SUBSCRIBE! If you REALLY enjoy these videos, please consider supporting on Patreon! / nicksibicky COMPLETE NICK SIBICKY GO LECTURE PLAYLIST: • Nick Sibicky Go Lectur...
Nick, I don't know whether you were important to the "Go community," but you were important to me and my journey in the game. Please never doubt that you made a difference. Thank you very much for all of the time and effort you've put in over the years. I hope whatever you do, you find fulfillment, and maybe we'll see you again someday!
Same for me. Thank you Nick for all you’ve done! Some of the things you taught me about the spirit of go has stuck with me to this day. I hope you are happy in anything you decide to do!
Thanks for all you've done. My Son introduced me to the game 5 years ago. I would watch you and then play him...he would be incredibly surprised and thrilled that I could actually beat him at times!! Thanks for making it such a special time with my Son. I'm sorry to hear your goodbyes...please come back one day..
He's given a decade of online content for Go players to freely access. This has been (and will continue to be as archived videos) a huge pillar of support for those in the US imo. I think there are plenty of other people with your experience as well.
I have no idea why youtube recommended this video, but as someone who is older than you, I have had moments in life like this. Just remember that joy and interests come in waves. There is no shame in putting one interest aside, and there is no shame in picking it back up years later. You only have one life, and it has many phases and eras. Enjoy it, celebrate your successes and follow you feelings. The people in your life want you to be happy, not to use yourself up.
Way back at the 2012 Go Congress, you said hi and invited me to a party on the last night, where you introduced me to a bunch of people and drunkenly played "make life in the center" with me. I don't know if you even remember that, but while I had been having a good time at the Congress, I was alone and a little overwhelmed and out of my depth, and with that one gesture you made the Go community suddenly feel way more welcoming and comfortable. You've made a huge impact in the community at large and I'm sure you've made countless other people feel welcome like that on an individual level. Anyway, I'm just trying to say that if there's any lingering concern about whether you've "done your part" or made a difference or whatever, you've gone above and beyond. I hope whatever direction you go from here is full of joy.
I'm a new Go player, learned it less than a year ago. Since then I've been watching through your videos, especially your old in-person lessons at the Go center. Even though you are no longer going to be as active in creating content, all of the content you have already made will continue to have an impact on the community. Thanks for helping me appreciate this amazing game!
As someone that has followed you for years, and attended some of your lectures at the Go Center, It has been an honor to have received the knowledge that you have shared. Thank you.
With this channel, you have shown an exceptional commitment to the Go community. The pursuit of happiness is complex, and sometimes course changes are necessary. Your farewell saddens us, but you leave behind 12 years of profound value that has left a mark on those of us who entered this beautiful game just a few years ago. Thank you for everything, and I wish you the greatest of happiness.
Hello Nick, I know I've never really commented on your channel, but I remember finding your channel back when I was 13, not knowing anything about go, besides hikaru no go. Now being a 22 year old and even though I'm not much stronger than I was then, you were, and still are, an amazing teacher. Everything you taught made sense to me and helped me learn this amazing game that we play. And everyday I see go I immediately think of you and your lessons. It's sad to see you go, but I'll be here cheering you on matter what you do in your life, and every year I'll still go back and watch your videos to make sure I can still grow as a player. Hopefully someday I can be as good a player as you and I hope you and I can play a game of go someday.
You gave us plenty of warning, and every episode after 500 was like a special gift. I really appreciated all your great go content. I have a tiny channel where I just throw stuff out there, and I've been pretty disappointed with TH-cam's behavior around ads for as long as I can remember. I don't monetize either and didn't know you'd done the same, so that just makes me love you all the more. It makes me sad to see you so sad, and like others will probably say, I'm a little worried about your emotional health. That's not to assign blame for your choice. It's really just to say that I care about you as much as I care about your tremendous body of high quality go content and I am glad that you are taking care of yourself. Thank you so much, Nick! 💖
Thank you, Melinda! I have read your comments on my video for YEARS, but regret only having responded to a few--that are always so genuine and witty. Thank you!!!!!
Hey Nick, I've never really commented on your videos before, but your channel has been an ENORMOUS blessing to everyone I know in the go community. For real, we can't thank you enough for all the effort you've put into this over the years. You're a fantastic teacher, and it's been an honor to study with you. I'll be watching your old videos for a long time to come.
Speaking for myself, I likely wouldn't have been playing go without people like you, but not just like you, specifically you, who cares about the philosophies of ads running on videos etc. You teach, educate, inform, and bring more than just go to people, you help us choose our values and choices of how we act upon the world. Even if the channel dies, it lives on as the basis and foundation of many and many go players, we are your go children, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of us ends up in the go world series either someday, butterfly effect and whatnot. All I can say is thank you, and I hope you find passion and happiness wherever else in life you do and that you feel fulfilled in pursuit of those instead, thats your decision to make and if its important to you, I think it is worth it and worthy of respect.
8 years ago I moved to Seattle, and your videos, and being in person in yours and Andrew's classes are why the Go Center was the first place that felt like home out here. Thank you for all you've done Nick.
It's sad to see someone who has been consistently uploading for years stop, but I get it. You've been doing it so long that you probably just felt like doing it even though you weren't as passionate about it as you were before. 12 years is a damn long time, making 500+ videos for as long as you have is something to be proud of. One thing I have to say is that what you've done with this channel had an impact on me and the rest of your viewers, it wasn't for nothing, you were a huge part of the Go community and you taught me a lot about Go. I wish you nothing but happiness, I'm grateful for the 12 years worth of content you've given us, and I promise you that I will always go back and rewatch some of my favorite Go lectures (Lecture 246 - My Class plays a pro was one of my favorites).
Hey Nick, I'm seeing a lot of comments here and it's clear a lot of people appreciate you. For me, your channel has helped more than any of the others that you consider more influential. You hit a sweet spot for mid-high level kyu players like me, and you're a likable guy. I'm not feeling let down that you're stepping back, but grateful that you've given so much. I'm a bit let down that you hate baseball, though, haha. I have a toddler and I hope he grows to appreciate both Go and baseball. All the best to you.
Was wondering how you were and found this. Wanted to send my thank for introducing me to a big passion of mine. Your decision to move on is entirely respectable, but you will be missed deeply. You ought to be proud of the work you’ve done. Without exaggeration, I believe you have inspired an entire generation of western go players who will carry your flame! thank you thank you thank you.
Your channel is a gold mine, and I'm absolutely sure it will continue to be useful to many players. Algorithms are great when you want to reach a large audience, but passionate people will still make the effort to dig into that gold mine. Thank you for all you have done for the Go community!
Hey Nick, please don't put yourself so down like that. I have never played a single game of Go in my life, ofcourse I wanted to and thats why I discovered your channel years ago. I mainly watch for your personality. I don't care what other pro players are out there making content. For me you are producing value just by being yourself on camera and talking about Go. Also I respect your endurance and consistency over 11 years of posting videos and I wish I had that consistency too with posting videos. Take a break but if you love posting videos know that we are here for you and that there will always be someone you can give value to no matter what!
It's okay to end things, even the ones you feel so deeply about. It's hard, but it's okay. I've been following your channel for years. In fact, I think yours was one of my first subscriptions on TH-cam. I can't say I've watched every one of your videos, but pretty darn close. Although I'm still terrible at the game, I love it and persist, and that love for the game was largely inspired by your early go lectures. Thank you for the dozen years of heart and soul you put into this channel. We are all better for it!
