From: Sam Sloan <sloan <at> ISHIPRESS <dot> COM>
Date: 21 apr 1999
Subject: The US Shogi Championship

I played in the US Shogi Championship which was held on April 10-11, 1999.

The sensation was an 11-year-old boy, ranked 3-dan, who made the finals and
could have won, but he misplayed a well known book opening line.

I was very unhappy with the tournament, however.

It was played not in Chicago as advertised but in Hoffman Estates, a rural
area 30 miles Northwest of Chicago, where absolutely no public
transportation was available. The nearest bus stop was 15 miles away.

As a result, although I arrived at Chicago Midway Airpirt at 8:00 AM, I
could not make it to the tournament site until 12:30 by which time I had
forfeited my first two games and was eliminated.

I feel that if the organizers of a national event want it held in a remote
location, they should arrainge for transportation for those of us who do
not have our own cars.

I was allowed to play in the consulation section. In my first game, I had
to give four pieces to a 6-kyu player, John Striker. He is probably
stronger than 6-kyu, but I won after a long and exhausting struggle.

Then, I had to play a Mr. Sato, who had just arrived from Japan. Because he
was ranked as only a shodan, I had to give him a handicap of a lance
("kyo"). It turns out that his true strength is probably at least 4-dan. He
was in the consulation section only because he had lost to the tournament
winner and to the highest rated player. He played third board for the
Midwest team in the team event and defeated a 4-dan from New York, Mr.
Ogigawa. Mr. Sato finished the event with 6 wins and 2 losses and all of
his opponents were dan players, so why should I be giving him a handicap?

The prizes included two round trip tickets to Japan, one of which was won
by Mr. Sato who had just arrived from Japan. I took this event very
seriously and spent more than $400 to play. I will not be playing again
unless it can be organized better in the future.

Sam Sloan