The PandaNet Go European Cup

PandaNet is sponsoring the PandaNet Go European Cup. This tournament cycle exists of some 16 major and minor tournaments played in various cities all over Europe. The tour is traditionally opened in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and comes to a close during the grand-final in Paris, France.

Schedule for 2007-2008

Live coverage

In addition to the sponsoring of these tournaments PandaNet also takes care of the live coverage of these events on the PandaNet Go server. From every round at least one game (usually the top board) will be broadcast on PandaNet enabling players from all over the world to closely follow the achievements of the European top players.

Guidelines for tournament organizers

Introduction

As usual, this year's tour will be followed closely by the sponsors and Go players from all over the world. Pandanet promises the live coverage of at least one game every round (but preferably more), so please make sure that you have taken care of all prerequisites to ensure the coverage can proceed as expected.

Technical and practical prerequisites

What you need is:

• A network connection, speed is not really important, stability is.
  The EGCC (office@go-centre.nl) can advise you in finding technical solutions for your particular situation.
• A computer, preferably a laptop since it doesn't take a lot of space and usually is low in noise.
  Again, the EGCC can help you in suggesting or sometimes even providing a laptop to you.
• An operator accustomed with the basic PandaNet commands such as teach, title, tell, kibitz, undo, resign and maybe a few more.
• An PandaNet account which you will use to relay the games. Usually, you will choose a name reflecting the name of the tournament, such as Adam05, or Paris06.
  The EGCC or Jan van der Steen (European representative of PandaNet, info-europe@pandanet.co.jp) can assist you if necessary.
• A suitable graphical PandaNet client to relay the games. We recommend the clients gGo or glGo, both available from the PandaNet homepage (http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/).
• Please keep both the EGCC and the European PandaNet office well informed of the schedule of the tournament and the preparations with respect to the coverage of the tournament on PandaNet.
  To ensure smooth communication with your local organization please appoint one person within your organization who will be responsible for all internet coverage related issues and let this person contact both the EGCC and the European PandaNet office so we can stay in touch both ways.

PandaNet tips and command summary

On the very moment you start broadcasting you will find either a representative of the EGCC or the European PandaNet office present on PandaNet. They will take care of the announcements of the games on the server by using privileged means of communications.

Here is a brief summary of the commands you'll need while broadcasting:

• teach 19
  This command will set up a 19x19 board where you control both the white and black moves (details).
• title words...
  This command will give the game a title which is informative to the users who will come to watch the game (details).
  We recommend the following title (please insert the name of your tournament, the actual round and the actual names and strength of the players):

  <name>,<rank> (B) vs <name>,<rank> - PandaNet Cup, <tournament>, rnd <rnd>

  An example:

  Guo Juan,7d (B) vs Catalin Taranu,7d - PandaNet Cup, Amsterdam, rnd 1

• kibitz words...
  This command sends a kibitz to all users watching the game. Both the gGo and glGo have a special input box to enter kibitz which allows you to just type your messages without preceding them with the kibitz command (details).
  The users watching the game usually like to be informed about all kind of things which they're unable to see, such as time on the clocks, how the players "feel", what they're wearing (no kidding), the ambiance in the playing room, and more...
• all
  This command will list the users who are actually watching the game (details).
• Use a local board as well
  In case you lose your network connection you can still continue your work as a scribe and eventually transmit the moves to PandaNet once the network comes back up.
• load player-player
  Whenever you lose connection the game is automatically adjourned and saved by PandaNet. You can resume adjourned games with the load command (details).
  Unfortunately, PandaNet doesn't suppport (yet) the uploading of an existing game record so you will have to enter the backlog by yourself.
• Save the SGF file of the game
  Please save all games using the customized "save" options of the client you use. This will create an SGF file on your local file system. This SGF file should be E-mailed to both the EGCC and the European PandaNet representative right after the game. Of course, the game record can also be used by your local organizations such as Go associations, magazines and newspapers.
• resign
  Once the game is over and the kibitzers are through discussing it you can finish the broadcast by resigning it. PandaNet will automatically E-mail you the SGF record of the game. The kibitz is stored in the SGF file as well.

Games become much more interesting when one or more strong players are available to give comments and answer questions. We have experience with Yuki Shigeno, 1p living in Italy who visits lots of European tournaments. In case she's asked well in advance she's usually willing to consider attending and giving comments on the game. If you would be interested in her presence during the game please inform the European PandaNet office about this.

Sponsor coverage

Finally, some issues regarding the appropriate coverage of the sponsor itself:

• The live broadcasting of the tournament games should be announced in the flyers and on the website of the tournament. Please mention the link of PandaNet:

  http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/

• The EGCC will send you flyers, posters and a flag of the sponsor. These posters should be used at the location of the tournament, preferably next to the place were you publish the pairings and results. The flag can be used in various ways. First of all during broadcasting by hanging it behind the board being relayed. Next, by hanging it behind the prize giving ceremony, well visible for all players who attended the tournament and especially local and press photographers.
• You are requested not to broadcast games from your event on any other Go Server.

Epilogue

All of PandaNet, PandaNet Europe and the EGCC wish you an extremely successful tournament and most of all: lots of fun and enjoyment!

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