Hey Nick, I've never commented on your videos before, but I wanted to thank you for all you have done through this channel. I remember around 2014, just discovering Go, celebrating submitting my final year engineering project by watching the original Sibicky vs Jackson video. I'd pulled an all-nighter, and hadn't slept in 40 hrs, but I'd been saving that video for a week and didn't want to wait. While I never became the Go master I'd hoped to be (never getting past ~3k) I've always enjoyed your channel. More than Go, you taught me how to teach. These day I'm a professor in chemical engineering, and following your lead I always memorise all my student's names. You're a profoundly gifted teacher, and the dozens (hundreds?) of hours I've spent watching you work your craft has been time well spent. Thank you.
i only got into go in 2016-2017 after hearing abt lee sedol vs alphago, without a doubt you were the biggest contribution to my initial fascination with the game. i still go back to a lot of your old videos to review the lessons from them (like bent 4 in the corner, capturing races, your lecture on how to be a good teacher, etc). i always felt you were one of if not the best english speaking teacher for new players; you were particularly good at understanding your students' confusion and explaining things in ways that made sense to them. i always kinda wanted to go to one of your classes, but alas i live in DC and am poor. i would be no where near as enthusiastic about go if not for your influence, so thank you. enjoy your life
Came here to say all the same stuff! +1 to understanding students.. Nick, this really made your channel an invaluable resource for me for such a long time. You are so good at meeting students where they are so we all got to hear a variety of explanations for every level. Thank You!!
You are a pillar of the community. Thank you for everything you have done for us! We'll all miss you. You should be extremely proud of how much you accomplished. Best of luck with your next pursuit!
I know exactly what you meant with the roulette wheel. I was a top frisbee player and coached many teams after age made me just a good player. It was my life for over 25 years, I'd overcome many injuries and kept on playing, kept preparing myself or my team for the next tournament. Then one day I came home and everything hurt, as it had many, many times, but this time I thought "why am I doing this to myself" and there was no answer. I knew then, probably like you did, that the ball had fallen into the triple zero spot. It was just time to stop. No logic, just feeling. I wish you well for your future. You've been a good embassador for the game and inspired others to also create Go content. And the best thing is, after some time, you can always change your mind. There are no rules to the future.
I can say with absolute certainty that your videos started my passion for go and, although small, I've culminated a group of 10 or 20 people throughout my life that I've showed the game to and really grew friendships with. My thoughts are with you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your contribution to the community and my/my friends lives.
Hi Nick, I just wanted to let you know that your lectures unlocked an interest in this amazing game for me, which is something I will now have for the rest of my life and I really appreciate that. I have listened to many of your lectures and hopefully if you leave them up I will continue to listen to many more.
Hey Nick. You, dwyrin, and Michael Redmond have been the channels that have kept me in this hobby. You have made an impact on my life and I appreciate all the work you have done. Take care in what life bring you in the future.
Nick, teaching is so much more than being good at something. You have taught me the 'so much more'. I heard about Go back in the alpha go days as a CS undergrad, but didn't really 'get it' until I found your videos. There is plenty of other content out there for Go, but yours will probably always be my favorite. I watched your videos heavily during my Phd. They left an impact on me in several ways: 1.) They taught me how to play Go. More so, they taught me how to 'think' about Go. And how to think about thinking. 2.) They helped me through some really tough times during my Phd, where my mental health was at a fairly low point. Your personality is great for teaching, and has given me many laughs. 3.) They taught me how to teach. After getting my Phd, I became a tenure track professor. I had very limited teaching experience prior, but I learned how to teach by watching other people's lectures on various topics. I consider your lectures one of my top influences in this regard, along with a few other lectures from various other subjects. I have recorded many lecture videos, for just a handful of students, and can totally relate to the feeling of 'is this really having an impact'. You often get very little feedback from videos -- in person teaching is a lot better in that regard. However what forms us can be very subtle. A single stone placed in the farthest corner of the world can cause a ripple effect, and change the entire course of the game, unbeknownst to us. The people we impact, in turn, impact others. We may not see it, but it is surely there. Your impact is strictly positive any way I think about it. I say all of this, not as a way to say 'keep making videos' but as a way of saying 'thank you for making the videos you have made'. I wish you the best moving forward.
I love you Nick. You where my best ddk teacher. I wouldn't play go if it wasn't for you. I remember when I started to play the game to behours every day studying with your videos looking forward tobeat a friend ofmine (waymore stronger than me andI didn't realize that backthen). I didn't eat him ever, he stopped playing but I have now a higher rank than him. Your videos where amazing. Love you again, and I will always remember you with much care.
Hi Nick, I'm a 3d that has mostly gotten there thanks to you. Everyone deserves to exit stage left at some point, and I'd much rather this heartfelt au revoir than just trailing off slowly. Your videos have helped me and many others and I just wanted to say thanks to a Go friend that I never knew but somehow did quite well enough. Cheers.
Dude, f TH-cam. They’re the worst. I’ve never been good enough or committed enough to to playing watch your content regularly but I have watched many of your videos and early on you were instrumental in my love of the game. I still play every day. You’ve done a great job. Everything eventually ends, but as I found out when my father passed, nothing ever REALLY ends. We connect in people’s lives in ways we will never be aware of. And those interactions are the ones that are really important. You can put positive things or negative things out into the world, and by choosing positive, you enrich the world. Thanks for all you have contributed to the world of Go!
I've only rarely commented on your videos, and that was a few years and a couple children ago. You weren't the first person to teach me go, but you certainly gave me the most perspective on what it *meant* to play. Even with the hustle and bustle of life, I have continued to watch from time to time, whenever a new lesson appeared in my subscription feed. What I appreciate most about your channel, *about you* , is your love of the game and its players. Your love of not only the most extraordinary play but also the most mundane. The patience you have with students of all levels and temperaments. The kindness and human connection you have put into this world in your go, I hope you receive in return many times over. Thank you Nick.
Sad to see you leave. I started playing around the time you started this channel. I loved your videos. I have stopped playing several times for a few years and come back and one of the first things I have done each time coming back to the game has been to look if you're still making videos. All the people I have played with that has been watching go videos has seen three things, Hikaru no Go, Dwyrin, and your channel. I do believe you have had impact on the go community and I know you've had impact on me. I hear your voice inside my head when I see certain shapes or stumble upon certain situations on the board. Thanks for making videos for so long and I wish you good luck going forward.
12 years is a long time to do one thing! I could never last that long; I get bored way too easily. Thank you for everything you've given the community, thank you for taking care of yourself, and best wishes with whatever you decide to do next.
For the last 12 years, this has been a job for you and now it can be be fun outlet without the need for a grinding content schedule. Just have fun and share on TH-cam if you want and when you have time. Enjoy time with family and other awesome offline experiences. I don't see this as goodbye just a change that will be much less content, that's totally ok. Let the weight of content creation go and have fun. I can tell you hate seeing ads on TH-cam, I personally don't care if there are ads if the video helped me learn a new skill in Go I would be fine watching tons of ads. Your content is awesome and it can live on through searchable content. Anyways, it's a hard call to make a big change like this and I'm happy for you and I hope you have time to do more of the things you love. If you find time and the desire to make a video down the road I'm down to watch, but don't worry about it. Thank you for everything and God Bless!
I wanted to get into Go since I discovered the game as a kid, but every time I tried to play online it was not clicking, like I was unable to understand the game . Your videos took me from knowing the rules to being able to understand and play the "language" of Go (even if I would not dare to say I'm profiecient on it). You unlocked for me the first step in my progression through this game. I have been playing on and off for over a decade now, climbing ranks, getting stuck, moving to something else, coming back. I have a folder with every game I have played, sometimes I look back at the very first game there. It may sound stupid, but my experience with this game is a reminder of my own ability to progress. It is a proof that I can get better at things over time. This game is not a huge part of my life, but it is a important and formative one. By pure chance I was doing an internship in Seattle when I discovered your videos. I went to one of your classes live, that was the first time I saw a physical board. Now I have a board as the centerpiece of my living room. My girlfriend gifted it to me becuase I have started to play more often again. Thank you so much Nick, for opening up this game to me. I know there were other content creators out there, but for me specifically, it was you. Best of luck on whatever you want to do next! P.S.: Since I am thanking you already, let me tell you that King's Forge is the one game that has survived all my game library culls and will probably be buried with me when I die.
