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Why We Play: Alexandra Patz 13k, Lee Schumacher 1D

Alexandra Patz 13kAge: 43Lives in: New York, NY, originally from South Africa Years playing go: 5 years, but learned almost 20 years ago and took a break Favorite thing about go: Alexandra likes how stimulating go is for the brain. “Very engaging,” she explained. When asked if she plays other brain games, she says, “It’s really just go, I tried chess as I child, I never really liked it, I never learned bridge. I lived in Japan for a year, so I became interested in Japanese culture. And when I moved back to South Africa, I joined a go club there.”

She’s also fascinated by AlphaGo, and the deep learning involved. “[Go] is an amazing community, too,” she adds, “Clever people.” Lee Schumacher 1D Years playing go: Since the age of 13 Lives in: California Favorite thing about go: “The focus, the immersion.” - report/photos by Samantha Fede, E-Journal special correspondent, reporting from the 2016 U.S. Go Congress