2011 U.S. Shogi Championship Flash Report

[Alan Baker]

Mr. Tetsuo Higashino, a 6 Dan from San Francisco, won his second consecutive title at the 16th U.S. Shogi Championship, which was held in Philadelphia on April 2 - 3, 2011. Thirty-two players gathered on the campus of Swarthmore College, which was hosting the event for the first time. Three professional players, Mr. Masakazu Kondo (6-dan pro), Ms. Ayano Nodasawa (1-kyu pro), and Ms. Asuka Ito (1-dan pro, retired) were also in attendance. A kyu tournament, featuring several student members of the Swarthmore College Shogi Club, was held alongside the main championship tournament. George Fernandez won 3rd prize, and qualified to represent the U.S. at the upcoming 5th International Shogi Festival in Paris, France in October 2011.

George Fernandez will be sending out a more detailed report, with game results and ratings, in a week or so. In the meantime, here is a list of prize winners:

1st Place T. Higashino (SF, 6 Dan) 2011 U.S. Champion
2nd Place T. Hayashi (Kentucky, 4 Dan)
3rd Place G. Fernandez (NY, 4 Dan) U.S. qualifier to 5th International Shogi Festival

B Section
1st Place L. Kaufman (DC, 5 Dan)
2nd Place M. Hayashi (NY, 4 Dan)
3rd Place H. Toda (SF, 3 Dan)

Top 4 Dan K. Nozawa (Chicago)
Top 3 Dan T. Onishi (NY / Philadelphia)
Top 2 Dan H. Shimoda (SF)
Top Shodan A. Matsumoto (LA)
Top Kyu E. Kuniholm (LA)

Kyu Tournament
1st Place P. Chodrow & C. Morrow

Team Champions: Los Angeles

Alan Baker
Associate Professor
Department of Philosophy
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore PA 19081

[Eric De Las Casas]

I'm unaware of the procedure of the tournament, but why is it that 1st
or 2nd place didn't get chosen as the ISF representative?

Thanks,

Eric De Las Casas

[Larry Kaufman]

Because they weren't US citizens.

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08:59:00

[Mark Schreiber]

What are the time limits for the games?

Do all the games have the same time limits?

[Larry Kaufman]

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Schreiber

To: sho...@googlegroups.com

Cc: Larry Kaufman

Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 4:44 PM

Subject: Re: 2011 U.S. Shogi Championship Flash Report

What are the time limits for the games?

 

15' +40" byoyomi, except for the final game which gets one minute byoyomi. The team games are just 30" per move and are not rated.

 

Do all the games have the same time limits?

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[Mark Schreiber]

Are those fast games?

[Larry Kaufman]

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Schreiber

To: sho...@googlegroups.com

Cc: Larry Kaufman

Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 9:32 PM

Subject: Re: 2011 U.S. Shogi Championship Flash Report

Are those fast games?

 

I already reported the time limits, what is your question?

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[benjamin briffaud]

Hi,

Im also surprised by the fact that the cadence for US championship was faster than the fastest rating cadence in Europe (30+30 or 20+40). Did you have registred these games for the US ELO rating ?

Regards,
Benjamin Briffaud

2011/4/8 Larry Kaufman <lkau...@comcast.net>

--

[Mark Schreiber]

Why are the U.S. championships games so rapid? In earlier U.S. championships, the games were slower. Are U.S. championships games rated?

[Larry Kaufman]

----- Original Message -----

From: benjamin briffaud

To: sho...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 2:53 AM

Subject: Re: 2011 U.S. Shogi Championship Flash Report

Hi,

Im also surprised by the fact that the cadence for US championship was faster than the fastest rating cadence in Europe (30+30 or 20+40). Did you have registred these games for the US ELO rating ?

Yes, the time limit of 15'+40" conforms to the minimum allowed for rating, at least in the US. The 30" per move games are too fast to rate.

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[Larry Kaufman]

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Schreiber

To: sho...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 6:52 AM

Subject: Re: 2011 U.S. Shogi Championship Flash Report

Why are the U.S. championships games so rapid? In earlier U.S. championships, the games were slower. Are U.S. championships games rated?

 

No, earlier US championship games were not slower. Usually 20' + 30" was used, which is about the same on average as 15' + 40". Both are the minimums allowed for rating. Personally I think 15'+40" is slightly higher quality than 20' + 30". One year the organizer set the time limit to 10' + 30" so that year it was not rated.

The format chosen (KO plus a separate team tournament) requires 8 rounds for the KO and 5 rounds for the team event, all in a day and a half,  hence the need for games not to exceed about one hour each. Personally I would prefer a Swiss event, but most of the players are Japanese, not Americans, and most Japanese seem to like this system. It was a very strong event, with four players in the five-six Dan range.