An interview with the Europeans training in Beijing:

"We want to be real pros."

I wish that there was a translation. The training programme in Beijing seems great for these guys.

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North Lecale

Java, yes. I'm not sure in which language the interview was conducted. It's quite possible it was originally done, verbally, in English, and the printed text is actually a translation from English.

I have just read this article (thanks for posting!) Where in the article are you finding any European player making such comments as "we want to be real pros"? I did not find this sentiment expressed anywhere.

Pavol and Ali both made comments to the effect they they want to be able to push themselves to compete with Asian pros, but admitted that this would be extremely difficult.

Where in the article are you finding any European player making such comments as "we want to be real pros"?

You are asking Ed when you should be asking the sub-editor:

《棋事》专访欧洲围棋六人组 期待真正“职业”棋手

I think what that title means is that the magazine has had an interview with the 6 European players and is looking forward to/anticipating real "professional" players.

Hi cdybeijing,

Thanks for pointing it out.

Like Java, I also would like to be able to read or watch the original interview, which was probably conducted in English.

I'm sorry for my amateur translation or interpretation:

阿里： <snip> 我已经是职业棋手。围棋对我而言是工作，不只是游戏。
Ali: ... I am already a professional Go player. For me, Go is a profession, not just a game.

阿里： <snip> 我和帕沃尔有着共同的梦想，就是拥有跟亚洲的职业棋手能够匹敌的实力。这也是自己的终极目标。当然，我知道这非常困难，需要很大的努力。
Ali: ... Pavol and I share the same dream -- to be able to compete at the same level as Go pros in Asia. This is also my ultimate goal. Of course, I realize this is extremely difficult, and requires tremendous effort.

(I really hope we can have Ali's original words, instead of my interpretation.)

The sub-title of the article is 期待真正“职业”棋手 -- (my interpretation) -- Looking forward to real pros.
In a common Chinese writing style, the subject is omitted.
Who is looking forward to this ? Is it the interviewer ? The editor ? The website ? Chinese pros ? Chinese Go fans ? The Europeans themselves ?

To be clear, "We want to be real pros" is my interpretation, but I mean it in the best possible sense:
"We realize we are not quite at the same level as Go pros in Asia, but we think we have a chance to reach that level;
we also realize this is extremely difficult, but we will work very hard to try to make it."

There is absolutely no negative or derogatory sentiment on my part,
but only the most hopeful, and best feeling from me.

Sorry for my amateur interpretation.

I cannot read the article, sadly. But to those who can - what do they mean by "real pros"? Real pros as opposed to what? Fake pros? Baby pros? Euro pros? Chinese pros?...

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- Bantari
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WARNING: This post might contain Opinions!!

I would imagine world class professional players, able to compete with anyone

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North Lecale

[And now for some trolling ] Competing with pros that began their training at a tender age? Unless these European players began very young, I don't believe they would be able to compete even with third-rate Chinese insei, even if they studied the game for 8 hours a day and were coached by a slave overseer.

I think it would be better for them to study closely the training régime employed in Chinese Go schools and go back to Europe to set up similar schools, or at least adapt elements of the same to their own.

Trolling aside, I think this is a very good idea.
Not very fulfilling, maybe, from personal standpoint of the actual players involved... but certainly a highly beneficial long-term view.

We'll see what happens.
Does any of the current pros residing in Europe (Taranu, etc.) think about starting anything like a proper Go school for youngsters, or are they just all after their own thing?

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- Bantari
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WARNING: This post might contain Opinions!!

It will be interesting to see what Lee Sedol, with his stated aim of taking the game on the road and dissatisfaction with the current state of Korean Baduk education, does on this front in the medium term (if anything).

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Confucius in the Analects says "even playing go is better than eating chips in front of tv all day." -- kivi

From American E-Journal: http://www.usgo.org/news/2015/02/an-int ... -in-china/

also available at eurogotv - i have it on authority that transcribing this was a really tough job

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North Lecale

Indeed.