AGA-KBA pro test qualifiers

[xed_over]

from a random facebook comment...

The Seattle Go Center is planning to host one of, if not the first AGA-KBA prelim tournament May 5 & 6

[xed_over]

Re: 1st AGA-Tygem Seattle Pro Prelim May 5 & 6
Dear Go Players,

Here's your chance to turn pro. All you have to do is win this preliminary tournament in Seattle, and then win the national tournament in North Carolina (the 1st AGA-Tygem Pro Final, July 28-Aug 4) and then you will be identified as an "AGA Pro". You will then be qualified to compete in these Korean Baduk Association tournaments: Samsung; LG: BC Card; Olleh Kt; and Korea Myung-in Cup. The national tournament is being sponsored by Tygem, an online baduk (go) playing site that has both Korean and English versions. http://www.tygembaduk.com/

Competitors have to be U.S. or Canadian citizens (proof required) and AGA members. They can sign up for the AGA when they register for the tournament. In future years, competitors will need to show that they have been members of the AGA for at least a year.

Myungwan Kim 9p will be coming for the preliminary tournament in Seattle May 5 & 6. The two day tournament will also have a second section for strong players who do not aspire to be pros. Our regular ratings tournament will be moved up a week to Sunday, April 29, to make room for this special event.

We have not settled all the details yet. It looks the tournament will be limited to dan level players, and the winner will get $500. Probably there will be 3 rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday. We will have advance registration starting in early April.

[oren]

It looks like Cotsen is first.

http://www.bayareago.org/cotsen/
https://www.facebook.com/events/379326828774043/

[xed_over]

It looks like Cotsen is first.

http://www.bayareago.org/cotsen/
https://www.facebook.com/events/379326828774043/

its really funny how the cotsen page says "contact usgo.org for more info", yet there is no info to be found anywhere

yes, from aokun on Facebook:

Cho Hun-hyun 9p and a bunch of other top go pros are visiting Los Angeles for the Cotsen Tournament, doing simuls and commentaries and such. Also, two top players among you all will be selected for the AGA pro finals in North Carolina. Also, the Cotsen is an excellent tournament with cash prizes and beautiful trophies.

Also, masseuses.

Registration is live finally. Go to http://www.bayareago.org/cotsen/ and sign up. Poke, prod, share, e-mail, tweet and send telegrams to your friends telling them to sign up too.

[shapenaji]

Thanks for the info!

I really want to hit up the cotsen, but if I can't I'd like to take part in this first set of preliminaries somehow.

[xed_over]

I've been told (but again, nothing has been written down anywhere yet) that one more will be selected at the Maryland open and 3 more selected from an online Tygem event

and apparently there will be seeded players too: 3 top rated AGA, 2 Canada, 4 Tygem
for 16 total slots for the final event

[oren]

and apparently there will be seeded players too: 3 top rated AGA, 2 Canada, 4 Tygem
for 16 total slots for the final event

Interesting, so the first AGA Pro could very well be Canadian.

[Josh Hatch]

So is the only East Coast qualifier going to be in Maryland? Not that I'd win anyway, there are too many players stronger than I am but if there was one in New York I could probably go to it. I look forward to seeing who will be in the finals though, it should be an exciting event.