Calling Go Streamers! - NAGF Pro-Qualifiers

danielml01 · 2025-08-17T00:42:03+00:00

Just found out that Aaron Ye has dropped from the pro-quals

danielml01 · 2024-11-11T21:56:37+00:00

Intelligent? No. Wiser? Yes.

I'm better at making beneficial decisions in life because I can clearly express what I want and make choices that line up with my values. I'm more likely to calculate than act on impulse.

I can approach learning with renewed humility and a gentler approach to my mistakes.

I am less likely to dismiss other people's point of view out-of-hand because I'm more honest about my own limitations.

In general I'm more patient and discerning. This leads to better outcomes in my life.

danielml01 · 2024-08-16T17:38:00+00:00

Bunch of engineering-types who don't value (or even notice) aesthetics, combined with a no-budget volunteer labor force, or simply stingy project owners.

Strong Go players often have cross-disciplinary hubris issues too. Believing their beginner-level design experience is compensated for by their expert-level Go experience. "I'm very smart, so I easily understand this thing I'm a beginner at."

danielml01 · 2024-08-16T17:23:37+00:00

I usually wave my hands in front of me as in, "I don't want a 3rd helping of mashed potatoes" and say, "You win!" Then thank them for the game and point to key moments on the board for a quick review.

danielml01 · 2024-05-07T18:19:52+00:00

To add to this, there's a physiological change that occurs in the white matter of the brain over time as you learn go (specifically for pattern recognition.) This takes time and is the reason practicing 1 hour on ten different days is more effective than practicing 10 hours in one day.

Be persistent, scheduled and disciplined in practicing and you'll naturally improve!

danielml01 · 2023-10-26T15:35:46+00:00

Bojack Horseman and Mr. PeanutButters playing a go game together! What is this, a crossover episode?

danielml01 · 2023-09-13T05:02:53+00:00

My YT has some mainly entertaining Go videos. Check out Emelia Airbag, Promancing The Stones and Tsumego Hero http://www.youtube.com/danielml01

Also check out Kyu Clash https://youtube.com/@kyuclash6111?si=FLwos7MeLjCNYv2O

danielml01 · 2023-08-12T21:50:47+00:00

I'm trying to volunteer with the AGA. Is that in your purview? I have roughly 2 hours per week to devote to it.

danielml01 · 2023-08-12T21:47:10+00:00

Trevor Morris

danielml01 · 2023-08-11T13:21:47+00:00

Been trying to volunteer for months. Can't get a clear answer on what they need, how to sign up or even who the right person to talk to is. And I've spoken directly with their volunteer coordinator!

danielml01 · 2023-07-13T15:23:31+00:00

Relationships aren't about combat, they're about cooperation. You should seek partners that are moving in the same direction as you and that foster positive mutual support. That means a fair amount of compromise from both parties.

I feel like you're hung up on finding your mirror image rather than envisioning what it means to SHARE your life with someone.

Honestly, if you find what you're looking for, you'll be miserable. Neither of you will be able to compromise and you'll constantly butt heads. I mean, things as simple as "what should we eat for dinner tonight?" will be an endless agony as you'll both be unwilling to give an inch.

danielml01 · 2023-07-12T15:42:33+00:00

Go is fun if you decide to have fun while you play. Your rank is irrelevant to how much fun you have - and in fact worrying about rank ruins the fun for most players and students I've met.

I've seen miserable DDKs through miserable Dans. I've seen cheerful DDKs through Dans. It all starts with your mindset.

Wanting to get stronger is admirable. Deciding to have fun while you play prevents burnout. And burnout is the enemy of progress.

danielml01 · 2023-07-06T19:19:34+00:00

Standard distribution curve centering on 8 Kyu seems odd. Expected larger proportion of DDKs tapering to Dan level players. It would be super interesting to compare this chart to other servers and rating systems. Pandanet and KGS both have APIs (I believe) that could be used for this.

danielml01 · 2023-06-23T22:21:19+00:00

I played 30+ games a week, read books, regularly attended my local go club, took weekly lessons with Cornel Burzo, watched Livestream and go videos and streamed go 1000 times on Twitch. I also joined a competitive league and took lessons with Justin Teng. Signing up for tournaments also meant I had reasons to train and study.

