professional GO

do you remember the board game go where you place stones on a square game board (think large chess board) and try to convert all the stones to your color?

do you know what it takes to be one of the best in the world, or even just good enough to make a living playing professional GO?

aparently you have to be dan to be able to make a living.  check out the table below which i found at http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/insideit/story/0,,1835570,00.html

Go rankings: kyu to dan

40 kyu: Child beginner

25 kyu: Adult learner

15 kyu: Top-level social player

10 kyu: Weak club player

4-5 kyu: Average club player

1 kyu/1 dan: Transition to expert (equivalent to county-level chess player)

2 dan: Competent well-informed amateur

3-4 dan: Good amateur

5-6 dan: Strong amateur (top 100 in Europe, top 10,000 in South Korea!)

7 dan: Amateur good enough to be professional 1 dan; can play world's best without embarrassment

Pro 4 dan: can make a living at Go in East Asia (akin to golf tour professional)

Pro 9 dan: among top 100 in world; can win pro tournament