Life In 19x19 :: New American Pros

Apparently Gansheng got a pro account on KGS pretty soon after qualifying with the intention to give lessons, but doesn't seem to have had much success. To be honest, I felt like the AGA pushed ahead without fully considering the support/interest base (or lack thereof) necessary for pros.

Apparently Gansheng got a pro account on KGS pretty soon after qualifying with the intention to give lessons, but doesn't seem to have had much success.

I saw a trailer on YouTube for an upcoming documentary about the birth of the US Pro Team that starting this year. Where can I get more info on this, as the film is still in Post production for a few more months.

I think the AGA did it because there was free money from Korea if the US made a professional system. Sure it may in reality just be a professional system in name, but it is a good start, and I think the AGA did it for the right reasons.

They became pros because there was enough interest to sponsor matches and otherwise provide them with a living. The organizations granting professional credentials are a secondary phenomenon.

Pros didn't become pros in other countries because a professional organization made them so.

Here Pro stands for problematic.
I feel their pains. They are lonely, not different from before. Not even a possible $10k annual income waiting.
AGA is very frustrating. No one understands what a pro is. Even the real pros become amateurs in this land.

These two pros can join in most of Korean domestic tournaments (Olleh, Myeongin, Sipdan, Cheonwon), and all of the world tournaments (Samsung, LG, Ing, Chunlan, BC card).

They have enough opportunity to show their strength, and their success may bring more supports.

Author:	Faro [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:40 am ]
Post subject:	New American Pros
I saw a trailer on YouTube for an upcoming documentary about the birth of the US Pro Team that starting this year. Where can I get more info on this, as the film is still in Post production for a few more months. Also, Let's discuss how cool it is that the US finally has a pro team!

Author:	Dokuganryu [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:46 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
I wonder what the two American Pros are doing, because I haven't heard of them since their "rise" to Pro status.

Author:	logan [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:56 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
They're sippin' margaritas in Hawaii! Isn't that what happens when you become a professional go player?

Author:	NoSkill [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 3:03 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
This was in aug or sept. Gansheng and hjekshelf or something like that on kgs are the pros, hjek is bigbadwolf for you old timers.

Author:	SmoothOper [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:39 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
I kind of expect that the US will be able to field a good Go team in the same fashion that the US is able to have a decent soccer team, via imports, since there are probably many strong players that would love to play Go in the US for political reasons, but the team will be more inconsistent since the local culture isn't as strong and just like soccer competes with football for athletic talent, but doesn't have the advertising backing so does go compete with chess for talent and money.

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New American Pros http://www.lifein19x19.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7179	Page 1 of 3

Author:	skydyr [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:18 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
One of the requirements for the AGA Pro system was that applicants have to be a US or Canadian citizen, which bars people from coming over just for the professional status.

Author:	xed_over [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Andy Okun, the current AGA President, posted some info about our new pro's plans for this year on Facebook recently (as I recall) -- but I can't find that post. I'm surprised he didn't post it here, or in the AGA EJournal. here are a few other threads on the subject: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=5771 viewtopic.php?f=22&t=6406

Author:	Jedo [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Gansheng is heading over to Korea after the semester to train up in a school. Andy is Andy.

Author:	illluck [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Apparently Gansheng got a pro account on KGS pretty soon after qualifying with the intention to give lessons, but doesn't seem to have had much success. To be honest, I felt like the AGA pushed ahead without fully considering the support/interest base (or lack thereof) necessary for pros.

Author:	skydyr [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
illluck wrote: Apparently Gansheng got a pro account on KGS pretty soon after qualifying with the intention to give lessons, but doesn't seem to have had much success. To be honest, I felt like the AGA pushed ahead without fully considering the support/interest base (or lack thereof) necessary for pros. Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. Pros didn't become pros in other countries because a professional organization made them so. They became pros because there was enough interest to sponsor matches and otherwise provide them with a living. The organizations granting professional credentials are a secondary phenomenon.

Author:	oren [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
illluck wrote: Apparently Gansheng got a pro account on KGS pretty soon after qualifying with the intention to give lessons, but doesn't seem to have had much success. To be honest, I felt like the AGA pushed ahead without fully considering the support/interest base (or lack thereof) necessary for pros. I think the AGA did it because there was free money from Korea if the US made a professional system. Sure it may in reality just be a professional system in name, but it is a good start, and I think the AGA did it for the right reasons.

Author:	xed_over [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
illluck wrote: Apparently Gansheng got a pro account on KGS pretty soon after qualifying with the intention to give lessons, but doesn't seem to have had much success. I don't know about the lessons, but he has been giving lectures on KGS+

Author:	msgreg [ Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Faro wrote: I saw a trailer on YouTube for an upcoming documentary about the birth of the US Pro Team that starting this year. Where can I get more info on this, as the film is still in Post production for a few more months. The Surrounding Game Twitter Facebook Go Game Guru - Guest article Kickstarter (complete) L19 thread

Author:	illluck [ Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
oren wrote: I think the AGA did it because there was free money from Korea if the US made a professional system. Sure it may in reality just be a professional system in name, but it is a good start, and I think the AGA did it for the right reasons. I'm not fully convinced, but due to my lack of any real knowledge and the absence of apparent harm done I will adjust my opinion and retract my previous statement

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Author:	Wasiqi [ Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Quote: They became pros because there was enough interest to sponsor matches and otherwise provide them with a living. The organizations granting professional credentials are a secondary phenomenon. Very true. Quote: Pros didn't become pros in other countries because a professional organization made them so. Isn't this what happened in South Korea and China? They started a pro organization and gave a pro rating to their best players?

Author:	BigBadBuu [ Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Lee Sedol will play a ten-game series against the two new U.S. professionals, Andy Liu and Gansheng Shi. So lucky.

Author:	logan [ Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
And Andy Liu vs. Chang Hao in March

Author:	farmer [ Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
Here Pro stands for problematic. I feel their pains. They are lonely, not different from before. Not even a possible $10k annual income waiting. AGA is very frustrating. No one understands what a pro is. Even the real pros become amateurs in this land.

Author:	lovelove [ Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
farmer wrote: Here Pro stands for problematic. I feel their pains. They are lonely, not different from before. Not even a possible $10k annual income waiting. AGA is very frustrating. No one understands what a pro is. Even the real pros become amateurs in this land. These two pros can join in most of Korean domestic tournaments (Olleh, Myeongin, Sipdan, Cheonwon), and all of the world tournaments (Samsung, LG, Ing, Chunlan, BC card). They have enough opportunity to show their strength, and their success may bring more supports.

Author:	farmer [ Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New American Pros
What is your point? You can join those tournaments too if you are strong enough. For playing in those korean tournaments, who will pay the cost, including traveling and lodging. You think that the prize money is waiting for them? For the rights to participate in the other main world tournaments, there are a lot of others who are vying them too. The TWO do not get the automatic right, otherwise it is not fair. Even if they get any prize money, not enough to cover their expense, no to mention living. It is a joke, pity. lovelove wrote: These two pros can join in most of Korean domestic tournaments (Olleh, Myeongin, Sipdan, Cheonwon), and all of the world tournaments (Samsung, LG, Ing, Chunlan, BC card). They have enough opportunity to show their strength, and their success may bring more supports.