The US Go Congress starts today. I have not seen a thread for it so I thought it appropriate to start one so that we can all discuss it.

http://www.gocongress.org/2015/tournaments

Seems like it was 15 years too late for me. I used to teach as the university at which it is taking place. Now I am 1200 miles away. Of course, I am not longer a member of the AGA, but that may have prompted me to rejoin.

Disappointing that ladies are not welcome in the 9th Annual Women's Tournament. But then my wife doesn't play go anyway so I guess I should not be bothered.

_________________
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).

In the US Open you can request a 60 minute adjournment for lunch (after 12 noon) in your 90 minute game. You even have to make a sealed move.

Is this common practice? I could imagine, that this would bother me quite a bit. Stretches out a long game even more.

Okay, I just checked the rounds schedule. Play starts at 9 and is planned to end around 12, so I guess, most players won't play longer than 12 noon to make use of this adjournment. Still a bit funny, though, since it seems you have only one game a day in the US Open. So playing longer than expected and delaying lunch seems not much of a problem.

_________________
My "guide" to become stronger in Go

yes, its common practice. and you're right, most games are finished long before.
for those that aren't, many players will just keep playing through lunch to finish.

the strong players used to get 2 hours each, instead of 90 mins. and with byo-yomi, these games can last well into the mid afternoon, especially with an adjournment (causing game recorders to miss lunch and other activities )

I am there this year. Very exciting!

Okay, so the first round is finished. Where are the results? The link to the congress page does not appear to show them.

_________________
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).

Yeah, they're strangely hard to find: http://www.usgo.org/tournaments/crosstab/.

_________________
Occupy Babel!

Thanks, but nor very useful if it is not ordered by McMahon score. It give no indication as to who is leading. I seem to remember that the AGA was this cryptic in the past. Are they afraid of people feeling deprived if they are listed as being at the bottom of the pile?

_________________
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).

It's just on the todo list. I offered to help once but lost track of it. The top group is in masters. If you want to fix the ordering, I'm sure the AGA wouldn't mind some help. The information should all be there to do it.

Masters (top players): http://www.usgo.org/tournaments/crossta ... matrix/173
Open (everyone else): http://www.usgo.org/tournaments/crossta ... matrix/172

They are sortable by wins or player ratings at sign in (not listed).

Just returned from the Twin Cities. Overall it was a very nice congress, and others who have been to many more of these things than me said the same.

- U.S. Open started on time every day I think.
- Tournament ratings were updated regularly, and we did receive all relevant info on band/tiebreaker/SOS/etc, despite this info apparently not being available online.
- The food was good considering it was college cafeteria food.
- Ample opportunities to learn from pros in lectures and simul games.
- Cubans - actual Cubans - attended! (I never asked them if TSA confiscated their cigars on the way in)
- The weather was nice (only rained one day) and lots of things to enjoy in the Twin Cities on the day off.
- Perhaps this congress will come to be known as the one where we took a huge leap forward in technology, providing all sorts of live streaming that I don't believe have been used before at a U.S. Congress.
- All of the volunteers were in offices that were visible to attendees, and we could see just how hard the were working. Hopefully, people appreciated this, even though there is much hard work they do that we never get to see.