There are 404 dan-players in Thailand right now. As I mentioned in my previous column about the value of being a dan player in Thailand, they are proud of themselves. There are, of course, high dan players such as; two 6dans, five 5dans, twenty four 4dans... I want to know how they got to know Baduk, how they study...etc. And I would like to interview some of them and write about it here on WBaduk. I interviewed three of the 4dan players who are always in the top 10 of every tournament. They are ranked as 4dan but are about 5dan level. They all play internet Baduk on WBaduk. Their ranks on WBaduk are 7dan.

Every Thai person has two names; their real name and a nickname. This is because they have a long name and it can be hard to say it. Normally, they don't use their real names, but their nicknames. Their nickname is mostly short and also has meaning. For example, hand(English), moo(Thai-pig).

I had no sooner arrived to Thailand for the first time about 1 year ago than I met 2 players(Golf, Krit) and played with them. This time, I met them again and interviewed both of them. They are still young and strong. They are promising players in Thailand.

Name : Kamon Santipojana Nickname : Golf
Age : 21
Lank : 4D








Q1. How/When did you start to play Baduk?
A1. I knew Baduk from my friend and I read Hikaru no go. I started it when I was 14.
Q2. Who were your Baduk teachers?
A2. Shi jin bo 3P(Chinese), Sea 3D, O 5D
Q3. How do you study Baduk?
A3. I play internet Baduk(WBaduk). I can find many strong players there. It's a good training to play with strong players.
Q4. How do you think Thai Baduk comparing with Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan?
A4. Korea has many chances to get stronger. There are so many strong players and many Baduk books. In addition, there are Baduk schools(dojang). We have only one and there's even no pro teacher there.
Q5. How was 31th world major tournament this year?
A5. It was quite nice, but I'm not satisfied with the results. Normally, Thai high dan players make 5 wins of 8 games. However, I won 4 games, I was disappointed.

Name : Nuttakrit Taechaamnuayvit Nickname : Krit
Age : 20
Lank : 4D








Q1. How/When did you start to play Baduk?
A1. I started to play Baduk when I was 14 years old. I read well-known Baduk manga: Hikaru- no go and I got interested it. That's the reason I started.
Q2. From whom did you learn Baduk?
A2. I had 3 teachers[Shi jin bo 3P(Chinese), Fang jie 7P(Chinese), O 5D] so far.
Q3. How do you study Baduk?
A3. I read Baduk books, but they are Chinese. I only see the diagrams and try to understand the situations. There are some Thai books but not suitable for my Baduk level. And also I play internet Baduk(wbaduk).
Q4. How do you think Thai go comparing with Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan?
A4. They have many competitions(tournaments, friendship matches,,) I hope we also have many. If we have many, our Baduk level will go up.
Q5. As I know, you are going to play Asian game and KPMC(Korea Prime minister Cup) this year. What are your goals?
A5. For Asian game, I want bronze medal. And for KPMC, I want to enter top 10. My friend Bot got 10th place last year, so I want 10th at least^^

Next one is also young and strong. I played with him 2 games so far. He visited Korea(Myongji University) 3 years ago and we played a two stone handicap game. I could win the game easily at that time, but now, it would be not easy to win him with two stone handicap.

Name : Choltit Rattabasetyut Nickname : Off
Age : 20
Lank : 4D








Q1. How/When did you start to play Baduk?
A1. I started to play Baduk when I was 15. First, I knew Baduk from my friend, and then I studied it at normal school named Assumption College.
Q2. Who were your Baduk teachers?
A2. First, I learned from O 5D, and then Tum 2D, Sea 3D. After I reached about 3dan level, I started to learn with Shi jin bo 3P and Fang jie 7P.
Q3. How do you study Baduk?
A3. I play on internet (Orobaduk-WBaduk) and I study pro games via internet.
Q4. How do you think Thai Baduk comparing with Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan?
A4. We don't have many high dan players. We all know each other very well. We are friends and also Baduk rivals. It's good to be getting along like this, but we don't have many competitions. I envy those countries.

One thing I got Interested was that they started Baduk when they were around the middle school student age. I wondered if it is normal or not. Because mostly we(Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan) start before the elementary school. I asked some other promising players, but everyone started about the same age. I'm guessing they don't have a pro system yet, so they don't need to hurry. Another possibility is that they knew Baduk so late. Baduk was not promoted well about 10 years ago in this country.

As we can see, they usually play on internet because they don't have many tournaments. We know it's not a good state for improving Baduk level. And there are not many good Baduk schools here in Thailand. Also not many teachers...
20 years ago, almost nobody in Thailand knew what Baduk is. Now, almost all Thai know what Baduk is. The exact origin of Baduk is uncertain, but it is believed that Baduk was from China, begun about 4,000 years ago and about 2~3,000 years ago in Korea... Even in Europe, it(Baduk activities) began at least 100 years ago. It began in Thailand about 20 years ago. What I'm trying to say is Thai Baduk needs time.

Most stronger players in Thailand are not studying Baduk, but teaching(promoting Baduk). It would be more worth to promote Baduk instead of improving their skills in Thailand at the moment. This is because they are not ready to have big Baduk communities. They still need many people get to play it. As I mentioned, Baduk has been being played 1000+years in Korea, China and Japan, but only 20 years in Thailand. It means that they need enough time. There are not many stronger players in Thailand right now, but it's getting better and better. Time will tell the results. I think Thai Baduk future is bright!