Thanks to you I have reached levels in Go i didnt thought possible for myself - Watching your videos was entertaining and educating. I am slightly sad to see that you are correlating bringing value to this platform to patreon money, but those are your values. Just keep in mind you can't bring every kind of value down to numbers. I wish you the best of luck for your journey, and an exciting new time ahead of you!
Thank you for everything Nick! As a person the grew up on playing Go, then immigrate to Canada and stopped playing in teens, stumble upon your channel in my 30’s and re-ignited love of it. This led to playing my greatest and closest game I ever played with my dad who was a dan player in Korea while he was at a long term medical care just before the pandemic. Tragically that was my last in person game and last game my dad ever played as his health got worse and we never got to play again since. My dad always said you got to understand a person’s true characteristics when you play them in a game of Go, and in my game with my dad we were connecting in ways I never did in my life. You had a real impact in creating that moment for me and I sincerely appreciate you.
Thank you for all the content, and for reviewing one of my games. It was good to see you at the Go Congress as well. Good fortune in your future endeavors!
thanks for everything, nick - it’s been many great years following along and you were one of the reasons i revived my interest in go after many many years without playing. i know that this channel will remain an amazing portal into go for many long after the end of regular content, and wish you the best in everything!!
I have never commented or supported your Patreon, but I would like to say thank you and good luck in your future endeavors. I enjoyed and benefited from your videos.
Yes, its the same for me, you showed always that there is a human behind this content, and this is great. All the best for you and greetings from Hamburg, Germany.
Same here from Krefeld, Germany. Also cried a little :) I‘m going through a big shift in my life right now and can relate to many things you said. You were part of my life for 10 years. It’s a little sad that I only get myself to comment on such a video. Your other videos would have deserved at least a thank you too. I’ll try to keep that in mind, watching people out there. It’s a shame, that I was in Seattle a few month before learning about your class at the Go-Center. Maybe some time in the future I’ll have the chance to buy you a beer. Thanks for all the fish! Christoph
I started playing Go in late August of this year. I joined a local "meetup" for a Chess and Go club. Our main Go organizer happened to not be there that day, so it was just the Chess organizer trying to manage 30-40 people. He still went out of his way to make sure I was having a good time, that I'd found the other Go players, that I was learning in the way the main guy likes to instruct new players. He even sat down with me and played a little Go, himself. At the end of the day, he handed me a book and a business card used to promote their club and it had two TH-camrs handwritten on there. Dwyrin and Nick Sibicky. You say you have an ego but even it isn't THAT big to think you're that important a part of the Go community. Or however you worded it. I think you're overly humble with a statement like that. You're big enough in the community that this guy who has at best a passing interest in Go knew you were the go-to resource for someone starting out. And your videos have been huge for me. Thank you for providing an invaluable resource to someone like me that you've never met. Without your videos to act as an anchor, I'm not sure I would have continued playing. And now I'm going to play for life. I already know it. I needed the foundation I got from watching your early videos, and I just haven't found their match yet. It's clear to me that you are and were the cream of the crop in terms of teaching Go on TH-cam. Thank you.
Nick, during the darkest times in my life, your online Go lectures were the oasis and light that helped me bring a smile to my face and keep going. The only thing more precious than the actual Go content on your channel is your wonderful heart and personality. Thank you very much
I really appreciate this video. Thank you for listening to your heart. More people need to do that. I know this is a hard decision. I wish you all the best.
Hi Nick. I remember seeing Go for the first time in a move called A Beautiful Mind. It somehow made me want learn to play this game. Not so long after that I found your channel and spent hours and hours watching the lectures and reviews or historical games. Your videos were packed with knowledge and still entertaining. Some lectures with Dan really showed me what person you really are, that you really want to teach people even though some do not want to taught. Then you showed us you created board games and to this day, your games are one of the most loved in our collection. You definitely left a mark in this World, I thank you and I salute to you, sir.
I haven't watched your channel in a long time, haven't been in the place in my life where I have the time and community to play a lot of go. But you were the start of my go journey and you inspired me and a few of my close friends to play a lot and to get a bit better at it. Thank you for your time and energy. I appreciate it. Best of luck in the next phase of your life 😊
You've been an inspiration and an excellent guide of Go for me - I remember subbing to you close to or maybe even more than a decade ago, and your channel was and is my formative go experience. Thank you for all your work and drive and love for this game, and know that this entire community appreciates and loves you!
Thanks so much Nick for all the videos you made. I was just discovering Go 12 years ago when you started your channel and you really drove my love and amazement for the game. I almost loved a well commentated pro game review more than playing Go itself. I haven't played a game for years now, but it's still a favorite and I still watch videos from time to time. I suuuuper respect your decission, and I hope you have no regets about continuing as long as you did. Your contributions touched others in a big way. I also have very strong feelings about advertising and I would definitely feel very violated if an outward extension of my passion was monotized with ads without my permission or benifit. Screw that in every way. I truly hope you continue to persue your passion, and in a way that you find most satisfying and worth your time. It's the purpose of life. Thank you again for sharing.
Unfortunately I kinda saw that coming, and that is a very sad news. You were my favorite youtube go channel, and there is a small spark of hope that in a year or two I will see a video on this channel called "Welcome back". You mentioned that you felt that you took space in the community, and rightfully so, because you did something different, and that combination of being a strong player, really entertaining and insightful really worked for me. I'm not gonna lie, for me (and probably most of the community) your best content was in front of that magnetic board in Seattle Go Center. But even after that I still watch every single one of the new videos that you posted. Good luck Nick!
Nick, your channel and hard work at Go Center, and behind the walls, here on the internet - is a fundamental work. I always dreamed about being abroad, and in the US, and if it's Seattle, first I would attend Go Center to see you guys and listen to your lectures. Have a tea together. Only after - space needle :D Your videos were the meditation before bed all of these years. I watched it, I learned new stuff, I was quitting the game. But every time I got back, I started over with your videos. I'm from Ukraine, and I was the guy who were translating all of your words to Go players, for our local Go club. You were commented on by dan players so we ddks, sdks could understand your thoughts. Everyone was listening with interest and passion. You are famous and respected but still modest and sincere. May your wind of change won't frustrate you, and everything turn out well. Thank you for everything!
Hi Nick, thank you for your contribution to the community. I used to watch your channel even though I don't play Go. Simply because your interaction with your students was fun and your explanation was spot on. Also you calling Go engines robots is hilarious😂 I know some didn't like it. Anyway please remember that we are not done with you! Thanks again from Japan.
Yeah it's literally the "Nick Sibicky Go channel", wouldn't make sense to see someone else making content here. Thanks for your efforts, and good luck in the rest of your journey
Thank you so much for your videos, Nick! I moved on from go for a while, but I remember being so excited to move to Seattle as I knew you and the club were there too. Have fun in your next adventure.
I have been following this channel for almost 4 years. Without your videos i honestly believe i would have quit a long time ago. There is no such thing as goodbye's, only new beginnings. Not only a new beginning for you but the inspiration you left behind will give birth to new go content creators. I appreciate the memories you gave and the journey you guided me on. I wish you and your family the best wishes and for the memories you make to be golden. ❤❤❤
I could never quite get into the game of Go, but I've known your channel for a long time. Whenever I felt like starting, I would come to your channel and watch your videos, especially the low kyu reviews. I still don't think I can start this game, but from time to time, you might consider sharing a video on a topic that interests you, even if it's not about Go. We'll be here to listen to you. With love Nick.
