Called Ambassador of Go, Chang Hao Charmed Many at 2013 ACGA Spring Go Expo

By David Li, bostonese.com

Cambridge, Mass. — When the world champion Go player Chang Hao (9p) showed up at the Student Organization Center at Harvard University on March 23, many Go fans couldn’t believe that they would get a chance to play Go with one of the best players in the world. Despite of jet lag, Chang Hao patiently played with six to seven fans simultaneously at a time, and explained to them how they could improve after each game in the two-day 2013 ACGA Spring Go Expo.

(from left)Eli White and Jieru Shi play with Chang Hao (right). (photo by David Li)

Eight-year-old Eli White and 9-year-old Jieru Shi were the youngest Go fans who got a chance of a life time to play with Chang Hao. They started to learn this ancient game less than a year ago. “We drove here from New York City. I was very pleased to meet with and talk to Chang Hao,” said Jie Tang, mother of Jieru Shi, with a wide smile on her face. Ms. Tang taught Go classes at a Chinese language school in New York City.

Chang Hao told me that this was his first trip to the US, and he arrived in Boston in the evening of March 21 from Shanghai with a stop at JFK airport in New York City. He did a little bit sight-seeing on March 22, including a ride of the duck boat. “I was very sleepy in the afternoons of the Go Expo,” Mr Chang said.

When Nie Weiping, CHang Hao’s teacher and once the best Go player in the world, saw a picture of Chang Hao palying Go with fans at Harvard on weibo.com, he commented: “This is very cool! Chang Hao’s good looking and very humble, very suitable to be an ambassador of Go.”

Chang Hao and Andy Liu answer questions after a speed match.
The 2013 ACGA Spring Go Expo is a two-day celebration of the ancient Chinese game of Go. Aimed at both Go players and the general public, the Expo emphasized the importance of cross-cultural education and collaboration, especially as applied to Go and its future in America.

There were the following guests of honor from China:

• Ni Yaoliang, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Ing Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to worldwide Go education with headquarters in Shanghai and Taiwan, a legacy of business magnate Ing Chang-Ki..
• Ms. Lu Wen Zhen, Director of the Shanghai Ing Foundation
• Chang Hao, 9p, a Chinese professional Go player and former world champion.
• John Xiao, former Chinese University Tournament champion.
• Zhang Jian Dong, a reporter from the Xinmin Evening News.

Additionally, the Expo also welcomed the following notables:

• Stephanie Yin 1p, a Chinese professional Go player living in the US.
• Narumi Osawa 4p, a Japanese professional Go player visiting from the Nihon Ki-in
• Andy Liu 1p, newly minted U.S. professional Go player.
• Gansheng Shi 1p, newly minted U.S. professional Go player.
• Elwyn Berklekamp, Professor of Mathematics at UC Berkeley, who gave a talk on game theory.
• Peter Schumer, Professor of Mathematics at Middlebury College, who gave a talk on Go education.
• Thomas Wolf, Professor of Mathematics at Brock University, who gave a talk on the mathematics of seki.

Go is one of the Four Arts of China. Thus, there was also Chinese cultural performances by the Chinese Culture Connection, who demonstrated the other three arts: qin 琴 (stringed instrument), shu 書 (calligraphy), and hua 畫 (painting).

The event included a Chinese-American professional exhibition match between Andy Liu 1p, and Chang Hao 9p, simultaneous matches against professional players, a preview of the first feature-length documentary on Go, “The Surrounding Game”, public teaching and demonstrations, a youth Go tournament, and lectures on the relevance of Go beyond the board.

The Expo was open free of charge to the general public, and many students (K-12 and university) attended. The American Collegiate Go Association is dedicated to promoting Go to students as a means for education; we are happy to provide travel and accommodation subsidies to students and other attendees who might not otherwise attend. The Expo also included a workshop and tournament specially designed for K-12 students.

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Expo Schedule

Schedule in Chinese

Day 1 (Saturday, 23 March) at Harvard’s Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH)

• Morning Activities (Doors open at 9am)
  • Simultaneous Go games with visiting professional players.
• Welcoming introductions from the Chinese Delegation and leaders of the ACGA. (11am)
  • A presentation on Go and Chinese culture.
  • A variety of cultural performances and events by Chinese Cultural Connection.
  • Learn to play Go.
  • Performances by Chinese cultural groups.
• Catered Lunch
• Afternoon Activities
  • Extended preview of “The Surrounding Game” documentary, and Q&A with makers.
  • Talk by Elwyn Berlekamp
  • Q&A with Chang Hao 9p.
  • Exhibition match between Andy Liu 1p and Chang Hao 9p, with live commentary
  • Game play

Day 2 (Sunday, 24 March) at Harvard’s Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH)

• Morning Activities (Doors open at 9am)
  • Talk by Peter Schumer
  • Go workshop for all levels with Yin Mingming 1p and Andy Liu 1p
  • Youth Go workshop with Shi Gansheng 1p
  • Youth Tournament
  • Game Play
• Lunch
• Afternoon Activities
  • Simultaneous games with professional players
  • Talk by Thomas Wolf
  • Game play
  • Closing Remarks