Manfred Wimmer
Encyclopedia
Manfred Wimmer was the first Western
professional go player
. As of 2007, there have been fewer than a dozen professional go players born outside of Asia.
Manfred Wimmer was born in Austria
in 1944. He won the European Go Championship
in 1969, 1970, and 1974.
He became a professional shodan
in the Kansai Ki-In
on January 26, 1978 (shortly before James Kerwin, the American who became the second Western go professional on February 14, 1978, in the Nihon Kiin). Wimmer was promoted to the rank of 2p the same year (though gobase.org lists him as a 1p).
In 1991, he introduced the game of go in Madagascar
and, around the same time, reportedly in Kenya
.
Wimmer died of a stroke
in Vienna
in 1995. According to legend, he died at the local go club with a go stone in his hand.
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
professional go player
Go professional
A Go professional is a professional player of the game of Go. The minimum standard to acquire a professional diploma through one of the major go organisations is very high. The competition is tremendous, and prize incentives for champion players are very large...
. As of 2007, there have been fewer than a dozen professional go players born outside of Asia.
Manfred Wimmer was born in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1944. He won the European Go Championship
European Go Championship
The European Go Championship or Congress is the annual and main event of many organised by the European Go Federation for players of the board game Go. It consists of a 2-week open competition, one round per day, making a total of 10 rounds with a champion ultimately emerging - the player with the...
in 1969, 1970, and 1974.
He became a professional shodan
Shodan
, literally meaning "beginning degree," is the lowest black belt rank in Japanese martial arts and the game of Go. The 2nd dan is higher than Shodan, but the 1st dan is called Shodan traditionally and the 1st dan is not called "Ichidan"...
in the Kansai Ki-In
Kansai Ki-in
The Kansai Ki-in , i.e., Kansai Go Association, is an organizational body for the game of Go in Japan, which was founded by Hashimoto Utaro in 1950...
on January 26, 1978 (shortly before James Kerwin, the American who became the second Western go professional on February 14, 1978, in the Nihon Kiin). Wimmer was promoted to the rank of 2p the same year (though gobase.org lists him as a 1p).
In 1991, he introduced the game of go in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and, around the same time, reportedly in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Wimmer died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1995. According to legend, he died at the local go club with a go stone in his hand.