The North American Masters Tournament

History

Sponsored by the Ing Foundation, the North American Masters Tournament was the first "real" online tournament, and remained the largest Internet-based tournament until it was discontinued in 2003. It was revived again in 2005 as the US Masters, but will be combined with the North American Ing Cup beginning in 2007. With up to ten certified professional players living in or hailing from North America, the NAMT gave them a rare opportunity for competitive play. Starting in 2000, the winners of the US Open and the North American Ing Cup entered the field. The best-of-three playoff was a prominent highlight of each year's US Go Congress.

The first NAMT was held in 1995. It was an historic event, as it was the first professional tournament held in North America, and the first professional tournament conducted almost exclusively on the internet.

The NAMT is a tournament for professional Go players in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Unusually for a professional tournament, most of it is played over the Internet (on IGS). The final best-of-3 match was played over the board at the U.S. Go Congress until 2006.

The North American Masters Tournament is brought to you by the American Go Association, with generous financial support from the Ing Chang-Ki Weichi Educational Foundation and indispensable technical and logistical support from INET, NKB, Inc., and the Internet Go Server.

Purpose

There are three major goals for the NAMT:

• To promote and to provide a base for North American resident professional competitive activites.
• To provide and cultivate a base for a future American Professional system.
• To promote Go activities, AGA sponsored tournaments and to expand the appreciation of and participation in GO.

Selection Criteria

Participation is by invitation, rating and eligibility.

Eligibility requirements

For any player to participate as an American Professional in this tournament, the player must meet the following criteria:

• Be a certified professional from a recognized national Go Association,
• Hold membership in the AGA,
• Be a US citizen or a permanent resident, and
• Have physically resided in the United States for at least seven of the last twelve calendar months.

For any player to participate as a non-professional in this tournament, the player must meet the following criteria:

• Hold full AGA membership,
• Be a US citizen or a permanent resident,
• Have been physically resident in the United States for at seven of the last twelve calendar months, and
• Played at least ten AGA-rated games in the prior year against other AGA-rated players who each held an AGA rating of at least 6 Dan at the time of each game.

The AGA may ask players to present proof of any or all of the above criteria before the player begins to play in the Tournament and players shall cooperate with such requests in a timely manner.

Current Standings

• 1995 Jiang Zhujiu (2-1 win over Jimmy Cha)
• 1996 Jiang Zhujiu (2-1 win over Rui Naiwei)
• 1997 Jiang Zhujiu (2-0 win over Michael Redmond)
• 1998 Jiang Zhujiu (2-0 win over Jimmy Cha)
• 1999 Jiang Zhujiu (2-1 win over Rui Naiwei)
• 2000 Jiang Zhujiu (2-1 win over Rui Naiwei)
• 2001 Jiang Zhujiu (2-1 win over Jiang Mingjiu)
• 2002 Jiang Zhujiu (2-1 win over Feng Yun)
• 2005 Jie Li (2-1 win over Thomas Hsiang)
• 2006 Jie Li (2-1 win over Feng Yun)

Next Event

see Ing Masters

To contact the Ing Foundation:
Ing Chang-ki Wei-ch'i Education Foundation
4th floor, Kuang-Fu Bldg
35 Kuang Fu S. Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan