2008-08-25

EGD Update

There has now been an update to the European Go Database after EGC 2008 in Leksand. You can see on my page that I gained points in the main tournament and that I lost some points in the weekend tournament.

2008-08-19

The Dark Knight

Girlwing and I went to the cinema to see The Dark Knight. We went for the early movie at 14:50 so we were almost alone in the big theatre... only three others sitting behind us. A bit luxurious. :)

I really liked the first movie Batman Begins. It is still science fiction but believable. It is not a hero with super powers but a well trained person with expensive gadgets that help him. It is not preserving the comics look transferred to real actors (like the old Batman movies), it is instead the comics converted to something that could have been in real life. That makes the movie look good and believable even when we see some unbelievable things. I like that. I like to see some logic in the illogical.

The new movie is as beautiful as the first one but it is not as good (still it is a good movie). I early got disappointed when Batman with one hand bent a rifle pipe while the "bad guy" was still holding the other end. Such an act is easy calculated in your head that it is not possible to do. If Batman is strong enough to bend the pipe, the bad guy is not strong enough to still hold the rifle as one usually do when he is about to shoot. Such simple details might be cool for young teenagers without knowledge about basic physics... but please try to avoid them in movies in the future. (There are several others small and bigger logical mistakes in the movie, but I will not mention them here so I don't spoil your viewing pleasure.)

Another big mistake about the movie is the usual "sickness" that Hollywood movies often have. Once they done a great movie and they make a follow up movie, they feel an urge to make it bigger and faster and louder and cooler and bloodier and everything else more. I guess they think that it will not sell otherwise. So stupid...
I think that once they found a concept that works, they should refine it. Keep what is great and tune some parts and some details. Then write a good story! Everything is about the story and without it... the cool effects are just cool effects.

Of some (for me) unknown reason, the woman playing Batman's "girlfriend" is switched with some other actress. Not only is the new one much less pretty, she has also completely changed personality. It seems like the makers of the movie or the new actress didn't put any effort in trying to keep the same feeling for the role.

The great addition to this movie is The Joker. This character is made in the way that makes me like the new Batman movies. He is not made into a comics clown like in the old movies. His face has been cut up and then healed to ugly scars and then painted in red making a giant smile. The character shows up a sharp intellect with seriously disturbed aspects, making him to the murderer he is. We can only guess if he in his insanity cut his own mouth open or if someone else did that to his face and driving him to insanity.

Many are celebrating the actor behind Joker. He got a lot of extra PR due the fact that he killed himself after making the movie and that helped to rise many voices for him getting an Oscar. I am not the one saying if he deserves an Oscar or not, but he did a very good job in this movie. He was actually better than Batman in this movie. If not Batman himself makes you want to see this movie, you should go and see it for the Joker...

2008-08-16

Rating update

There has been an update of the official European ratings. I am on place 78 among the Swedish players and place 2677 among all the people in the European rating list. I gained 109 points during the EGC and landed on a total of 1601 points. That is supposed to be a solid 5 kyu rank. So maybe it is a little too early for me to say that I am 4 kyu. After all I have not beaten a Swedish 4 kyu or stronger yet. Maybe I have to practice a little before the next tournament so I get as strong as a 4 kyu for real.

My rating before EGC was 1492 points.
During the first weeks 5 games I gained 65 points to 1557.
Then I played really bad in the weekend tournament and lost 45 points to 1512.
In the last week I played really good and got 89 points for a final 1601 points.

I did good. But maybe I did good because other parts of Europe have weaker ratings than we have in Sweden. I might still have problems against Swedish players. We will have to see how it turns out next month in Linköping.

See you there! :)

2008-08-14

Migrationsverket vs Sun Yuan

Girlwing and I had no problems with Migrationsverket, but sometimes they cause a lot of problems for people. One of Girlwings friends in Shanghai is a professional go player and we were happy when we heard that he was coming to EGC in Sweden to compete in the tournament for China. But then he told us that he didn't get a VISA. They were afraid that he will leave China and stay in Sweden. Are they stupid? He have no reason to leave China. He is a go professional! There is no career for him outside Asia and especially not in Sweden.

I just read in mohsarts blog were he show the answer from Maria Bodsunder from Swedish General Consulate in Shanghai. She is stating the reason from Migrationsverket.

