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International Go/いご/围棋 Association
This treaty was drafted in December 4782 by the Socialist Party of Kalistan (SPoK).
Status: ratification[?]
Description[?]
| Preamble: This Treaty establishes the International Go/いご/围棋 Association (hereafter referred to as IGA). The purpose of this association is to foster professional level play in the game of Go, as well as to sponsor championships to determine the best Go players in the world. Article 1: All nations who wish to participate shall be full and equal members upon the ratification of this Treaty. Each member nation who wishes to participate shall take steps to foster a Go Club system within their own nation to encourage the development of play and Go theory in their respective states. Article 2: Annually, Memberstates will sponsor National Go Tournaments, which will include, at most a national stipend which will allow the winner of the tournament to live for a year and devote his or her time and energy to the study of Go. The prize may be expanded to include more winners of the tournaments, or larger stipends. Stipends may be acquired from any source, and all funding sources will be considered "Sponsors" of the national tournaments. Article 3: Any and all winners of Sponsored Tournaments at a higher level than Club play will be ranked on the "Professional" rankings, which will be maintained nationally. Club players and champions will be ranked on the "Amateur" Rankings. Rankings on Amateur scales will go between 30 kyu to 1 Kyu and then 1 dan to 6dan Amateur. Rankings on "Professional" scales will be from 1 dan to 9 dan Professional. Club rankings will be considered unofficial rankings, which may be used for reference in tournament play, sponsored or otherwise. The only Official Rankings that will be recognized will be those obtained in a tournament, sponsored or otherwise. Article 4: A person may only obtain "Professional" rankings in Sponsored Tournaments. Rankings will only be changed as a result of a match, though not requiring victory in the whole tournament. For example, if a 1D Professional defeats a 3D Professional, the 1D Professional advances in Rank to 2D Professional, while the 3D Professional drops in Rank to 2D Professional. A player may only ever gain or lose at most 1 Rank as a result of participation in a single Sponsored Tournament. Article 5: Among professionals at Sponsored Tournaments, 1 rank in difference between players results in the lower ranked player playing Black, while 2 ranks difference results in a one stone handicap, and so on. Among Amateurs, the difference between 1 D and 1k is generally worth a 1 stone handicap, and 1 D Amateurs should not ever play below a 8k player, but handicapped rules will be left to the Clubs. Article 6: Every 5 Years, each member nation will enter its top 9 professionally ranked players into a world tournament, known as Honinbo (本因坊). This tournament, decided in round robin, single elimination method will be sponsored by mutual and equal contribution from all Member Nations. The top 3 finishers in the International Tournament will split the stipend 40/30/20 with 10 percent remaining for annual support of the Honinbo champion. The Stipend should be enough that when all told, should allow all winners to live for 5 years on their respective earnings, and devote their time and energy to the study and playing of Go. Article 7: The overall winner of the inaugural Competition will be declared "Honinbo Champion". To retain the title thereafter, the reigning Honinbo Champion must be defeated in Competition, and may be challenged by any winner of any match in the tournament, but does not need to compete in the round robin itself. If the Honinbo Champion does not receive any challenges, he or she retains the title until the next tournament. If the current champion dies between tournaments, the title is vacated, and remains vacant until the next regularly scheduled tournament. Article 8: All Member Nations are expected to fulfill their financial obligations to the League as per above. Any member who does not will not be permitted to participate in the International Competition. Article 9: Each Member nation is requested to maintain a public list of Professionally ranked Players in the Forums under the Heading of International Go Association. |
Articles[?]
The treaty consists of the following articles.
Ratifiers[?]
The treaty has been formally ratified by the following nations.
| Nation | Date |
| Gran Prinċipat ta’ Kildanja (Cildania) | December 5404 |
| Kingdom of Great Bae (Dankuk) | March 4859 |
| Empire of Ananto and Kalistan (Kalistan) | August 4785 |
| Yingdala Datong (Yingdala) | July 4784 |
| Dai Sekouokoku (Seko) | September 4783 |
Pending Ratifications
Compliance[?]
The treaty contains no articles that can be verified.
Ratification
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Ratification Map
| Random fact: Periodically, it is a good idea to go through your nation's Treaties and arrange to withdraw from any that are unwanted. |
| Random quote: "You don't have to explain something you never said." - Calvin Coolidge |