In the bustling streets of Xi’an, a city with ties to the historical Silk Road, one man heard his calling to further his Go studies. In 2018, facing homelessness and unemployment in the United States, Jeremiah “Jae” Donley 5D decided to study Go in Xi’an, China. His two-year immersion in Xi’an fueled his dream to become a North American professional Go player. “I’ve spent a lot of time on Go,” Donley said in an email interview with Baduk News. “I want something that matches my drive and motivation.” Donley hopes that a professional certification will enable him to apply for Go-related work in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. He envisions starting a Go school in the United States to promote the game in the West. But financial concerns prevented Donley from competing in the 2022 NAGF Professional Qualification Tournament. This year, he started a GoFundMe to cover food and hotel fees needed for the tournament. He reached his GoFundMe goal of $500 in less than 24 hours. He expressed special gratitude to friends Christopher Kim and Albert Yen. “It was about supporting a friend to reach for their dream rather than another Go player,” Kim said. With the support of his loved ones, Donley entered the 2023 NAGF Professional Qualification Tournament. However, he found himself in losing positions throughout his matches. He finished with a 1-3 record. “I play fast and dumb,” Donley said. “My lack of discipline is the root cause of my internal chaos.” He attributes his poor performance to working non-stop on the days leading to the tournament, acknowledging the impact of internal and external stresses. Yet he won his game against Edward Zhang 6D, who holds past titles from the Maryland Open, Minnesota Open, and Virginia State Championship. At a pivotal moment, Donley played an attachment in Zhang’s lower right corner, which complicated the game. “I did not want to lose. I had to win that game,” Donley said. Despite not achieving a professional certification this year, Donley recognizes that he can continue to serve the American Go community. He credits the Baduk House, a live and study Go program in Columbus, Ohio, for encouraging him to learn programming for the first time. “I always thought about making tools for the Go community, and now I have made a few tools for Baduk Club that I am proud of,” Donley said. He plans to search for a stable job with his new programming skills to be able to focus on Go without worries. “Go is a true reflection of yourself,” Donley said. “If you’re affected by turmoil in your personal life, it will show in your Go. To become a stronger player, you need to change from within.”