Nick, you have to do what you have to do. That said, I want to mention, you were huge to me when I was seriously learning Go. Quite genuinely I feel your videos, especially when I was watching a LOT many years ago, are so impactful to learning. You mentioned Dwyrin, and I watched him too, but very simply Dwyrin is not good at teaching beginners in video form - he hits more of an intermediate target. Whether or not my assessment of Dwyrin is objectively true, that was my experience. Now I am 3d on OGS -- If it weren't for your channel, old school KGS teaching games, and new school availability of professional opponents for free then I wouldn't be this strong. You made a huge impact on me, my love of go, my learning experience and you entertained me too. THANK YOU!
Wishing you all the best! I wouldn't play go half as well or maybe at all without your videos. Making videos is a huge commitment and gift but I think people should really want to do it, and not feel pressured. We are all grateful for everything you have done for the game and community (don't sell yourself short), but we definitely won't begrudge you for not making videos. Thank you for everything, Nick! (p.s. My daughter doesn't find go interesting either.... maybe when she is older, and if not I hope she will find something that she is passionate about and will strive with the same intensity I do with my interests)
I have watched probably hundreds of hours of your content. I have listened to more hours of you than most people I know. I can't imagine how much effort it was to produce that. Can't thank you enough for all your effort. Don't feel guilty for stopping for a second, have a great life. Your videos will live on and so will your influence on all of us! ❤
Hey Nick, I only started playing Go "seriously" (as serious as it can be to a low kyu player 😅) at the end of last year, finally making good use of a goban bought for me by my dad over 10 years ago when I was reading/watching Hikaru no Go as a teen. I can 100% guarantee Go wouldn't be as much of a thing in my life as it is right now without your channel and lessons. Your lessons (even the ones from 13 years ago which I'll probably rewatch more than just a few times) were that one thing that started making things click in my mind, they helped me understand the flow and beauty of the game like nothing else did. At least for me, your contribution is unmatched. You'll certainly be missed here, but your happiness comes first. I wish you all the best in your life and in whatever endeavours you're going for next. Love from Brazil
Found your channel a few years ago and decided to start from the beginning to make sure I see all the episodes. I'm on #298 so years behind but saw this video pop up.
No worries at all Nick! The content you have put out has been a great help to the english speaking Go community. You've done so much for all of us! You certainly don't owe anyone anything - we owe you. On that note, if you ever find yourself around Santa Fe, NM, reach out! I at least owe you a beer and a green chile burrito
I just found GO....you were one of the main sources that opened my eyes to the - one space jump, bad shapes, life and death, etc.... You need to follow your own path, but just remember the path you walked have effected a lot of people for the good and the game GO. Thank you for everything- if you decide to come back...... We'll be waiting.
I started watching you 10 years ago, as a freshman in college. You grew my passion for Go and filled many hours of isolation with fun! I am very grateful for all of the energy you've put into this channel over your life. I wish you peace. 有難う🧡
Hey Nick Sibicky, we don't know each other. 31.600 People filling a Room right now, imagine that..and we are giving you a Standing applause for your real great, funny and nice go lectures. THANK YOU !
Well done youtube. Your unacceptable, invasive, and agressive ad policy has driven off one more brilliant person who shared his passion and knowledge with the world. Thank you Nick. I became a better Go player thanks to you, but i empathise with you and fully respect your decision. It saddens me to see you go, and I will miss your lectures, your quirky humour and your wit. All the best to you and your family for the future. So long and thanks for all the fish :)
Hi Nick. I started to play Go 30 years ago. At some point I found your channel and I got enthusiastic with your lessons that helped me a lot to improve my game. Then I stoped playing for differente reasons and a few months ago I decided that it was time to come back again, and one of the first things that I did was to look for your channel and I was very happy to see that you still continued with it! I'm sorry that you are quiting now, but I fully understand. I will start to watch all your videos again, from the begining to try to reach the level that I had before I left. Thanks a lot for your dedicacion and for all the positive impact that you had on me! Regards from Spain.
Last week I was combing through Go TH-camrs and your videos had my favorite energy to them. Fun while it lasted, I suppose. Guess I’ll work through the decade+ backlog ❤
Sad to hear, but I get ya. Let me at least let you know you've really helped me progress, and start my love of Go. There's not all that much content for when you just get started in Go (probably been playing properly for about 2 years). Love you loads man. I hope you find the most fulfillment possible in whatever you choose to do next =)
Thank you. We all have phases on our lives. You had a beautiful phase teaching us, and we are greatfull. I hope that you keep your head up, because it's obvious that you did a great job. So, so long and thanks for all the fish
Hey Nick, I just wanted to thank you for all your work. I'm a low DDK player and never really plan to get much better. I just don't have the drive or time to play a lot of games. I've watched your videos not so that I can't get stronger, but because I like your perspective on the game and personality. You have helped me to better understand the beauty and complexity of Go. If this is your last video, that's ok. There are still many of your videos that I have left to watch. If you decide to post one video every year or two or five, it will be a pleasent surprise for the day. Some of my favorite creators don't post regularly, which is totally fine. I've been subscribed to your channel for years, and don't plan to change that. I hope this channel has brought you joy and I hope whatever you do next will, too.
Nick! I'm grateful for all your content! You have taught me so much about Go and Life! Today, you reminded me that it's okay for us to cry sometimes when we don't have that "fire anymore"! I recently just quit my music after 12-ish years because I believed my fire in music has died. But you reminded me that it's okay for all of us to let go of the things we loved to learn new things! The fact that we cry is so Truthful and Honest to ourselves in our hearts, even though it hurts so much that I really have so much respect for you! Because of letting go and being able to feel this emotion, I was able to find something new to believe in... recently I've been trying to get into Game Development and Coding/Programming! Something I've always wanted to do as a backup plan after my music would fail when I was a kid! I almost forgot I had a fire for this when I was young, but it took me to remember what else I always wanted to do in life to spark the fire in my heart again! It was really hard to start a new fire for a new hobby again, but it all began... from really letting go of my music. I had to really tell myself hey... Come on Calvin, you already mastered this skill! You are a great musican, and you know it! But I want you to enjoy discovering more beautiful things in life! And this gave me enough confidence to continue to move on! It was so hard... But I have really learned a lot from you and music and you will both always be with me in my heart along my future journey! These Memories are our treasures to keep forever!
How did I miss this? You were my first teacher that I found good videos on it. Will be missed. Good luck on your new journies, and it was fun when it was here.
Let me also thank you for the awesome ride you took us with. You are arguably the most authentic, humble, loyal and uncorrupted person on TH-cam, and definitely a role model for me. I really hope the legacy you've created will live on forever. I'm still watching the early videos and so might future generations. Our relationship might be parasocial, but I genuinely care about your well being and can only wish you the best for your future. Thank you Nick for everything you've done for us!
My interest in Go became a passion when I found your videos. The professional games where you talk about specific moves and talk so passionately why these are amazing moves are my favourite memories of my years as a Go player. Thanks for that!
This is the first thing of yours I've ever seen and I think it's really cool of you to be so decisive and serious about whether or not you want to be doing this. You're not letting the system define how you should behave, you're making choices and responding to your own wants. That's rad as heck.
