Jie Li
Encyclopedia
Jie Li is a strong amateur Go player
. He is one of the strongest go players in the United States, playing at an equal level with many American professionals.
, China
. He started to play Go at the age of 10, and increased up to 1 dan
strength just a year later. He became famous in 2001 at the North American Toyota-Denso Oza
, in which he beat four professional Go players: Zhujiu Jiang
9P, Jimmy Cha
, Mingjiu Jiang
7P, and Huiren Yang 1P. As a child, Jie won the Nanjing City Go tournament when he was 12, and came in fifth place at the China Youth Championship when he was 10. He moved to the U.S.
in 1998, and won the US Open a year later at the age of 17. He has said he hopes to gain US citizenship in 2008 so he could become the first American player to win the World Amateur Go Championship
. Currently, Jie is the highest ranked player at the American Go Association
, with the rank of 7 dan amateur, which is loosely equivalent to a professional.
On November 28, 2004, Jie Li defeated Suzuki Ayumi 3p in the 5th Tokyo Seimitsu Cup finals, breaking the U.S. losing streak. Suzuki, the then current titleholder of "Strongest Woman" in Japan, was forced to resign in the game with Jie Li, who took black. After the game, a Japanese pro commented that black was "very strong".
In the 2005 U.S. Go Congress, Korean player Kim MyungWan 7p, challenged Jie Li in a friendship match. Jie won the match, played receiving a handicap advantage of no komi.
In early 2006, Jie Li took second place in the World Student Oza in Japan, a feat unheard of in Western countries.
During the 2006 go congress, Jie Li had a series of very disappointing performances. He participated in both the US Open and the Ing. He lost to Zhaonian (Michael) Chen in the Ing while losing to Zhi Yuan (Andy) Liu, Burzo Gheorghe Cornel, and Mingjiu Jiang in the open. He lost more games in the congress than the number of games he has lost in the past five years. His fans were worrying about his current form.
He started to pick up his form later on in 2006. He won the 2006 North American Masters Tournament, defeating Yilun Yang
7p, Mingjiu Jiang
7p, Xuefun Lin 1p, Huiren Yang 1p, Zhaonian (Michael) Chen (North America Ing Cup Titleholder-2006) in League stage and defeating Feng Yun 9P in the Final, 2 games to 1.
Go players
This page gives an overview of well-known players of the game of Go throughout the ages. The page has been divided into sections based on the era in which the Go players played and the country in which they played. As this was not necessarily their country of birth, a flag of that country precedes...
. He is one of the strongest go players in the United States, playing at an equal level with many American professionals.
Biography
Jie was born in NanjingNanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He started to play Go at the age of 10, and increased up to 1 dan
Go ranks and ratings
Skill in the traditional board game Go is measured by a number of different national, regional and online ranking and rating systems. Traditionally, go rankings have been measured using a system of dan and kyu ranks...
strength just a year later. He became famous in 2001 at the North American Toyota-Denso Oza
North American Toyota-Denso Oza
The North American Toyota-Denso Cup - World Go Oza was a relatively new world go championship. Held as a biennial event in even-numbered years starting in 2002, the tournament ran as 32-player knockout event that culminated in a best-of-three final match...
, in which he beat four professional Go players: Zhujiu Jiang
Zhujiu Jiang
Jiang Zhujiu is a Chinese professional Go player.- Biography :Zhujiu began playing Go when he was 6. In 1982, he was 5 dan, and 1987 he was promoted to 7 dan. Earlier in his career, he competed in some of the top Chinese tournaments. In the National Go Individual, he achieved 4th place on two...
9P, Jimmy Cha
Jimmy Cha
Jimmy Cha , also known as Ch'a Min-su, is a South Korean professional go and avid poker player. He is also a black belt in martial arts and a talented classical pianist....
, Mingjiu Jiang
Mingjiu Jiang
Mingjiu Jiang is a Chinese professional Go player.- Biography :Mingjiu became 6 dan in 1982, and 7 dan in 1987. He has played for the Zhongguo Qiyuan, but currently resides in and represents the United States of America...
7P, and Huiren Yang 1P. As a child, Jie won the Nanjing City Go tournament when he was 12, and came in fifth place at the China Youth Championship when he was 10. He moved to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1998, and won the US Open a year later at the age of 17. He has said he hopes to gain US citizenship in 2008 so he could become the first American player to win the World Amateur Go Championship
World Amateur Go Championship
The World Amateur Go Championship is an international tournament for amateur Go players, held once a year since 1979. The organising body is the International Go Federation . Each participating country sends one player, although in the beginning of the contest there were multiple players from the...
. Currently, Jie is the highest ranked player at the American Go Association
American Go Association
The American Go Association was founded in 1935 to promote the board game of Go in the United States. Founded by chess master Edward Lasker and some friends at Chumley's restaurant in New York City, the AGA is one of the oldest Western Go associations...
, with the rank of 7 dan amateur, which is loosely equivalent to a professional.
On November 28, 2004, Jie Li defeated Suzuki Ayumi 3p in the 5th Tokyo Seimitsu Cup finals, breaking the U.S. losing streak. Suzuki, the then current titleholder of "Strongest Woman" in Japan, was forced to resign in the game with Jie Li, who took black. After the game, a Japanese pro commented that black was "very strong".
In the 2005 U.S. Go Congress, Korean player Kim MyungWan 7p, challenged Jie Li in a friendship match. Jie won the match, played receiving a handicap advantage of no komi.
In early 2006, Jie Li took second place in the World Student Oza in Japan, a feat unheard of in Western countries.
During the 2006 go congress, Jie Li had a series of very disappointing performances. He participated in both the US Open and the Ing. He lost to Zhaonian (Michael) Chen in the Ing while losing to Zhi Yuan (Andy) Liu, Burzo Gheorghe Cornel, and Mingjiu Jiang in the open. He lost more games in the congress than the number of games he has lost in the past five years. His fans were worrying about his current form.
He started to pick up his form later on in 2006. He won the 2006 North American Masters Tournament, defeating Yilun Yang
Yilun Yang
Yilun Yang, also spelled Yi-lun Yang, is a 7 dan professional Go player, teacher, and author, with special expertise in the formulation of "tsume-go" problems...
7p, Mingjiu Jiang
Mingjiu Jiang
Mingjiu Jiang is a Chinese professional Go player.- Biography :Mingjiu became 6 dan in 1982, and 7 dan in 1987. He has played for the Zhongguo Qiyuan, but currently resides in and represents the United States of America...
7p, Xuefun Lin 1p, Huiren Yang 1p, Zhaonian (Michael) Chen (North America Ing Cup Titleholder-2006) in League stage and defeating Feng Yun 9P in the Final, 2 games to 1.
Past titles and runner ups
| Title | Years Held |
|---|---|
 North American Toyota-Denso OzaNorth American Toyota-Denso Oza The North American Toyota-Denso Cup - World Go Oza was a relatively new world go championship. Held as a biennial event in even-numbered years starting in 2002, the tournament ran as 32-player knockout event that culminated in a best-of-three final match... |
2001, 2002, 2008 |
| US Open |
1998, 2002–2004 |
| North American Amateur Ing Cup |
2002, 2004, 2005 |
| Texas Open |
1999–2005 |
| Cotsen Open |
2004 |
| North America Go Master Tournament |
2005–2006 |
| Tokyo Semitsu |
2004 |
 Nanjing City Cup |
1994 |
| Title | Years Lost |
|---|---|
    World Student Oza |
2005 |
External links
- The game record from the 3rd round of the 2001 Toyota Denso Oza tournament, when Li beat Zhujiu Jiang, may be found here.