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In Appreciation: The 2012 Cotsen Open Team

It may not take quite a village, but it definitely takes a good-sized team to pull off a tournament like last weekend’s Cotsen Open.  
Tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen’s team this year included Tournament Organizer Jenna Stewart, lead coordinator Hunter Knight, Noah King, David Fein, Maile Fulton and masseuses Nini, Priscilla and Cindy.  The tireless and always cheerful staff at the Korean Cultural Center, led by Director and Consul Jaewon Kim and Vice Director and Consul Jongmoon Kim, included Program Manager Tammy Chung, Facility Manager Seunghoan Roh, Sports Manager Sungwoo Park, Tech Manager Jaewoo Kim, along with Aryf Hussain, Miguel Hernandez and Domingo Hernandez. AGA leaders and volunteers who lent a hand included AGA President Allan Abramson, who flew in from Virginia, Tournament Director Chris Sira, Jeff Shaevel from Texas, AGA Board Chair Andy Okun (who lent a whole more than a hand) and of course Kim Myung-wan 9P, who played a key role coordinating the tournament planning. Others who pitched in were the Bay Area Go Club’s Roger Schrag, who set up the tournament registration page, Wende Mate, who designed the tournament banner, Jay Chan, who brought in additional clocks, along with Paru Maheta-Sargon, Shih-peng Sun and Robert Schrader (who helped moved stuff late Friday night), as well as Wenguang Wu, James Kim and Yixian Zhou. Professionals who did simuls and lectures included  Cho Hun-hyun 9P, Yoo Chang-hyuk 9P, Yang Jae-ho 9P, Kim Myung-wan 9P, Yang Yilun 7P, Janice Kim 3P, Kim Hyo-jung 2P and, online from China, Wang Qun 8P. Sponsors this year were the Korean Baduk Association, the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles, Vitaave.com, Choi Gun-ho and the LA Go Club, and Hinoki Press, which donated a big pile of books. Last but never least was the E-Journal’s crack team, which broadcast an astounding 25 games – plus half a dozen pro commentaries – live on KGS over just two days. Assisting EJ Managing Editor Chris Garlock were KGS Liaison Akane Negishi, who flew down from Portland, lead game recorder Solomon Smilack from Denver, and locals Richard Dolen, Joe Cepiel and Dustin Pluta, with assistance from Jim Woh. 
Collage: Registration (top left photo, clockwise): Chris Sira, Jenna Stewart, tournament sponsor Eric Cotsen, Noah King, Hunter Knight and Andy Okun; Pairings (top right): Chris Sira (l) & Okun; Please Massage: masseuses (need names); Game Recorders: middle bottom: Solomon Smilack (front, with goatee), Richard Dolen (left, in suit) & Dustin Pluta (right, in blue); far left: Chris Garlock recording Cho-Yang pro-pro game.