Biggest reaction you have ever seen at a Go tournament?

General Go Discussion
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Slam table? Flip the board? Throw stones? Just stand up and leave?

What’s the biggest reaction you have ever seen at a Go tournament?

Context: https://youtu.be/a0LJ33FfhBw?si=qNgevSpNWIB3R30G

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The most fascinating eruption after a lost game that I witnessed was a grown up male who started swearing and crying, unsettling the board in a drastic way and running out of the tournament hall and started kicking a tree for half a minute. One of the onlookers commented that it had happened before, claiming that the tree actually was innocent.
Unfortunately no video, but I thought it was quite funny.

At my club there is this guy who is extremely competitive, but not a very good go player. So regularly we hear a chair forcefully shoved away from the table, stones rolling over the board of thrown into the bowl, followed a vocal outburst: I will never play go again! (and then storms out of the hall).
Next week he returns, although lately he has been absent for weeks.

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Poor tree… Hope it has health insurance

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I pity Ke Jie’s and Byun Sanggil’s (spelling?) opponents for having to bear their embarrassing drama.

Also, they’re just douchebags — REAL MEN would have hit themselves right in the face WITH A CLOSED FIST :laughing: <jk>
(The pity expressed above was NOT kidding though!)

But really, douchebags!

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I think it’s okay to be overwhelmed by emotions in situations like that. Although aggression like Carlsen has shown is a bit worrisome, slamming boards seconds after realising one has lost is one thing, but outbursts can also become dangerous for others.

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I wonder if we’ll see even more things like that, drama, reactions etc now that chess is e-sports

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I’m really surprised how such “smart” people can act like spoiled children. Just goes to show there are multiple kinds of intelligence.

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Well that’s something very rare. In my 40 years playing I remember only 2 occurrences of similar behavior which I don’t really feel any interest to report here.

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Yeah, totally OK to be overwhelmed by emotions.

NOT OK IMHO to throw a tantrum like that and/or maybe even embarrass the opponent, that shows lack of respect (again IMO).

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I guess the distinction is a bit difficult. Allowing to be overwhelmed means forgiving a lack of control. But some control is always necessary in order to not hurt anyone (and not just physically).

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Professionals have no choice but to accept the behavior of their opponent, but as an amateur, I would refuse to play against a guy like that and would forfeit the match.

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In fact when some more money as usual is involved, bad behavior is more a common issue.