Burning Board 2024, June 17-23

View Eunkyo Do 1P's outstanding youtube video of this year's event.

The Triangle Go Group celebrated it's third annual Burning Board Go Festival at a beautiful natural setting in the woods of North Carolina on June 17th through June 23rd. Over 60 Go enthusiasts and supporters met at Camp Lapihio and enjoyed multiple lectures and workshops, exciting simuls with a pro, personalized game reviews and a three day, long game tournament, as well as self-paired games, bonfires and toasted marshmallows. New friends were made and old friends re-united in intense over the board play.

Teacher and famous author Yuan Zhou and well-known Korean pro Eunkyo Do 1P gave their all to the game, enriching eager students with their knowledge and insights. Tournament Director extraordinaire Devin Fraze orchestrated another brilliant event, keeping games on schedule and well regulated. Adam and Arlene Bridges presented delicious lunches and s'mores for the bonfire. The event was supplied once again with artistic custom made trophies provided by Frank Salantrie and Bob Bacon.

Warm (and occasionally hot) clear days merged with cool, refreshing nights as the full moon shone brightly on the happy campers.

Last year's champion, Sheng Huo, became this year's champion after fending off highly skilled competitors. Second place in the open section was awarded to Janar Karh, with Yingzhi Qian taking third. These 3 talented players had identical game records, with final placements determined by their SOS scores. Another local youngster, Toby Chen, proved himself the best of the next band of Dan level players, and was followed closely by this year's board builder, Tom Bitonti. The High Kyu section was won by Philip Sizak, narrowly edging out TGG president and AGA Board member Paul Celmer in second. The band of 3 kyus was dominated by the indomitable Paul Mendola, with Adam Bridges close behind. The 4 kyu group featured new local player Zahn Morrison chased closely by David Jakob. Mid-level kyus saw many outstanding records, including the only 6-0 record of the event, accomplished by yet another local player, Mike Keith. Second place was secured handily by Neal Siekierski. The final band was won by Maxim Razim, who narrowly edged out Russell Herman in second.

Micah Feldman, a friend to Go players across the US and beyond, easily won undisputed distinction as the champion of self-paired games, defeating each of the 7 he engaged. Micah was also the organizer of various non-Go activities enjoyed by many.

This year we attracted players from Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Kansas, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Korea and possibly Alpha Centauri.

Below are a list of participants and their records, as well as details of each round, and a few pics.

