How to Become Pro?

mogosoup · Post by **mogosoup** » Mon May 14, 2012 7:19 pm

How does someone become a professional in China, Korea, Taiwan or Japan? I wanted to find out some more information on how many people pass a year, age limits etc. Just Curious.

http://senseis.xmp.net/?NihonKiInProfes ... xamination
Doesn't seem to help.

-Thanks in advance

snorri · Post by **snorri** » Mon May 14, 2012 10:49 pm

I don't know about the washout statistics, etc., but there are couple of interesting sources that talk about the Korean system. One of the most interesting blogs (although it dates from 2005) is Benjamin Teuber's blog In a Korean Baduk School. At that time, he mentions that only 9 players become professional a year (7 men, 2 women).

Also see An Younggil 8p's article on a new (since 2009) points system for amateurs to become professional:
Cho Insun: An amateur turned professional go player.

That point system has no age limit, but if you read the article, you'll see it's not exactly a cakewalk.

If you really want the current details on the Korean system, maybe PM breakfast (Alexandre Dinerchtein 3p) who is on L19. Since he runs his own insei league, he may be in better touch with what's going on in Korea these days.

RobertJasiek · Post by **RobertJasiek** » Mon May 14, 2012 11:10 pm

snorri wrote:Since he runs his own insei league

Does he promote inseis to pros?:)

tchan001 · Post by **tchan001** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:15 am

"His own" insei league is not necessarily endorsed or linked up with any professional go associations. Just that he, as a pro, started such an online league in the similar style to what one might find in Korea.

SoDesuNe · Post by **SoDesuNe** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:13 am

That's why it's called "Korean-style Insei League".

I remember that they thought about helping the strongest player in the league to get in touch with a korean Go-dojo, if this player wants to pursuit becoming a pro. Although, I don't know if this was ever applied.

mogosoup · Post by **mogosoup** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:54 pm

I remember from hikaru that the nihon kiin selected 3 a year. I wonder If that has changed.

oren · Post by **oren** » Tue May 15, 2012 4:15 pm

They have a winter and summer pro tests as well as separate women pro tests.

http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/saiyo/index.htm

The top insei makes it in through a competition

In the last winter tournament, two made pro through the pro test
http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/saiyo/2012/honsen.htm

and one woman in the separate test
http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/saiyo/2012/f_honsen.htm

And they had one pro each from Nagoya branch and Kansai branch.

So you end up with 6. This doesn't count the Kansai Kiin which runs its own tournament and pro system.

In a separate note, I found it interesting that the top three insei are all from Taiwan right now.

Kirby · Post by **Kirby** » Tue May 15, 2012 4:41 pm

Don't try. Give up before it's too late!

oren · Post by **oren** » Tue May 15, 2012 4:46 pm

Kirby wrote:Don't try. Give up before it's too late!

Well, he didn't say he was trying to.

The "easiest" way would be to win the US Pro exam.

Kirby · Post by **Kirby** » Tue May 15, 2012 5:32 pm

oren wrote:
Kirby wrote:Don't try. Give up before it's too late!
Well, he didn't say he was trying to.

The "easiest" way would be to win the US Pro exam.

If you're going to get technical on me, winning the US Pro exam doesn't match his/her query, either, because he/she specifically asked about the process for becoming pro in "China, Korea, Taiwan or Japan."

In any case, go is a fun game, and my comments are mostly in jest (except for those that aren't)... And don't try to become pro!

oren · Post by **oren** » Tue May 15, 2012 8:11 pm

Kirby wrote: If you're going to get technical on me, winning the US Pro exam doesn't match his/her query, either, because he/she specifically asked about the process for becoming pro in "China, Korea, Taiwan or Japan."

True. It was more of a response to the thread subject "How to become pro".

tchan001 · Post by **tchan001** » Tue May 15, 2012 8:21 pm

oren wrote:
Kirby wrote: If you're going to get technical on me, winning the US Pro exam doesn't match his/her query, either, because he/she specifically asked about the process for becoming pro in "China, Korea, Taiwan or Japan."
True. It was more of a response to the thread subject "How to become pro".

Hence the need to read the fine prints and learn the details that people are actually aiming for

mogosoup · Post by **mogosoup** » Wed May 16, 2012 5:45 pm

Being pro is more like some faraway dream to fantasize about. Im 16 and I just started a few months ago. No I don't plan on become pro. Just wanted some details. Is there anything in English that I can read? I think the whole thing about playing go professionally is interesting and was just wondering about what the loads of kids who don't become pro do.

mogosoup · Post by **mogosoup** » Wed May 16, 2012 6:07 pm

oren wrote:
Kirby wrote:Don't try. Give up before it's too late!
Well, he didn't say he was trying to.

The "easiest" way would be to win the US Pro exam.

Also, how many people can become u.s. pros this year?

snorri · Post by **snorri** » Wed May 16, 2012 9:15 pm

mogosoup wrote:
oren wrote:
Kirby wrote:Don't try. Give up before it's too late!
Well, he didn't say he was trying to.

The "easiest" way would be to win the US Pro exam.
Also, how many people can become u.s. pros this year?

Two.

Life In 19x19

How to Become Pro?

How to Become Pro?

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