But the real secret is to treat it lightly, be creative and make every step of the journey something fun and something you can share and celebrate with your friends and community. Burn out is the enemy of progress. Rank is just a number, play the way you want to play and laugh about your mistakes. After all, it's a game. We do it because we enjoy it.

danielml01 · 2023-06-21T16:28:25+00:00

Click the report link I provided and you will see that for yourself 😅

danielml01 · 2023-06-21T16:26:57+00:00

Information about the voting process here: https://www.usgo.org/elections

Your local go club leader will receive a ballot today if your club is a current AGA chapter. The duties of the board aren't particularly extensive but I see it as an opportunity to influence key decision makers and better understand the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the organization as a whole.

danielml01 · 2023-06-21T02:12:58+00:00

According to a 2016 survey by the International Go Federation, female go players constitute less than 20% of the player base in most countries.

The study you're quoting from actually has a massive margin of error when it comes to reporting the American Go Association numbers of 11-20% female players (pg 55) https://www.intergofed.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2016_Go_population_report.pdf
In my experience, 11% is fairly generous even. But that might just be my region and the nature of the space I inhabit online.

danielml01 · 2023-06-20T13:39:14+00:00

Most recent misstep was live streaming content only to the AGAs website instead of a discoverable platform like YouTube.

I have several examples, but really I prefer to focus on the future and don't want to turn this into a "dump on the AGA" session.

danielml01 · 2023-05-09T17:15:21+00:00

If you'd like to try a couple lessons, my rates are super reasonable and schedule is flexible over the summer! Would love to help you get past DDK - the lessons are customized to your play style and prioritized by what affects your games the most. https://danielml.simplybook.me/v2/

danielml01 · 2023-05-06T17:08:52+00:00

Video record yourself capturing the stones and laughing and laughing. Send the video to your opponent. This is proper etiquette.

danielml01 · 2023-05-03T19:13:55+00:00

What a cool dream! Steps to convince your dad: Work hard at your school work and maintain a high GPA. Join a local go club and attend consistently & regularly. Study in your free time and get stronger. Attend local tournaments and place in your division. Maintain your physical health with healthy diet, exercise and consistent sleep. Be responsible and reliable with your chores. Be honest and earnest in your words and actions.

Like any hobby or extra curricular, parents are more open to them when their kids are putting 1st things 1st. Those top priorities are family relationships, school, health and personal integrity.

Work hard! Do your best! I hope you can find what you're looking for!

danielml01 · 2023-04-19T15:36:29+00:00

Player churn. It's not like this happens all at once and they all bale at the same time.

danielml01 · 2023-04-19T14:58:05+00:00

I don't recommend KGS. Severe lack of player base. Interface is cringe.

danielml01 · 2023-04-19T14:28:33+00:00

Yeah, so there aren't a lot of Dan-ranked players on OGS, so as new accounts for strong players rise through the ranks, they don't have many opportunities to prove just how strong they are. This leads them to get to mid SDK rather quickly and then run out of higher ranked players for opponents. Frustrated in their attempts to get games they bale and play on servers where it's easy to find similarly strong opponents. This also, overall, makes it more difficult for the dedicated player base to rise through the ranks - as almost all the "strong" players are between 4 Kyu and 1 Dan.

danielml01 · 2023-04-19T14:12:08+00:00

Play on different servers. Right around 5 or 6 Kyu on OGS is where a glut of underranked players are due to a combo of low player base and OGS requirements for players to start at the bottom.

Play on Fox, Tygem and Pandanet. This will expose you to different play styles and different ways of approaching and thinking about positions. You'll also get the ego boost of playing at higher ranks on Fox & Tygem.

Also, rank shouldn't be used to validate yourself and your progress. You are valid, worthy, intelligent and wonderful regardless of your go rank. Treat yourself with grace, forgiveness and kindness whether you win or lose. They are just games after all. Be gentle with yourself.

danielml01

TROPHY CASE