Nick! I’ve literally been watching through every single one of your videos, as you mentioned. It’s the last thing I do before I fall asleep. You have near-single-handedly brought me up several stones and given me new passion for the game after 20 years of playing. I know it’s weird, because you’ve never so much as seen me, but your helpful, positive, vivacious attitude has been one I look forward to seeing. I feel like I have a friend in you, despite not having met. I’m more or less alone in a small town where very few people play Go, and even fewer play around my level. It can be disheartening to feel so alone in this game, and your videos have seriously helped me. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through the long slow slide of losing motivation, and damn, TH-cam, advertising! As someone else who finds advertising straight up detestable I can’t believe they did that to you. You didn’t deserve that buddy. For a while now it’s been on my wishlist of things to do to track you down and beg a game with you. Maybe I’ll still get so lucky in the future at a Go Congress or something. I hope you’re able to get a rest from all that wears a person down in this industry-not just because I hope to see more content from you in the hypothetical future, but because you deserve a rest. What a legend you’ve been, teaching students new ways to enjoy the game! If you ever do make more videos I hope it’s because you’re too excited by the idea to not do it. If you ever do I’ll be watching! (Maybe by then I’ll have finished the huge volumes of videos you’ve made…) I wish you the best as you process the change, and I’ll miss your wonderful attitude on screen!
I've enjoyed watching your videos and learning many aspects of Go. I'm glad you decided to make this channel. I'll definitely be revisiting from time to time. 500+ videos, and I've definitely not finished even a quarter of them. 😄 I hope you enjoy taking a long and deserved break. If you ever decided to post videos sporadically down the line. I'm sure you'll still have people show up.
You were my main teacher when I first learned Go and I may lose more than win against the AI but it’s still fun. I wish I was there for your in person lessons. Gonna miss you, Nick. Best wishes for the future!
Hey Nick. For all the sh*t youtube's algorithm deserves, one thing it did well was bring me to your channel some 5-6 years ago. Loved your teaching content and genuine bright personality. It made me pick up go myself, join a nearby club, and I'm still enjoying it today. I still occasionally point new clubmembers to those Seattle teaching days. No worries about halting the regular videos; I think everyone here would want you to be happy and enjoy life with you family. Obviously I'll stay subscribed and hopefully we do see you check in once in a while when you feel like doing a small video (a feeling I'm sure will come, it's how humans work). Thanks for the years of videos, Nick. All the best.
Thanks for the go videos. I never made it to 1 dan but I did make it to 3-4 kyu for a while on ogs back in 2017. Hopefully you can post update videos at least once a year that aren't go related. Go is what brought me to your channel but your spontaneous commentary is what kept me coming back.
For me, 2020 was the year of my cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, in addition to the pandemic anxiety and isolation. So I went looking for a strategy game I could play at home by myself to distract myself with battle the debilitating brain fog that came along with my treatments, and found online Go. And your Seattle Go Club lecture videos were the first ones I watched beyond basic how-to instructionals to help me figure out wtf was going on with this crazy game and how to play beyond the bare minimum of rules and basic moves. Thanks to you, I kept my interest and kept playing long enough to actually start to feel like a real (albeit really terrible) Go player. I still play today, and can genuinely say your videos are what introduced me to what Go **could** be - the strategies, the tricks and traps, that bobs-dammed Lee Sedol Ladder of Doom playthrough that made my chemically-impaired little high-kyu brain explode 😆 Thank you so very very much for all the great content you've put out over the years, and for introducing this brain-fogged, pandemic-scared old fart to a whole new world and community. Never doubt that you and your work has changed lives for the better. I hope you enjoy whatever's next as much as we've enjoyed what came before. You did good, man. You did real good.
😞 Unsure if upvotes or downvotes are more appropriate Seriously though- thank you for all you've done. You're probably the first channel I watched regularly, and I learned a lot from you :-)
Onward and upward Mr. Sibicky! It's been nice to visit you here on occasion and I'll continue to do so... as for 'free-loading', have you ever really browsed youtube??? This channel is a shining beacon of quality content that will live forever and help people long after you've forgotten about it, so don't fret. Best of luck on the next chapter of your life!
I can't tell exactly when since it's been so long since I discovered your channel, but it was during my last years of high school; I was born in Ecuador and migrated to Canada with my mother and it took me nearly a decade to really integrate to "Canadian/western" culture. I was a rather troubled teen, and few things really spoke to me enough to catch my attention and invest my time into: Go was one of those few things that I became very curious and almost enamored by back in the day; man, I watched so many hours of your content back in the day. I'll admit from the get-go that Go, unfortunately, did not ultimately become something I fully managed to grasp, let alone be good at, however, you better believe that since my final years in highschool to current-day 2023, 22 years old now, I've had your notifications and that God damn bell turned on for EVERY single video you've posted. Filthy casual/poser as I may be, I still believe Go is one of the coolest games that I could have possibly discovered, and seeing you teach your class and have a good time with that one guy that used to come by and play with you as a guest made me kind of illusioned with finding a place like your class and learn how to play Go like you guys did. Yeah, man, the world keeps on spinning, and there is an absurd number of people on this website that will eventually overshadow this rather "small" channel, but it's not like that means that the people that have been watching your channel aren't there! I'M one of the lower common denominators when it comes to this stuff, filthy casual!! There is PEOPLE out there who STILL after 12 or 10 or 5 years have been actively following your channel!!! Whenever I see a notification from your channel, it brings me the itch to whip out my old Go board back up and start solving problems that should not be difficult for me to solve given the fact that I've known of the game for most of my stay in Canada. At the end of the day, I'm just a rando to your TH-cam channel and someone who can't even say that they really play Go, but holy crap man, YOU are the one that introduced the game to me, when I was working on my capstone project for graduation YOUR content was the one that I studied and used as reference. Your channel may be eventually overshadowed by the infinite number of channels that exist and WILL exist in the future BUT that does not take away from the value that you've brought with this channel!!! I'm super bummed to see this notification when I got off work, and I'm just telling you that I'm seriously going to think back on your classes and sandbagging series SUPER fondly- and hell, once I've got less on my table and have some free time from work and family I promise you I'll make the effort to graduate from a filthy casual to someone who can at least play the game semi-competently. Best of luck man, thanks for introducing me and getting me passionate about this game, and PLEASE, don't be too harsh on yourself. Your content rocked!
it's been special treat for 12 years, following from Turkiye. Still checking old vids and sharing to new players about what they are looking for.. it's been a great journey. Thanks for all your effords.
I've been following you since 2015 even though this maybe first time im commented on your video. But i really love how your videos since back then. Its been a honor, and thank you for every video you create. Its been great help for me and many others since then. Bye, and see you!
Nick, I don't know whether you were important to the "Go community," but you were important to me and my journey in the game. Please never doubt that you made a difference. Thank you very much for all of the time and effort you've put in over the years. I hope whatever you do, you find fulfillment, and maybe we'll see you again someday!
Same for me. Thank you Nick for all you’ve done!
Some of the things you taught me about the spirit of go has stuck with me to this day. I hope you are happy in anything you decide to do!
Same.
Thanks for all you've done. My Son introduced me to the game 5 years ago. I would watch you and then play him...he would be incredibly surprised and thrilled that I could actually beat him at times!! Thanks for making it such a special time with my Son. I'm sorry to hear your goodbyes...please come back one day..
Same for me.
He's given a decade of online content for Go players to freely access. This has been (and will continue to be as archived videos) a huge pillar of support for those in the US imo. I think there are plenty of other people with your experience as well.
I have no idea why youtube recommended this video, but as someone who is older than you, I have had moments in life like this. Just remember that joy and interests come in waves. There is no shame in putting one interest aside, and there is no shame in picking it back up years later. You only have one life, and it has many phases and eras. Enjoy it, celebrate your successes and follow you feelings. The people in your life want you to be happy, not to use yourself up.
