Michael Redmond
Encyclopedia
Michael Redmond is an American-born professional Go
player
. He is one of only a few such players, as Go is not as widespread or developed in the West as in China
, South Korea
, or Japan
. He is the only westerner to reach the grade of 9-dan
- the highest grade.
, and began playing Go at age 11. At the age of 14, he became an insei
at the Nihon Ki-in
. He was promoted to professional 1 dan at age 18, and 2 dan in the same year. He was promoted to 5 dan in 1985; 8 dan in 1996; and 9 dan in 2000, becoming the first western Go professional to reach 9 dan.
Redmond has not won any titles but has come close. He was runner-up in the Shinjin-O
, Kisei
7 dan section, and NEC Shun-Ei
competitions in the early 1990s. He was also a semi-finalist in the Fujitsu Cup
and Tong Yang Cup
. Currently he is a celebrated commentator for the NHK
channel. In 2005, he was voted "Best Commentator" for the NHK channel, over Ishida Yoshio.
In August 2006, he taught at the AGA East Coast Go Camp in Pennsylvania, and attended the 22nd annual US Go Congress
in Black Mountain
, North Carolina
. He has also attended several other US Go Congresses.
Redmond is married to Xian-Xian Niu, a Chinese 5 dan professional. They have two daughters, Yumi and Emi. Redmond and his family are sponsors of many Go activities for children in America, such as the Redmond Cup and the Redmond Handicap Tournament.
Go (board game)
Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...
player
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 only a few such players, as Go is not as widespread or developed in the West as in 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...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, or Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He is the only westerner to reach the grade of 9-dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
- the highest grade.
Biography
Michael Redmond was born in 1963 in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, and began playing Go at age 11. At the age of 14, he became an insei
Insei
In Japan, an ' is a student at an institution, usually a graduate school. The word may also refer to a student of Go at the Nihon Ki-in or the Kansai Ki-in seeking to become a professional player....
at the Nihon Ki-in
Nihon Ki-in
The Nihon Ki-in , also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for Go in Japan, overseeing Japan's professional system and issuing diplomas for amateur dan rankings. It is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.Nihon Ki-in was established...
. He was promoted to professional 1 dan at age 18, and 2 dan in the same year. He was promoted to 5 dan in 1985; 8 dan in 1996; and 9 dan in 2000, becoming the first western Go professional to reach 9 dan.
Redmond has not won any titles but has come close. He was runner-up in the Shinjin-O
Shinjin-O
The Shinjin-O is a professional Go competition.An annual Japanese tournament, it has been held continuously since 1976.- Format :...
, Kisei
Kisei
The Kisei is a Go competition. The title, meaning go sage in Japanese, was a traditional honorary appellation given to a handful of players down the centuries. The element ki can also apply to shogi, and there were also recognized kisei in the shogi world.-Background:Kisei is a Go competition...
7 dan section, and NEC Shun-Ei
NEC Shun-Ei
The NEC Shun-Ei was a Nihon-Kiin Go competition.-Outline:The NEC Shun-Ei was made for young stars and was sponsored by the NEC Corporation. The winner's purse was 3,000,000 Yen -Winners:...
competitions in the early 1990s. He was also a semi-finalist in the Fujitsu Cup
Fujitsu Cup
- Outline :The Fujitsu Cup is an international competition. Fujitsu and Yomiuri Shimbun host the oldest international Go competition. The players are picked as follows:* The top 3 players from the previous year's competition* 7 players from Japan...
and Tong Yang Cup
Tong Yang Cup
The Tong Yang Cup was a Go competition. The Tong Yang Cup was sponsored by Tong Yang Investment Bank of South Korea. The tournament was run from 1990 to 1998, with players from South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, China and European countries.-Past winners:...
. Currently he is a celebrated commentator for the NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
channel. In 2005, he was voted "Best Commentator" for the NHK channel, over Ishida Yoshio.
In August 2006, he taught at the AGA East Coast Go Camp in Pennsylvania, and attended the 22nd annual US Go Congress
US Go Congress
The U.S. Go Congress is the largest annual Go event in the United States, first held in 1985 and now into its 28th consecutive year. It is organized by the American Go Association, and is a week-long tournament and learning opportunity for Go players. Several hundred people generally attend,...
in Black Mountain
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Black Mountain is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,511 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named for the Black Mountain range of the Blue Ridge range in the Southern Appalachians.-History:Black...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He has also attended several other US Go Congresses.
Redmond is married to Xian-Xian Niu, a Chinese 5 dan professional. They have two daughters, Yumi and Emi. Redmond and his family are sponsors of many Go activities for children in America, such as the Redmond Cup and the Redmond Handicap Tournament.
Past runners-up
| Title | Years Lost |
|---|---|
 Shinjin-OShinjin-O The Shinjin-O is a professional Go competition.An annual Japanese tournament, it has been held continuously since 1976.- Format :... |
1992 |
| NEC Shun-Ei NEC Shun-Ei The NEC Shun-Ei was a Nihon-Kiin Go competition.-Outline:The NEC Shun-Ei was made for young stars and was sponsored by the NEC Corporation. The winner's purse was 3,000,000 Yen -Winners:... |
1990 |