[Newsletter] BGA Newsletter 236 November 2017

[Jil Segerman]

*Contributions for the Newsletter* are always welcome, both from our
members and others. We ask that they be Go-related and “newsy". The place
for debate and general discussion is currently Gotalk
<http://www.britgo.org/gopcres/info#gotalk>; however, an introduction to a
new topic is fine in the Newsletter.*Instructions:* Please use plain text
not file-attachments. Keep it brief, and give web-links and contact
details. It's good to include pictures. If they are on the internet, send
me the URL. If not, attach the picture files to your email. Send your
contribution to newsletter at britgo.org to arrive by the first day of the
month.

Jil Segerman, Newsletter Editor
NEWS

The full set of recent news items, including further details of some of the
items shown here, are on our News Pages <http://www.britgo.org/news>, and
on News Headlines <http://www.britgo.org/views/news>.
Roger Huyshe

Message from Toby Manning:

"I am sure that you will be as shocked as I am to hear that Roger Huyshe,
President of the BGA, died yesterday, 13th November.

Apparently he was out on a bike ride in Derbyshire when he collapsed - we
do not think it was a traffic accident - and although the air ambulance was
called, they could not save him.

The coroner has requested a post-mortem, so it may be some time before
funeral arrangements can be made, but I will let you know as soon as I have
more information."
British Go Journal

The Autumn 2017 edition of the BGJ, Issue 181, is available in the members'
area for members to read.
Gifted and Talented in South Manchester

On Saturday 7th October 2017, 15 children from half a dozen schools in
South Manchester attended a Go workshop at Greenbank Preparatory School.
The local Educational 'Gifted and Talented' scheme sponsored the day and
selected the children. They learned the basics in the morning starting with
Capture Go, and progressed immediately to territory Go. In the afternoon
they submitted to a hectic 6-round 9x9 tournament. Full report
<http://www.britgo.org/news/2017/manchestergt>

Photo: Organiser Martin Harvey with overall winner Joe, brother and parents
New Youth Go Newsletter

The first edition of a new monthly newsletter, Youth Go News, has been
produced by the BGA and is available in the Junior section of the website
as a PDF file
<http://www.britgo.org/files/junior/BGA-Junior-Newsletter-2017-11-07.pdf>.
Please print or pass on electronically to any juniors who might not be on
the BGA youth mailing list.
UK Starts the Pandanet Go European Team Championship at the Top of the B
League

The UK team started the new season by beating Denmark by four games to nil.
This put the team in first place, equal with Germany. In the second round
the UK team beat Switzerland, also by four games to nil, staying equal
first with Germany. They played Turkey in the next round on 14th November
and won that, again four games to nil, to go clear top. Congratulations to
them for this excellent start!

Alexander Taylor and Tony Atkins suggest the following for ongoing
information: The BGA's Team Championship page
<http://www.britgo.org/events/euroteams2017> provides an introduction, our
results and useful links to our game records. Interested parties can watch
the games on the Pandanet Internet Go Server (IGS)
<http://pandanet-igs.com/communities/pandanet>. The games take place in the
EuroTeamChamps room, and usually start at 20:00 UK time. Information about
the progress of the league is also available here
<http://pandanet-igs.com/communities/euroteamchamps/draw/70>, including
match times and game records for past rounds for all teams.
The latest version of AlphaGo learns without being taught.

Toby Manning reported a long article about AlpgaGo Zero
<https://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21730391-learning-play-go-only-start-latest-ai-can-work-things-out-without>
in
The Economist, to which Roger Huyshe added: "This is very well written,
possibly the best I have seen in mainstream media."

See also DeepMind's article
<https://deepmind.com/blog/alphago-zero-learning-scratch/>, explaining the
significance towards the goal of solving some of the most important
challenges that humanity is facing.
FUTURE EVENTS

   - British Youth, Saturday 18th November, Aston
   - International Teams Autumn Match, Saturday 18th November, London Go
   Centre
   - Cork, Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th November
   - Coventry, Saturday 2nd December, Warwick University
   - London Go Centre Monthly 13x13 Tournament, Saturday 9th December
   - Edinburgh Christmas, Saturday 16th December
   - London Open, Thursday 28th – Sunday 31st December
   - Maidenhead-Hitachi, Saturday 20th January 2018
   - Cheshire, Saturday 3rd February, Frodsham
   - Nottingham Kyu Teaching/Mini-Tournament, Saturday 24th February
   - Irish Go Congress, Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd March, Dublin
   - Isle of Skye, Saturday 2nd - Sunday 3rd March
   - Trigantius, Saturday 10th March, Cambridge
   - British Go Congress, Friday 6th - Sunday 8th April (provisional),
   Bristol (provisional)

Later

   - Candidates' Tournament, Saturday 5th - Monday 7th May. Closed event,
   i.e. by qualification only; you can check online if you may qualify
   <http://www.britgo.org/bchamp/qualifiers>.
   - Durham, Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th June
   - Welsh Open, Saturday 30th June - Sunday 1st July, Barmouth
   - Mind Sports Olympiad, Sunday 19th – Monday 27th August, London
   - Leo Phillips Isle Of Man Go Festival, Sunday 11th - Friday 16th August
   2019 (provisional).

Overseas

The European Go Federation's Tournament Calendar
<http://www.eurogofed.org/calendar/calendar.htm> includes the Major
European Tournaments and a World Tournament Calendar
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