Way back at the 2012 Go Congress, you said hi and invited me to a party on the last night, where you introduced me to a bunch of people and drunkenly played "make life in the center" with me. I don't know if you even remember that, but while I had been having a good time at the Congress, I was alone and a little overwhelmed and out of my depth, and with that one gesture you made the Go community suddenly feel way more welcoming and comfortable.
You've made a huge impact in the community at large and I'm sure you've made countless other people feel welcome like that on an individual level.
Anyway, I'm just trying to say that if there's any lingering concern about whether you've "done your part" or made a difference or whatever, you've gone above and beyond. I hope whatever direction you go from here is full of joy.
On behalf of the internet, we humbly thank you for all you have done for go! 🙏🥺
I'm a new Go player, learned it less than a year ago. Since then I've been watching through your videos, especially your old in-person lessons at the Go center. Even though you are no longer going to be as active in creating content, all of the content you have already made will continue to have an impact on the community.
Thanks for helping me appreciate this amazing game!
It's impossible for you to leave, you are already inside our hearts and you'll always be our 1st go teacher. Thank you so much man.
As someone that has followed you for years, and attended some of your lectures at the Go Center, It has been an honor to have received the knowledge that you have shared. Thank you.
With this channel, you have shown an exceptional commitment to the Go community. The pursuit of happiness is complex, and sometimes course changes are necessary. Your farewell saddens us, but you leave behind 12 years of profound value that has left a mark on those of us who entered this beautiful game just a few years ago. Thank you for everything, and I wish you the greatest of happiness.
One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it...
Hello Nick, I know I've never really commented on your channel, but I remember finding your channel back when I was 13, not knowing anything about go, besides hikaru no go. Now being a 22 year old and even though I'm not much stronger than I was then, you were, and still are, an amazing teacher. Everything you taught made sense to me and helped me learn this amazing game that we play. And everyday I see go I immediately think of you and your lessons. It's sad to see you go, but I'll be here cheering you on matter what you do in your life, and every year I'll still go back and watch your videos to make sure I can still grow as a player. Hopefully someday I can be as good a player as you and I hope you and I can play a game of go someday.
You gave us plenty of warning, and every episode after 500 was like a special gift. I really appreciated all your great go content. I have a tiny channel where I just throw stuff out there, and I've been pretty disappointed with TH-cam's behavior around ads for as long as I can remember. I don't monetize either and didn't know you'd done the same, so that just makes me love you all the more. It makes me sad to see you so sad, and like others will probably say, I'm a little worried about your emotional health. That's not to assign blame for your choice. It's really just to say that I care about you as much as I care about your tremendous body of high quality go content and I am glad that you are taking care of yourself. Thank you so much, Nick! 💖
Thank you, Melinda! I have read your comments on my video for YEARS, but regret only having responded to a few--that are always so genuine and witty. Thank you!!!!!
Hey Nick, I've never really commented on your videos before, but your channel has been an ENORMOUS blessing to everyone I know in the go community. For real, we can't thank you enough for all the effort you've put into this over the years. You're a fantastic teacher, and it's been an honor to study with you. I'll be watching your old videos for a long time to come.
Speaking for myself, I likely wouldn't have been playing go without people like you, but not just like you, specifically you, who cares about the philosophies of ads running on videos etc. You teach, educate, inform, and bring more than just go to people, you help us choose our values and choices of how we act upon the world. Even if the channel dies, it lives on as the basis and foundation of many and many go players, we are your go children, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of us ends up in the go world series either someday, butterfly effect and whatnot.
All I can say is thank you, and I hope you find passion and happiness wherever else in life you do and that you feel fulfilled in pursuit of those instead, thats your decision to make and if its important to you, I think it is worth it and worthy of respect.
8 years ago I moved to Seattle, and your videos, and being in person in yours and Andrew's classes are why the Go Center was the first place that felt like home out here. Thank you for all you've done Nick.
It's sad to see someone who has been consistently uploading for years stop, but I get it. You've been doing it so long that you probably just felt like doing it even though you weren't as passionate about it as you were before. 12 years is a damn long time, making 500+ videos for as long as you have is something to be proud of. One thing I have to say is that what you've done with this channel had an impact on me and the rest of your viewers, it wasn't for nothing, you were a huge part of the Go community and you taught me a lot about Go. I wish you nothing but happiness, I'm grateful for the 12 years worth of content you've given us, and I promise you that I will always go back and rewatch some of my favorite Go lectures (Lecture 246 - My Class plays a pro was one of my favorites).
Hey Nick, I'm seeing a lot of comments here and it's clear a lot of people appreciate you. For me, your channel has helped more than any of the others that you consider more influential. You hit a sweet spot for mid-high level kyu players like me, and you're a likable guy. I'm not feeling let down that you're stepping back, but grateful that you've given so much. I'm a bit let down that you hate baseball, though, haha. I have a toddler and I hope he grows to appreciate both Go and baseball. All the best to you.
Was wondering how you were and found this. Wanted to send my thank for introducing me to a big passion of mine. Your decision to move on is entirely respectable, but you will be missed deeply. You ought to be proud of the work you’ve done. Without exaggeration, I believe you have inspired an entire generation of western go players who will carry your flame!
thank you thank you thank you.
Your channel is a gold mine, and I'm absolutely sure it will continue to be useful to many players. Algorithms are great when you want to reach a large audience, but passionate people will still make the effort to dig into that gold mine. Thank you for all you have done for the Go community!
Hey Nick,
please don't put yourself so down like that. I have never played a single game of Go in my life, ofcourse I wanted to and thats why I discovered your channel years ago. I mainly watch for your personality. I don't care what other pro players are out there making content. For me you are producing value just by being yourself on camera and talking about Go. Also I respect your endurance and consistency over 11 years of posting videos and I wish I had that consistency too with posting videos. Take a break but if you love posting videos know that we are here for you and that there will always be someone you can give value to no matter what!
It's okay to end things, even the ones you feel so deeply about. It's hard, but it's okay. I've been following your channel for years. In fact, I think yours was one of my first subscriptions on TH-cam. I can't say I've watched every one of your videos, but pretty darn close. Although I'm still terrible at the game, I love it and persist, and that love for the game was largely inspired by your early go lectures. Thank you for the dozen years of heart and soul you put into this channel. We are all better for it!
Hey Nick, I've never commented on your videos before, but I wanted to thank you for all you have done through this channel. I remember around 2014, just discovering Go, celebrating submitting my final year engineering project by watching the original Sibicky vs Jackson video. I'd pulled an all-nighter, and hadn't slept in 40 hrs, but I'd been saving that video for a week and didn't want to wait.
While I never became the Go master I'd hoped to be (never getting past ~3k) I've always enjoyed your channel. More than Go, you taught me how to teach. These day I'm a professor in chemical engineering, and following your lead I always memorise all my student's names. You're a profoundly gifted teacher, and the dozens (hundreds?) of hours I've spent watching you work your craft has been time well spent. Thank you.
Wow! Thank you, Thomas!
i only got into go in 2016-2017 after hearing abt lee sedol vs alphago, without a doubt you were the biggest contribution to my initial fascination with the game. i still go back to a lot of your old videos to review the lessons from them (like bent 4 in the corner, capturing races, your lecture on how to be a good teacher, etc). i always felt you were one of if not the best english speaking teacher for new players; you were particularly good at understanding your students' confusion and explaining things in ways that made sense to them. i always kinda wanted to go to one of your classes, but alas i live in DC and am poor. i would be no where near as enthusiastic about go if not for your influence, so thank you. enjoy your life
Came here to say all the same stuff! +1 to understanding students.. Nick, this really made your channel an invaluable resource for me for such a long time. You are so good at meeting students where they are so we all got to hear a variety of explanations for every level. Thank You!!
