computer-go: One suggestion

[Compgo123@xxxxxxx]

First I'd like to thank Michael Richard for host this list.

I'll make a suggestion here. I think many people probably already thought 
about it. I suggest we gether a group of creditable people and write a 
funding proposal to solicit for a sponsor for the Annual US Open Computer Go 
Championship. The goal is to establish a fund about 2 million dollars. This 
two million dollars will be invested in US government bond. The proceeds will 
be used to organize annual tournament and for prizes. One million dollars 
will be the prize for the first program to win over a professional dan player 
(one that must be certified by a committee ). There are two possibilities for 
the organization committee. One is by the sponsor and the other is by an 
annually elected committee. The chairman of the committee will assume the 
daily reponsibilities of the committe with a symbolic pay ($300/month?). 
Because we don't want a person to take the position for money. This 
tournament will adopt a regulation that has the same principles as the 
constitution of the United States. That is every participants will be treated 
equal. Anyone will be allowed to participate as long as he can pass the 
entrance qualifying competition. The entrance competition will be done by 
choosing an existing program with appropriate strength. Any participanting 
program must win over above program to be eligible. It's predicted that 
non-commercial programs or program versions will soon be much stronger than 
commercial programs. Thus, by proper choice of the entrance qualifying 
program, most fraud will be eliminated. There will be no requirement for 
submitting a copy of the program to be registered for the tournament. I think 
it's the time for such a tournament to be held in US. We must make effort. 
Otherwise nothing will  happen.


Dan Liu