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Congress Updates: Congress Tournament Winners; Congress Credits

Congress Tournament Winners: In addition to winning the North American Ing Masters, Matthew Hu (right) won the 2012 U.S. Open at the recent U.S. Go Congress, collecting a set of jade stones and bowls donated by the Confucius Institute of Raleigh, North Carolina in addition to his cash prize and trophy. Evan Cho won the Strong Players Open. Click here for a PDF of the prize-winners in all the Congress tournaments, including North American Ing Masters, Strong Players Open, Pair Go, US Open, Continuous Self-Paired Tournament, Wednesday Die Hard Tournament, Midnight Madness, Wisonet Cup State Team Go Tournament, Michael Redmond Cup, Youth Team, Youth Room Tournaments, 9x9 Tournament, 13x13 Tournament, Crazy Go, Lightning Go. Click here for pro game commentaries (scroll down to Game Review) and here for final results in the NAIM, US Open and Strong Player’s Open. Also, click here for an album of Congress photos, posted by Co-Director Peter Armenia.

Congress Credits: “Putting on a Go Congress is a monumental effort,” says 2012 U.S. Go Congress Co-Directors Peter Armenia and Paul Celmer (right, with Congress Registrar Arlene Bridges; Armenia is at left). “It is even more of a challenge with an unpaid, volunteer staff. Every staff member running around during the recent Go Congress was working hard for the love of the game and as a service to the go community. Many had defined roles, but some simply dove in where they saw a problem or need. And this year besides the Congress, we had the challenge of adding the Pro Certification Tournament, International Go Symposium, and Youth Go Camp. Supporting these events is a complex and stressful task, and we could not have done it without a highly skilled, energetic, and dedicated team.” One of the most inspiring moments for Celmer came at the very end of the Congress, when one of the Blue Ridge Assembly maintenance staff came up in his truck. “He came out of his truck, shook my hand, and thanked me because one of our staff had taught his ten-year-old son the game,” says Celmer. There are also a few commemorative USA-shaped half-inch thick plywood go boards still available for sale, $40 dollars plus shipping, as well as the puzzle coasters with Congress logo, $15 dollars plus shipping. Email paul@gocongress12.org if you are interested. If you would like to purchase a replica of the large USA shaped board that the two pros played on, contact Frank Salantrie (standing, in photo below right) at fesalantrie@nc.rr.com. “We want to thank the following volunteers, as well as all those that have helped this Congress and who have helped spread the game we love,” say Celmer and Armenia.

2012 U.S. Go Congress Staff/Volunteers: John Aiken, Charles Alden, Keith Arnold, Bob Bacon, Paul Barchilon, Jared Beck, Terry Benson, Dale Blann, Todd Blatt, Adam Bridges, Arlene Bridges, Karoline Burrall, Steve Burrall, Tony Cha, Owen Chen, Steve Coburn, Rich Crandall, Judy Debel, Vincent DiMattia, Richard Dolen, Chris Garlock, Cynthia Gaty, Nader Goubran, Julie Greenberg, Josh Guarino, Todd Heidenreich, Russell Herman, Jim Hlvaka, Chris Kirchner, Jeff Kuang, Jim Levenick, I-han Lui, Steve Mabe, Andy Olsen, Frank Salantrie, Dan Scheck, Peter St. John, Dennis Wheeler, Sam Zimmerman. - photos by Phil Straus