"I will not say 'Do not weep' because not all tears are evil."
- Gandalf (LotR, The Return of the King)
You are a pillar of the community. Thank you for everything you have done for us! We'll all miss you. You should be extremely proud of how much you accomplished. Best of luck with your next pursuit!
You taught me the game; but most importantly, when its time to tenuki. Sometimes its time to do something else.
You were my first go teacher. I am now a 2d and your lessons are what got me started. Thank you for all you have done. Enjoy taking a step back.
I know exactly what you meant with the roulette wheel. I was a top frisbee player and coached many teams after age made me just a good player. It was my life for over 25 years, I'd overcome many injuries and kept on playing, kept preparing myself or my team for the next tournament. Then one day I came home and everything hurt, as it had many, many times, but this time I thought "why am I doing this to myself" and there was no answer. I knew then, probably like you did, that the ball had fallen into the triple zero spot. It was just time to stop. No logic, just feeling. I wish you well for your future. You've been a good embassador for the game and inspired others to also create Go content. And the best thing is, after some time, you can always change your mind. There are no rules to the future.
Yeah, thanks for everything Nick. This channel is a great resource for learning Go and you've made a huge contribution to the community.
Love you Nick. Wouldnt be where im at in my Go without you. Your efforts were not in vain. Go live your dreams.
You taught me how to play Go. Take good care of yourself.
I can say with absolute certainty that your videos started my passion for go and, although small, I've culminated a group of 10 or 20 people throughout my life that I've showed the game to and really grew friendships with. My thoughts are with you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your contribution to the community and my/my friends lives.
Hi Nick, I just wanted to let you know that your lectures unlocked an interest in this amazing game for me, which is something I will now have for the rest of my life and I really appreciate that. I have listened to many of your lectures and hopefully if you leave them up I will continue to listen to many more.
Hey Nick. You, dwyrin, and Michael Redmond have been the channels that have kept me in this hobby. You have made an impact on my life and I appreciate all the work you have done. Take care in what life bring you in the future.
Nick, teaching is so much more than being good at something. You have taught me the 'so much more'.
I heard about Go back in the alpha go days as a CS undergrad, but didn't really 'get it' until I found your videos. There is plenty of other content out there for Go, but yours will probably always be my favorite.
I watched your videos heavily during my Phd. They left an impact on me in several ways:
1.) They taught me how to play Go. More so, they taught me how to 'think' about Go. And how to think about thinking.
2.) They helped me through some really tough times during my Phd, where my mental health was at a fairly low point. Your personality is great for teaching, and has given me many laughs.
3.) They taught me how to teach. After getting my Phd, I became a tenure track professor. I had very limited teaching experience prior, but I learned how to teach by watching other people's lectures on various topics. I consider your lectures one of my top influences in this regard, along with a few other lectures from various other subjects.
I have recorded many lecture videos, for just a handful of students, and can totally relate to the feeling of 'is this really having an impact'. You often get very little feedback from videos -- in person teaching is a lot better in that regard.
However what forms us can be very subtle. A single stone placed in the farthest corner of the world can cause a ripple effect, and change the entire course of the game, unbeknownst to us. The people we impact, in turn, impact others. We may not see it, but it is surely there. Your impact is strictly positive any way I think about it.
I say all of this, not as a way to say 'keep making videos' but as a way of saying 'thank you for making the videos you have made'. I wish you the best moving forward.
I love you Nick. You where my best ddk teacher. I wouldn't play go if it wasn't for you. I remember when I started to play the game to behours every day studying with your videos looking forward tobeat a friend ofmine (waymore stronger than me andI didn't realize that backthen). I didn't eat him ever, he stopped playing but I have now a higher rank than him. Your videos where amazing. Love you again, and I will always remember you with much care.
Hi Nick, I'm a 3d that has mostly gotten there thanks to you. Everyone deserves to exit stage left at some point, and I'd much rather this heartfelt au revoir than just trailing off slowly. Your videos have helped me and many others and I just wanted to say thanks to a Go friend that I never knew but somehow did quite well enough. Cheers.
Dude, f TH-cam. They’re the worst. I’ve never been good enough or committed enough to to playing watch your content regularly but I have watched many of your videos and early on you were instrumental in my love of the game. I still play every day.
You’ve done a great job. Everything eventually ends, but as I found out when my father passed, nothing ever REALLY ends. We connect in people’s lives in ways we will never be aware of. And those interactions are the ones that are really important. You can put positive things or negative things out into the world, and by choosing positive, you enrich the world. Thanks for all you have contributed to the world of Go!
I've only rarely commented on your videos, and that was a few years and a couple children ago. You weren't the first person to teach me go, but you certainly gave me the most perspective on what it *meant* to play. Even with the hustle and bustle of life, I have continued to watch from time to time, whenever a new lesson appeared in my subscription feed. What I appreciate most about your channel, *about you* , is your love of the game and its players. Your love of not only the most extraordinary play but also the most mundane. The patience you have with students of all levels and temperaments. The kindness and human connection you have put into this world in your go, I hope you receive in return many times over. Thank you Nick.
Sad to see you leave.
I started playing around the time you started this channel. I loved your videos. I have stopped playing several times for a few years and come back and one of the first things I have done each time coming back to the game has been to look if you're still making videos.
All the people I have played with that has been watching go videos has seen three things, Hikaru no Go, Dwyrin, and your channel. I do believe you have had impact on the go community and I know you've had impact on me. I hear your voice inside my head when I see certain shapes or stumble upon certain situations on the board.
Thanks for making videos for so long and I wish you good luck going forward.
12 years is a long time to do one thing! I could never last that long; I get bored way too easily. Thank you for everything you've given the community, thank you for taking care of yourself, and best wishes with whatever you decide to do next.
For the last 12 years, this has been a job for you and now it can be be fun outlet without the need for a grinding content schedule. Just have fun and share on TH-cam if you want and when you have time. Enjoy time with family and other awesome offline experiences. I don't see this as goodbye just a change that will be much less content, that's totally ok. Let the weight of content creation go and have fun. I can tell you hate seeing ads on TH-cam, I personally don't care if there are ads if the video helped me learn a new skill in Go I would be fine watching tons of ads. Your content is awesome and it can live on through searchable content. Anyways, it's a hard call to make a big change like this and I'm happy for you and I hope you have time to do more of the things you love. If you find time and the desire to make a video down the road I'm down to watch, but don't worry about it. Thank you for everything and God Bless!
I wanted to get into Go since I discovered the game as a kid, but every time I tried to play online it was not clicking, like I was unable to understand the game . Your videos took me from knowing the rules to being able to understand and play the "language" of Go (even if I would not dare to say I'm profiecient on it). You unlocked for me the first step in my progression through this game.
I have been playing on and off for over a decade now, climbing ranks, getting stuck, moving to something else, coming back. I have a folder with every game I have played, sometimes I look back at the very first game there. It may sound stupid, but my experience with this game is a reminder of my own ability to progress. It is a proof that I can get better at things over time. This game is not a huge part of my life, but it is a important and formative one.
By pure chance I was doing an internship in Seattle when I discovered your videos. I went to one of your classes live, that was the first time I saw a physical board. Now I have a board as the centerpiece of my living room. My girlfriend gifted it to me becuase I have started to play more often again.
Thank you so much Nick, for opening up this game to me. I know there were other content creators out there, but for me specifically, it was you.
Best of luck on whatever you want to do next!
P.S.: Since I am thanking you already, let me tell you that King's Forge is the one game that has survived all my game library culls and will probably be buried with me when I die.
Thanks!
