Famous Amateur Go Players
A list of people who became famous or known for achievements or activities not related to Go, but who maintain a current interest in Go or have played Go. People whose achievements are in the field of Go are listed at names in Go.
Please add famous - current or ancient - Go playing actors, artists, authors, company founders, journalists, heroes, managers, mediciners, musicians, Nobel prize winners, philosophers, politicians, Pullitzer prize winners, popes, scientists, software developers, sport stars, V.I.P.s, war lords, etc.
- Albert, Michael. Co-founder of
ZMagazine.
- Barry, Daniel (1953-). Astronaut. (See
http://www.houstongoclub.org/GoInSpace/space.html
- Borges, Jorge Luis (1899-1986). Argentinian poet, eassayist and short story writer. Did not play Go, but wrote a poem about it.
- Bushnell, Nolan. Founder of Atari Inc.
- Cao Cao (155-220 AD). Chinese sovereign.
- Chen Yi (1901-1972). Foreign minister (1958-1966) and vice premier of China. Played with Li Lisan.
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Chevalley, Claude (1909-1984) Mathematician, one of the founders of the Bourbaki Group, was one of the first Go players in in France in the mid-60's.
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Culver, Michael (1938-). Actor.
- Duan Qirui (or Duan Zhiquan, 1865-1936), Warlord and provisional president of the republic of China.
- Einstein, Albert (1879-1955). Physicist and mathematician who proposed the theory of relativity, the quantum theory of light, and a proof of the atom.
- Endo Shusaku (1923-1996). Writer.
- Erdös, Paul (1913-1996). Mathematician.
- Gates, Bill. Founder of Microsoft. (
Mentions Go in a 1997 Q&A)
- Habu Yoshiharu (1970-). Shogi champion.
- Hatoyama Ichiro (1883-1959). Prime minister of Japan (1954-1956).
- Holland, John. First Ph.D. in Computer Science, Complex Systems researcher.
- Julesz, Bela (1928-2003). Neuroscientist
- Kawabata Yasunari (1899-1972). Nobel Prize winning writer, author of Master of Go
- Kim Ok-Kyun (1851-1894), Korean politician
- Lasker, Edward (1885-1981). Chess player.
- Lasker, Emanuel (1868-1941). Chess world champion.
- Li Lisan (1899-1967). Helped found communist party in China. See biography, Before Mao by Patrick Lescot
- Maas, Anton. Bridge player.
- Mao Tse-Tung / Mao Zedong (1893-1976). Famous chinese military/politician.
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Howard Marks (1945-). Author/ex-international cannabis smuggler.
- McMahon, Lee E. (1941-1989). Unix developer.
- Meitner, Lise (1878-1969). Austrian Physicist
- Morihei Ueshiba
- Muramatsu Shofu (1889-1961). Writer.
- Nash, John Forbes Jr. Mathematician, Nobel Laureate.
- Nichiren (1222-1282). Establisher of a Buddhist sect.
- Perec, Georges (1936-1982). French writer and Oulipo member. He was one of the first French go players.
- Rebattu, Max. Bridge player (5 dan, longtime Dutch champion in the 1960s and 1970s)
- Shibukawa Shunkai (1639-1715). Scholar ((professional) 7 dan, was heir to Yasui Santetsu (as Yasui Santetsu II?) until getting involved in calendar reform in 1683)
- prince Su. Chinese prince, later a high official.
- Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837-1913). Shogun.
- Turing, Alan (1912-1954). Mathematician.
- Trevanian, author of Shibumi. Pseudonym
- Mayor of Cheboksary city (Russia) Nikolai Emelyanov. Photo:
http://forum.weiqi.ru/read.php?f=1&i=22244&t=22244#reply_22244
- Aleksey Nechaev. The owner of "Faberlic", one of the largest cosmetic companies in Russia. Photo:
http://goama.upstream.ru/gallery/albums/Champ-of-Russia/normal_DSC_0260.jpg
- Wright, Will - Computer game guru (The Sims, Spore, Sim City)
I got several of the East Asian famous persons from http://www.msoworld.com/mindzine/news/orient/go/special/records/famous.html . Does Shibukawa Shunkai apply? He does not fall under the title, having been a pro, but he does apply under the heading, being famous for something else than playing Go. - Andre Engels
tderz: ... 84.194.204.99 wrote "removed Mattern, not famous for non-Go accomplishments". If this is true, does it also hold for Max Rebattu (bridge , table tennis etc.)? Would you remove him as well, or are here (unconscious) selective criteria at play? If Max is very famous for bridge (World Champion), then this should be reported here. Reading the name of Max gave me the incentive to enter Jürgen in the first place ...
Dieter: Yes, I assume Max' presence here is due to his fame as a bridge player. I agree with you that we're at the edge here. If Max is only known for Go accomplishments then I agree he should be mentioned at names in Go only. Btw, when checking and modifying recent changes, I do not always completely revise a page.
Tasky: Didn't John Horton Conway (Mathematician) play Go?