So as the list of players is now online, it is time for the obligatory thread on the WAGC. Who do you think is going to win this year? This year the numbers are again a little lower than in the golden days of the free flights, but 57 seems to be a respectable field. Some countries whom you might expect to challenge for a podium finish (WAGC-podium that is) are instead fielding less powerful candidates. Such selections are inevitable though with this competition.

http://ranka.intergofed.org/?p=11032
http://ranka.intergofed.org/?p=10830

By the way, full marks to Pal Balogh for the best photograph

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North Lecale

Based on those pictures there are a few of them I would not want to meet in a dark alley.

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Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

Finland will win because he's a sensitive thug.

XD saw him in passing in last year's NGA summer camp (he was only for the tournament.) Seems to be pretty strong and quiet

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Geek of all trades, master of none: the motto for my blog mostlymaths.net

That is an accurate statement.

Francis Roads deserves an honorable mention for his effort. Did he lean too close to the camera in the photo-booth, I wonder?

I believe shirtless Denmark has the best picture.

We really should start doing a poll on which non East-Asian player will do best. In that spirit, I picked Canada.

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Occupy Babel!

Results from day one are up

http://ranka.intergofed.org/?page_id=10900

Main result of significance is Japan beating HK, HK would have fancied that game.

Also apparently enjoys quilting, tough to get more sensitive that.

Missed my chance to vote (must've lingered too long on Portugal - holy hypnosis batman those eyes are almost animé like) but do believe Kiko will cool them all off (you heard it hear first).

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"Tsumegos are for reading power and Tesujis for knowing which moves to read"

I don't know any of those guys/girls, so I guess I'll go with germany.

But its a nice field, age from 11-71 and ranks from 3k-7d

There is a 7k and a 73 year old. I don't know about the 7k but the 73 is not even close to a record. Yasunaga Hajime was 80 when he last competed.

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Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

Finland going 2-1

Yasunaga was 78 by the western count (in 1980), and was also simply an appointed player.

However, Kikuchi Yasuro was 78 in 2005 and Hirata Hironori bettered that with 84 (and just 3 weeks short of 85) in 2011. Both players' achievements (Kikuchi 6th, Hirata 5th - both on 6/8) were enhanced by the fact that they had won through a stiff qualification system to get there.

Go, Wrinklies!

And Hirata in 2011 would have been 7/8* had he not blundered in the endgame against the Norwegian player. Hard to keep the old noggin focused at that age.

*though that loss was early so he would have had harder pairings

Thanks for the correction. Now someone needs to fix SL.

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Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

I don't think our Belgian representative is really 51 years old. He started competing after I left the scene and he doesn't really look 51 either.

http://pandanet-igs.com/communities/eur ... eams/5/BEL

says 31.

As far as aged participants go, I think it is noteworthy that Kikuchi won the WAGC when he was 63 and Hirata won it at age 67!

Congratulatios Chinese Taipei on a great tournament (and winning smile)! This is their first win at this event isn't it?

Also congrats to all who made this marvelous gathering what a wonderful experience it must be to make one of these.

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"Tsumegos are for reading power and Tesujis for knowing which moves to read"