recognized by all reviewers.  INAF also approved an extra funding to help relieve the financial burden due to the COVID shutdown.

May 27th, 2021|