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rank - amateur and pro
Path: Rank · Prev: RankOnComputerPrograms · Next: ProfessionalPromotionTournaments Path: HandicapGoPath · Prev: StepsBetweenRanks · Next: AmateurHoninboVsProHoninbo2002
Keywords: Culture & History
Pro danJapanese professional ranks go from 1 dan to 9 dan, with 9 dan being strongest. In theory, by virtue of their superior training and rigorous discipline, professional players are always stronger than amateurs. In practice, a few ultra-strong amateurs 7 dans have occasionally beaten a few of the weaker professional 1 dans in even games. (That's what I heard from the folks who taught me the game; I have since learned that strong amateurs can sometimes beat strong pros.) BillSpight: I read years ago (something by Sakata) that top amateurs could match pro 5th or 6th dans. Recently I have read claims such as the one above. Not that it matters, but I doubt it. :-) TakeNGive: Particularly in light of the 2001 San Francisco Oza results, I have to say that very strong amateurs are as strong as professionals. The steps between pro ranks are said to be smaller than between amateur ranks -- about 1/3 of a stone. BillSpight: The traditional pro handicapping made a difference of three ranks per stone. However, with the new (post-WWII) pro rankings, there seems to be a two-stone difference between 9-dans and shodans, which translates to about 1/4 stone per rank. exswoo: So, if one were to convert the pro ratings back to amateur ratings, a 9p would be more or less a 10d amateur? That's interesting..., and since the oft-repeated saying is that a grandmaster would need a 3-stone handicap to play against God, God must be 22p :) Andre Engels: In Europe, a 7D European rank is considered about equivalent in strength to a 1-2P professional. BlueWyvern: From a conversation I had with a top European amateur, currently new Japanese pro's have the strength about of a 5 dan pro. Apparently the new crop has been getting tougher lately, so for someone of 1 dan strength, you need to take a pro who has been 1 dan for 10 or more years.
Path: Rank · Prev: RankOnComputerPrograms · Next: ProfessionalPromotionTournaments Path: HandicapGoPath · Prev: StepsBetweenRanks · Next: AmateurHoninboVsProHoninbo2002 This is a copy of the living page "rank - amateur and pro" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |