Hello world!
Don't be harsh for this first post dedicated to the World Mind Games 2013.
We're hosting a great event in Beijing with some of the best go players in the world.
It starts today and you can watch Go Team Men/Women Individual Round 1 17:00-18:00 (GMT+8) on our website.

If you miss something you'll be able to watch the whole day recorded on the youtubechannel. You are also very welcome to visit our facebook community.

I'll gladly try to answer any questions you have.

Is this the same kind of event as the 2008 World Mind Sports Games in Beijing and the 2012 event in Lille? Or does it belong to a different series of events?

Same kind of event, but different series. The WMSG are every four years, the SAWMG every year. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Mind ... ted_events

No, very different kind of event. This one is an invitational, held every year and participated by ~150 top players (30 from Go) from the sports, playing for big cash prize. The World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) is an Olympic style event, held every four years, all countries may enter, and there is no prize money.

Is there any place where we can find the game records ?

The complete set of game record for this tournament is at:

http://www.go4go.net/go/games/tournament/149

You can find game records, game analyses, stories, photos, even live transmission at Ranka online:
http://ranka.intergofed.org/

Anyone know why Andy Liu and Gansheng Shi aren't playing? As the USA's new professionals I'd have thought they were obvious choices for the team (and stronger).

I'm guessing travel wasn't covered, but I don't know for sure.

I actually haven't seen them enter any kind of pro tournament either. Isn't the whole point of being pro to enter the tournaments?

Gansheng Shi entered a Korean pro tournament.

http://www.usgo.org/news/2013/06/new-ag ... ournament/

Oh, igokisen website doesn't track that tournament. Actually finding the results is somewhat tough then.
Apparently from that link they aren't even authorized to join just any tournament, only the ones they are invited to. Sad.

Edit: Actually did they abandon AGA Pros? The article says the next opportunity was Samsung cup but Eric Lui went to that instead.

Both EU and NA teams scored a win in their final round against (not so strong) professional players.

http://www.go4go.net/go/games/sgfview/38940
http://www.go4go.net/go/games/sgfview/38944

I am also curious. Travel and accommodations are provided, plus there is guaranteed generous prize money. As the one who negotiated the contract and designed the tournament, I made certain that the participants will each play multiple games (within the restrictions of the sponsors of course) and not "one loss and you are out". So from financial or training aspect, the tournament should be attractive to our young players. I hope Andy and Gansheng will participate next year.

Am I right in thinking that the American professionals play in the preliminaries as if they were a member of the Korean professional association, and that this is separate from the seeded spot that North America has in some tournaments?

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