It say something like this:
According to set rules from the Migration office, about young chinese, unmarried, without work (eg students) that will not visit close relatives, there must be a grade of concern for the visit. With grade of concern it is not meant to participate in a tournament of "social games".


Like Mohsart so well stated: Calling the European Open Championship in Go for a tournament of "social games" is like calling the world cup in football for children's fun play.

Sun Yuan was coming to EGC to beat all the Koreans and win first price.
If he would have managed to do that (he probably could) then that would be an opening for Chinese players and professionals in EGC for the future. Some strong European players will think that is a bad thing but as for Europe as a whole that will be a very good thing. Well... maybe next year...

2008-08-09

Tenth and last game

I won!
I play white and we both start with large territories. Before I can secure my area, my opponent invades and reduce it to nothing. So I have to do the same and I manage quite well. But I am probably behind a bit. I made a couple of stupid mistakes and so did my opponent. He was not so good at reading but instead he was stronger in other areas. In the end he did a huge blunder. I played a move that both threaten to capture three stones and to cut off 35 stones. He connected the three stones and let me cut of 35 stones. He made some desperate moves to attempt a capture of a group of mine, but he would need two moves in a row to do any harm. Then he resigned... and I felt a bit bad for winning like that. I won four games in a row now! So in the main tournament I got 7 wins and 3 losses. Totally 9 wins and 6 losses.

So now I am 4 kyu!


(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Chinese]SZ[19]KM[7.50]
PW[Boywing]PB[Juãn Zèn]WR[5k]BR[4k]DT[2008-08-09]EV[EGC 2008]RO[10]PC[Leksand, Sweden]WT[Sweden]BT[Netherlands]US[Mattias Sörlin]RE[W+Resign]
;B[dp]
;W[qp]
;B[dd]
;W[pd]
;B[op]
;W[pn]
;B[qq]
;W[rq]
;B[pq]
;W[ro]
;B[lq]
;W[fq]
;B[eq]
;W[fp]
;B[iq]
;W[do]
;B[co]
;W[cp]
;B[cq]
;W[cn]
;B[bp]
;W[eo]
;B[cj]
;W[jc]
;B[qf]
;W[qh]
;B[qc]
;W[pc]
;B[qd]
;W[pe]
;B[rf]
;W[og]
;B[hc]
;W[ie]
;B[fc]
;W[nn]
;B[qj]
;W[ql]
;B[rh]
;W[pj]
;B[qi]
;W[pi]
;B[lf]
;W[kg]
;B[lg]
;W[lh]
;B[kf]
;W[jg]
;B[jd]
;W[id]
;B[jf]
;W[if]
;B[ic]
;W[kc]
;B[ig]
;W[ki]
;B[kd]
;W[hg]
;B[lc]
;W[ih]
;B[nc]
;W[ch]
;B[dh]
;W[dg]
;B[di]
;W[cf]
;B[dm]
;W[dn]
;B[cm]
;W[em]
;B[bn]
;W[cc]
;B[cd]
;W[bd]
;B[be]
;W[bc]
;B[ce]
;W[eb]
;B[ec]
;W[fb]
;B[dc]
;W[db]
;B[fg]
;W[ff]
;B[gf]
;W[gc]
;B[gd]
;W[gb]
;B[hd]
;W[fe]
;B[ge]
;W[eg]
;B[fd]
;W[fh]
;B[gg]
;W[eh]
;B[gh]
;W[ej]
;B[fj]
;W[ek]
;B[fn]
;W[fm]
;B[gn]
;W[en]
;B[hj]
;W[ck]
;B[bk]
;W[bj]
;B[dk]
;W[dj]
;B[cl]
;W[ci]
;B[el]
;W[gm]
;B[fk]
;W[bf]
;B[ei]
;W[ae]
;B[hn]
;W[hm]
;B[jk]
;W[in]
;B[hp]
;W[io]
;B[gp]
;W[il]
;B[ik]
;W[jq]
;B[jr]
;W[lk]
;B[kl]
;W[lo]
;B[ll]
;W[mq]
;B[mp]
;W[kr]
;B[lr]
;W[ir]
;B[jp]
;W[ip]
;B[kq]
;W[hq]
;B[gq]
;W[hr]
;B[gr]
;W[fr]
;B[hs]
;W[jq]
;B[is]
;W[js]
;B[mk]
;W[lj]
;B[ml]
;W[ol]
;B[pf]
;W[os]
(;B[rr]
;W[mr]
;B[lp]
;W[ls]
;B[or]
;W[sr]
;B[nq]
;W[gs]
;B[nr]
;W[ns]
;B[ps])
(;B[or]
;W[rr]))

2008-08-08

Ninth game

I won!
I play black against the weakest 3k in the tournament. I've played several 6k that are much stronger. From the beginning to the end I got no real resistance from my opponent. I was ahead with a lot. Then I became stupid and played a really silly bad move and I got some stones cut off at the bottom. So there I lost about 30 points and the game was much closer than before. So I had to be sharp in the endgame and I gained a lot and in the end I won by 10,5 points.