Entrants	Entry Rating	AGA ID	Wins	Losses
Sheng Huo	4D	24076	4	2
Qian Yingzhi	4D	20320	4	0
Janar Kahr	4D	25346	4	2
Matthew Hershberger	3D	14088	2	2
Dalan Robertson	3D	18851	2	2
Micah Feldman	3D	1454	1	5
Joshua Guarino	2D	12197	0	2
Toby Chen	1D	30735	4	2
Thomas Bitonti	1D	3540	3	3
Philip Sizek	2K	30945	5	1
Leroy Anderson	1D	22924	1	1
Devin Fraze	1K	20133	2	1
Howard Wong	1D	14893	2	4
Paul Celmer	1K	4910	3	3
Anthony Garcia	1K	18800	3	3
Danny He	1D	31066	0	2
Zahn Morrison	4K	31067	5	1
Paul Mendola	3K	25871	4	2
Adam Bridges	3K	9995	4	2
Stephen Leone	3K	23306	2	0
Chris Morse	3K	20310	3	3
David Jakab	4K	30309	4	2
Spencer Berry	2K	31052	0	3
Peter Armenia	3K	8489	2	4
Katie Oh	4K	30222	3	3
Jim Conyngham	4K	6623	2	4
Joe Miller	4K	31060	2	3
Mike Keith	8K	26283	6	0
David Fruchtenicht	3K	2609	0	6
Glenn Williamson	3K	11285	0	6
Patrick Pettibone	5K	31035	2	4
Matthew Gregoire	7K	25500	4	2
Neal Siekierski	8K	25939	5	1
Bob Bacon	6K	11286	1	5
Maxim Razin	10K	20410	5	1
Ursa Woodring	7K	25969	1	4
Avin Newswanger	10K	30247	2	3
Russell Herman	12K	2776	4	2
Elliot Pahel-Short	13K	30296	3	1
Mei Cai	13K	25335	3	3
Yueqi Wang	14K	30404	2	3
Yi Cai	16K	30452	2	2
Mak Patin	17K	31072	2	4
Don Nonini	16K	15693	1	5
Round One
White	Black	Winner	Handicap	Komi
Sheng Huo	Janar Kahr	W	0	7
Micah Feldman	Dalan Robertson	B	0	7
Toby Chen	Howard Wong	B	0	7
Thomas Bitonti	Paul Celmer	W	0	7
Anthony Garcia	David Fruchtenicht	W	0	0
Paul Mendola	Chris Morse	W	0	7
Glenn Williamson	Adam Bridges	B	0	7
Philip Sizek	Peter Armenia	W	0	7
Joe Miller	Patrick Pettibone	B	0	7
David Jakab	Katie Oh	W	0	7
Jim Conyngham	Zahn Morrison	B	0	7
Matthew Gregoire	Bob Bacon	W	0	7
Mike Keith	Ursa Woodring	W	0	7
Neal Siekierski	Avin Newswanger	W	0	0
Maxim Razin	Russell Herman	W	0	0
Mei Cai	Elliot Pahel-Short	B	0	7
Don Nonini	Mak Patin	B	0	7
Round Two
White	Black	Winner	Handicap	Komi
Dalan Robertson	Sheng Huo	B	0	7
Janar Kahr	Micah Feldman	W	0	7
Howard Wong	Thomas Bitonti	W	0	7
Anthony Garcia	Toby Chen	B	0	7
Devin Fraze	Philip Sizek	B	0	7
Paul Celmer	Adam Bridges	W	0	0
Glenn Williamson	Paul Mendola	B	0	7
David Fruchtenicht	David Jakab	B	0	7
Peter Armenia	Joe Miller	B	0	7
Zahn Morrison	Chris Morse	W	0	7
Katie Oh	Jim Conyngham	W	0	7
Patrick Pettibone	Matthew Gregoire	B	0	0
Ursa Woodring	Neal Siekierski	B	0	7
Mike Keith	Maxim Razin	W	0	0
Avin Newswanger	Elliot Pahel-Short	B	2	0
Russell Herman	Don Nonini	W	3	0
Mei Cai	Mak Patin	W	0	7
Bob Bacon	Yueqi Wang	B	7	0
Round Three
White	Black	Winner	Handicap	Komi
Sheng Huo	Matthew Hershberger	B	0	7
Qian Yingzhi	Janar Kahr	W	0	7
Howard Wong	Dalan Robertson	B	0	7
Micah Feldman	Thomas Bitonti	W	0	7
Toby Chen	Paul Celmer	W	0	7
Philip Sizek	Anthony Garcia	W	0	7
Adam Bridges	Paul Mendola	B	0	7
David Jakab	Zahn Morrison	B	0	7
Chris Morse	David Fruchtenicht	W	0	7
Joe Miller	Glenn Williamson	W	0	7
Peter Armenia	Katie Oh	W	0	7
Patrick Pettibone	Jim Conyngham	B	0	7
Bob Bacon	Neal Siekierski	B	0	0
Matthew Gregoire	Mike Keith	B	0	7
Ursa Woodring	Maxim Razin	B	2	0
Avin Newswanger	Mei Cai	W	2	0
Elliot Pahel-Short	Russell Herman	W	0	7
Yueqi Wang	Don Nonini	B	0	0
Mak Patin	Yi Cai	W	0	7
Spencer Berry	Devin Fraze	B	0	7
Round Four
White	Black	Winner	Handicap	Komi
Sheng Huo	Qian Yingzhi	B	0	7
Dalan Robertson	Matthew Hershberger	B	0	7
Janar Kahr	Howard Wong	W	0	7
Micah Feldman	Toby Chen	B	0	7
Thomas Bitonti	Philip Sizek	W	0	0
Paul Celmer	Zahn Morrison	B	2	0
Paul Mendola	Spencer Berry	W	0	7
Anthony Garcia	Chris Morse	W	0	0
Adam Bridges	Joe Miller	W	0	7
Peter Armenia	David Jakab	B	0	7
Katie Oh	Glenn Williamson	W	0	7
Jim Conyngham	David Fruchtenicht	W	0	7
Patrick Pettibone	Mike Keith	B	2	0
Neal Siekierski	Matthew Gregoire	W	0	7
Bob Bacon	Avin Newswanger	B	3	0
Maxim Razin	Elliot Pahel-Short	W	2	0
Russell Herman	Mei Cai	W	0	7
Yueqi Wang	Mak Patin	W	2	0
Yi Cai	Don Nonini	W	0	7
Round Five
White	Black	Winner	Handicap	Komi
Matthew Hershberger	Janar Kahr	B	0	7
Qian Yingzhi	Micah Feldman	W	0	7
Joshua Guarino	Sheng Huo	B	0	7
Thomas Bitonti	Toby Chen	B	0	7
Leroy Anderson	Stephen Leone	B	2	0
Howard Wong	Anthony Garcia	B	0	7
Zahn Morrison	Paul Mendola	W	0	7
Philip Sizek	David Jakab	W	0	0
Paul Celmer	Danny He	W	0	7
Katie Oh	Adam Bridges	B	0	7
Chris Morse	Joe Miller	W	0	7
Jim Conyngham	Peter Armenia	B	0	7
Glenn Williamson	Patrick Pettibone	B	0	0
David Fruchtenicht	Matthew Gregoire	B	3	0
Mike Keith	Neal Siekierski	W	0	7
Bob Bacon	Ursa Woodring	B	0	7
Maxim Razin	Avin Newswanger	W	0	7
Russell Herman	Mak Patin	W	4	0
Mei Cai	Don Nonini	W	2	0
Yueqi Wang	Yi Cai	B	0	0
Round Six
White	Black	Winner	Handicap	Komi
Matthew Hershberger	Qian Yingzhi	B	0	7
Micah Feldman	Sheng Huo	B	0	7
Janar Kahr	Toby Chen	W	0	7
Leroy Anderson	Joshua Guarino	W	0	7
Howard Wong	Philip Sizek	B	0	0
Danny He	Thomas Bitonti	B	0	7
Anthony Garcia	Devin Fraze	B	0	7
Paul Celmer	Paul Mendola	W	0	0
Zahn Morrison	Adam Bridges	B	0	7
Stephen Leone	Spencer Berry	W	0	7
Chris Morse	Peter Armenia	W	0	7
David Jakab	Jim Conyngham	W	0	7
Patrick Pettibone	Katie Oh	B	0	7
David Fruchtenicht	Mike Keith	B	4	0
Glenn Williamson	Neal Siekierski	B	4	0
Ursa Woodring	Matthew Gregoire	B	0	7
Bob Bacon	Don Nonini	W	9	0
Maxim Razin	Mak Patin	W	6	0
Russell Herman	Yueqi Wang	W	0	0
Mei Cai	Yi Cai	W	2	0

More pictures forthcoming.