PRESS RELEASE Canberra 13 June 2008 For immediate release

Headline:

Aussies to compete in Beijing Mind Sports Games post-Olympics

Story:

China will host the 1^st World Mind Sports Games in October in Beijing following the Olympic games. The Mind Sports, comprising Go, Chess, Bridge, Checkers (Draughts) and for this year Chinese Chess, are expected to be held every Olympic year, attracting top players from around the world in each discipline.

The Australian Go Association today announced the selection of 10 Go players to represent Australia in five medal events, the Men’s Individual, Women’s Individual, Open, Men’s Team and Women’s Team contests. The Australian team will consist of seven men and three women. Two of the strongest players are also the youngest: 15 year old Kevin Chen from Melbourne and 14 year old Joanne Missingham, who is currently studying Go in China. Joanne, who defeated Australia’s best players at the Toyota and Denso Go Cup in Brisbane in January, is hoping to become a professional player — presently there are very few professional Go players outside the three traditional “Go Powers” of China, Japan and Korea.

About Go:

Go is by far the oldest of the Mind Sports, originating in China as much as 4000 years ago. Two players alternately place black and white stones on a large 19x19 board to try to gain the most “territory”; although having very simple rules which can be learnt in a few minutes, it has proved to be the most difficult of all games for computers to “learn” — currently the best computer programs can easily be beaten by novice human players.

Go was said to have influenced Mao’s strategic thinking. Readers may have seen the game played in the film “A Beautiful Mind”.

Photo:

If you do not see the photo below this Press Release may be viewed at the website

http://australiango.asn.au/files/PressReleases/WMSG%20PRESS%20RELEASE.html

Joanne Missingham thinks about her next move

Contact:

Neville Smythe, Secretary Australian Go Association

Secretary@AustralianGo.asn.au

Tel: 0414517719 or (02) 6232 -7277

Resources:

What is Go?

http://www.usgo.org/resources/whatisgo.html

World Mind Sports Games website

http://www.2008wmsg.org/ (click on the English version)

International Mind Sports Association

http://www.intergofed.org/imsa.htm

International Go Federation web site

http://www.intergofed.org/

Australian Go Association web site

http://www.australiango.asn.au/

Contacts for Chess and Bridge:

Please contact the Australian Chess and Bridge Federations for information about their participation in the WMSG:

Bridge: ABF website http://www.abf.com.au/

Email secretariat@netspeed.com.au or

keith@birdwalkermcdonald.com.au

Chess: ACF web site http://www.auschess.org.au/

Email gwastell@netspace.net.au

Press:

Media wishing to cover the 1^st World Mind Sports Games are requested to contact the Chinese organisers for assistance with their requirements. Please contact Neville Smythe (above) for more information.