2008-08-07

Eighth game

I won!
I started the game as black with my first four stones on the right side. Maybe not ideal but at least I will have the upper hand on that side. I made the first big mistake on (of course) the right side and then later my opponent made a big mistake on the lower left side when he allow me to dive into his lower side and cut off two stones in the center. Then my opponent draws out his stone I have in a ladder and I play out the ladder even when I know that white have a ladder breaker. That way I secure my moyos and rescue two of my cut off stones. Next I make a one point move on his lower left corner that he ignores and make an invasion on my left side. But my follow up in the corner is bigger because his corner dies. His invasion is not that small either because he managed to find weakness in my shape that he could take advantage of and capture six stones, but the captured corner is maybe 28 points. I stopped recording but after this my opponent made some serious attempts to invade and kill stones and he almost mangage to do it but I was lucky. He resigned...


(;GM[1]FF[4]CA[UTF-8]AP[CGoban:3]ST[2]
RU[Chinese]SZ[19]KM[7.50]
PW[Bôĩën]PB[Boywing]WR[6k]BR[5k]DT[2008-08-07]EV[EGC 2008]RO[8]PC[Leksand, Sweden]WT[Belgium]BT[Sweden]US[Mattias Sörlin]RE[B+Resign]
;B[qd]
;W[dd]
;B[pq]
;W[dp]
;B[qk]
;W[oc]
;B[pe]
;W[ld]
;B[cj]
;W[jq]
;B[nd]
;W[nc]
;B[md]
;W[mc]
;B[mf]
;W[cg]
;B[cn]
;W[cp]
;B[en]
;W[gq]
;B[fc]
;W[ec]
;B[fd]
;W[ic]
;B[de]
;W[ce]
;B[cd]
;W[cc]
;B[cf]
;W[bd]
;B[df]
;W[bf]
;B[dg]
;W[po]
;B[np]
;W[qq]
;B[qr]
;W[qp]
;B[or]
;W[qm]
;B[ok]
;W[om]
;B[ml]
;W[qi]
;B[rl]
;W[rm]
;B[pi]
;W[nk]
;B[nl]
;W[ol]
;B[nj]
;W[pk]
;B[oj]
;W[qj]
;B[pj]
;W[ql]
;B[pl]
;W[rk]
;B[qh]
;W[rj]
;B[pc]
;W[ie]
;B[le]
;W[kd]
;B[gf]
;W[ig]
;B[hh]
;W[dh]
;B[eh]
;W[ci]
;B[dj]
;W[eg]
;B[di]
;W[ch]
;B[fg]
;W[ee]
;B[ef]
;W[fe]
;B[ge]
;W[ed]
;B[fb]
;W[eb]
;B[hd]
;W[gn]
;B[fo]
;W[go]
;B[fq]
;W[eq]
;B[gp]
;W[hp]
;B[fp]
;W[er]
;B[fr]
;W[lp]
;B[ho]
;W[ip]
;B[in]
;W[jn]
;B[im]
;W[jm]
;B[il]
;W[mk]
;B[lk]
;W[mj]
;B[mi]
;W[lj]
;B[kj]
;W[li]
;B[lh]
;W[ki]
;B[kh]
;W[ji]
;B[kl]
;W[jh]
;B[kf]
;W[jf]
;B[bo]
;W[bp]
;B[ap]
;W[aq]
;B[ao]
;W[br]
;B[ia]
;W[jb]
;B[pb]
;W[ob]
;B[ij]
;W[mr]
;B[rq]
;W[rp]
;B[sr]
;W[io]
;B[hn]
;W[gr]
;B[gs]
;W[hs]
;B[fs]
;W[hr]
;B[ea]
;W[db]
;B[bi]
;W[bh]
;B[ah]
;W[bg]
;B[es]
;W[dr]
;B[rh]
;W[bj]
;B[bk]
;W[ai]
;B[ds]
;W[bl]
;B[cr]
;W[cq]
;B[cs]
;W[co]
;B[bm]
;W[ck]
;B[cl]
;W[dk]
;B[al]
;W[ei]
;B[ej]
;W[ff]
;B[gg]
;W[eg]
;B[fi])

2008-08-05

Jump!

