John S Tilley

John Tilley - (18th February 1948 - 4th October 2024) learnt to play Go in 1965 from Edward Lasker's book Go and Go Moku. Started to play seriously at Cambridge in October 1966, 5 kyu in June 1967, 1 kyu in June 1968.

Spent 15 months in Japan, leaving in 1970 as 1 dan. Proof read early Ishi Press books. Worked in Overseas Department of Nihon Kiin and was editorial assistant on Go Review. Highest ranking 2 dan.

Editor/compiler of GO - International Handbook and Dictionary published by Ishi Press. He produced the rough material for Richard Bozulich who gave me a yes/no and steered its direction; after I left Japan he eventually published it.

Stopped playing around 1980, He wasn't getting stronger and other interests took over. However he continued to read a few books and played through some professional games, mainly Invincible. Interest recently rekindled (Summer 2023) due to retirement and as some friends were starting to play, however there's no evidence of tournament play since 1980.

After moving to Cambridge in 2017 he contributed many articles to the British Go Journal until he fell ill for the final time in Summer 2023. He died on 4th October 2024

Old projects

• Reading Aiming at Shodan -- Three Faults that Hold you Back - recommended
• Playing through the games in Invincible again
• Studying tsume-go with the Segoe TsumeGo Dictionary

Memorable moments

• Getting a double headed dragon at the first British Go Congress in June 1967
• Missing an ishinoshita in Japan which Magari Reiki then 8p, who was playing a teaching game, spotted from 3 go boards away and put into one of his books
• A game of rengo in Japan - one Sunday evening Segoe suddenly arrived at Iwamoto's Go Salon in Ebisu, Tokyo. So I found myself playing with Iwamoto's daughter against Iwamoto 9 dan and Segoe 9 dan. I asked Iwamoto whether he found this an interesting game, he replied Better than televison, sometimes White win, sometimes Black.