Girlwing and I was having fun in the kids swings at the school yard. It ended with some kind of jumping game. Does we look like athletes?

Seventh game

I won!
I am white and get a bad opening leading to crazy invasions and being chased and getting stones cut off. I am way behind in territory... I have to work really hard to reduce my opponents territory and I play a better endgame leading to a lucky win of 0.5 points. :)

2008-08-04

Sixth game

I lost...
I play black and my opponent get two huge areas at the left side and on the top. I have a big territory at my upper right corner but it get invaded and white lives with a small group. I am way behind so I invade deep in the top moyo. I managed quite ok but the problem was that it now became very hard to reduce anything of the left moyo. I know I am behind a lot but we play to the end and count the score. I lost by 24,5 points including the komi of 7.5.

2008-08-03

Weekend tournament

We played the weekend tournament but I am not sure it was a good idea to do it. We was tired after the first week of the main tournament. Three games on saturday and I started by losing the first two.

The first game I played against a underrated spanish 6 kyu. I lost by 9.5 points. Not much to say... he was stronger than me.

The second game I played against a 6 kyu I won over in the main tournament. It was a comfortable game I was ahead and winning. Then I made a simple one point jump in to her territory and she peeped and I connected. Very natural. But the problem was that she could poke out one of my eyes from the peeping stone. So there I was with a one eye group of maybe 30 stones, totally surrounded by enemy stones. I made some fruitless attempts to live but I had to resign. I didn't think! So stupid!

Third game started at 20:something. This game was very easy for me. I could do whatever I wanted. Now I didn't do any stupid misstake and won bt 19.5 points.

Next morning came game 4. I could feel that this player didn't have so much experience. He play strange. Sometimes very timid and sometimes bad overplays. Bad sense of shape. But he was reading good. I have a huge corner and he don't have too much territory. I was sure to walk a win. Then he invades my corner... I kind of ignores a couple of moves and he managed to escape and connect along the edge. That was a lot of points... I have to figure something out. So I start to invade and reduce and expand and in the end I had lost by 1.5 points. Ooohh... 2 points is nothing for a 5 kyu. I could have found them anywhere on the board. But I didn't mind much. I did a good game. What I did mind was that my opponent is an idiot. After the game he said that he didn't do any misstakes and he had read all combinations (So why are you only 5k?). Then we cleared the board and as usual I cleared both black and white stones and put in each bowl but my opponent only cleared half of his stones (I did the other half) and then he left, so I had to sit and clear the rest of the board myself. I don't know his name so I wrote "Idiot" on the kifu.

The last game I played against an experienced player but maybe not a very good reader. We both have very large moyos but he have more territory. I was a little wreckless in the beginning of my invasions and tenuki a little too early so a corner died. Then I had to get brave and I jump in deep and managed to escape/live but in the process my opponent take a big bite of my territory. Close to the end I am in byo yomi and I don't have time to count but I tried anyway while my opponent was thinking. I counted that I was about ten points behind. I had one chance left thanks to some "aji" from an earlier invasion that didn't work. I make a threat and he doesn't see the danger and I atari for an connect and die. He resign and I felt a bit bad. It is not as fun to win a game in the endgame from a misstake. But I was worth it if we look at what happened in game 2. Bad luck + good luck = even.

So I won two games and I lost three. Not a great result but I guess it points at my current skill. Now we have five another days of the main tournament and then we will go home and practise. :P

2008-08-02

New joseki

Girlwing and Russian Igor had an interesting game in the weekend tournament leading up to this interesting joseki. Here we can see Igor play the last move in the sequence.

2008-08-01

Empty Triangle

The artist of the empty triangle is present in Leksand and sells posters of your favorite strip. You can get a personal drawing of yourself on your name/rank card or a t-shirt with a cool strip.

Fifth game

I won!
I was playing black against a Japanese lady. It was a calm and friendly game and in the end I won by 3.5 points.