Thanks to you I have reached levels in Go i didnt thought possible for myself - Watching your videos was entertaining and educating. I am slightly sad to see that you are correlating bringing value to this platform to patreon money, but those are your values. Just keep in mind you can't bring every kind of value down to numbers. I wish you the best of luck for your journey, and an exciting new time ahead of you!
Thank you for everything Nick! As a person the grew up on playing Go, then immigrate to Canada and stopped playing in teens, stumble upon your channel in my 30’s and re-ignited love of it. This led to playing my greatest and closest game I ever played with my dad who was a dan player in Korea while he was at a long term medical care just before the pandemic. Tragically that was my last in person game and last game my dad ever played as his health got worse and we never got to play again since. My dad always said you got to understand a person’s true characteristics when you play them in a game of Go, and in my game with my dad we were connecting in ways I never did in my life. You had a real impact in creating that moment for me and I sincerely appreciate you.
Thank you for all the content, and for reviewing one of my games.
It was good to see you at the Go Congress as well.
Good fortune in your future endeavors!
thanks for everything, nick - it’s been many great years following along and you were one of the reasons i revived my interest in go after many many years without playing. i know that this channel will remain an amazing portal into go for many long after the end of regular content, and wish you the best in everything!!
I have never commented or supported your Patreon, but I would like to say thank you and good luck in your future endeavors. I enjoyed and benefited from your videos.
the only influencer goodbye video I ever cared about :)
made me cry a bit. love and aapreciation from Germany
Yes, its the same for me, you showed always that there is a human behind this content, and this is great. All the best for you and greetings from Hamburg, Germany.
Same here from Krefeld, Germany. Also cried a little :)
I‘m going through a big shift in my life right now and can relate to many things you said. You were part of my life for 10 years. It’s a little sad that I only get myself to comment on such a video. Your other videos would have deserved at least a thank you too. I’ll try to keep that in mind, watching people out there.
It’s a shame, that I was in Seattle a few month before learning about your class at the Go-Center. Maybe some time in the future I’ll have the chance to buy you a beer.
Thanks for all the fish!
Christoph
I started playing Go in late August of this year. I joined a local "meetup" for a Chess and Go club. Our main Go organizer happened to not be there that day, so it was just the Chess organizer trying to manage 30-40 people. He still went out of his way to make sure I was having a good time, that I'd found the other Go players, that I was learning in the way the main guy likes to instruct new players. He even sat down with me and played a little Go, himself.
At the end of the day, he handed me a book and a business card used to promote their club and it had two TH-camrs handwritten on there. Dwyrin and Nick Sibicky. You say you have an ego but even it isn't THAT big to think you're that important a part of the Go community. Or however you worded it. I think you're overly humble with a statement like that. You're big enough in the community that this guy who has at best a passing interest in Go knew you were the go-to resource for someone starting out. And your videos have been huge for me.
Thank you for providing an invaluable resource to someone like me that you've never met. Without your videos to act as an anchor, I'm not sure I would have continued playing. And now I'm going to play for life. I already know it. I needed the foundation I got from watching your early videos, and I just haven't found their match yet. It's clear to me that you are and were the cream of the crop in terms of teaching Go on TH-cam.
Thank you.
Nick, during the darkest times in my life, your online Go lectures were the oasis and light that helped me bring a smile to my face and keep going. The only thing more precious than the actual Go content on your channel is your wonderful heart and personality. Thank you very much
I really appreciate this video. Thank you for listening to your heart. More people need to do that. I know this is a hard decision. I wish you all the best.
Hi Nick. I remember seeing Go for the first time in a move called A Beautiful Mind. It somehow made me want learn to play this game. Not so long after that I found your channel and spent hours and hours watching the lectures and reviews or historical games. Your videos were packed with knowledge and still entertaining. Some lectures with Dan really showed me what person you really are, that you really want to teach people even though some do not want to taught. Then you showed us you created board games and to this day, your games are one of the most loved in our collection. You definitely left a mark in this World, I thank you and I salute to you, sir.
I haven't watched your channel in a long time, haven't been in the place in my life where I have the time and community to play a lot of go. But you were the start of my go journey and you inspired me and a few of my close friends to play a lot and to get a bit better at it.
Thank you for your time and energy. I appreciate it. Best of luck in the next phase of your life 😊
You've been an inspiration and an excellent guide of Go for me - I remember subbing to you close to or maybe even more than a decade ago, and your channel was and is my formative go experience. Thank you for all your work and drive and love for this game, and know that this entire community appreciates and loves you!
Thanks so much Nick for all the videos you made. I was just discovering Go 12 years ago when you started your channel and you really drove my love and amazement for the game. I almost loved a well commentated pro game review more than playing Go itself. I haven't played a game for years now, but it's still a favorite and I still watch videos from time to time. I suuuuper respect your decission, and I hope you have no regets about continuing as long as you did. Your contributions touched others in a big way. I also have very strong feelings about advertising and I would definitely feel very violated if an outward extension of my passion was monotized with ads without my permission or benifit. Screw that in every way. I truly hope you continue to persue your passion, and in a way that you find most satisfying and worth your time. It's the purpose of life. Thank you again for sharing.
Unfortunately I kinda saw that coming, and that is a very sad news.
You were my favorite youtube go channel, and there is a small spark of hope that in a year or two I will see a video on this channel called "Welcome back".
You mentioned that you felt that you took space in the community, and rightfully so, because you did something different, and that combination of being a strong player, really entertaining and insightful really worked for me.
I'm not gonna lie, for me (and probably most of the community) your best content was in front of that magnetic board in Seattle Go Center. But even after that I still watch every single one of the new videos that you posted.
Good luck Nick!
Nick, your channel and hard work at Go Center, and behind the walls, here on the internet - is a fundamental work.
I always dreamed about being abroad, and in the US, and if it's Seattle, first I would attend Go Center to see you guys and listen to your lectures. Have a tea together. Only after - space needle :D Your videos were the meditation before bed all of these years. I watched it, I learned new stuff, I was quitting the game. But every time I got back, I started over with your videos. I'm from Ukraine, and I was the guy who were translating all of your words to Go players, for our local Go club. You were commented on by dan players so we ddks, sdks could understand your thoughts. Everyone was listening with interest and passion. You are famous and respected but still modest and sincere. May your wind of change won't frustrate you, and everything turn out well. Thank you for everything!
Hi Nick, thank you for your contribution to the community. I used to watch your channel even though I don't play Go. Simply because your interaction with your students was fun and your explanation was spot on. Also you calling Go engines robots is hilarious😂 I know some didn't like it. Anyway please remember that we are not done with you! Thanks again from Japan.
Thank you for all these years. Please take a well deserved break.
Yeah it's literally the "Nick Sibicky Go channel", wouldn't make sense to see someone else making content here. Thanks for your efforts, and good luck in the rest of your journey
Thank you so much for your videos, Nick! I moved on from go for a while, but I remember being so excited to move to Seattle as I knew you and the club were there too. Have fun in your next adventure.
I have been following this channel for almost 4 years. Without your videos i honestly believe i would have quit a long time ago. There is no such thing as goodbye's, only new beginnings. Not only a new beginning for you but the inspiration you left behind will give birth to new go content creators. I appreciate the memories you gave and the journey you guided me on. I wish you and your family the best wishes and for the memories you make to be golden. ❤❤❤
I could never quite get into the game of Go, but I've known your channel for a long time. Whenever I felt like starting, I would come to your channel and watch your videos, especially the low kyu reviews. I still don't think I can start this game, but from time to time, you might consider sharing a video on a topic that interests you, even if it's not about Go. We'll be here to listen to you. With love Nick.
Nick, you have to do what you have to do.
That said, I want to mention, you were huge to me when I was seriously learning Go. Quite genuinely I feel your videos, especially when I was watching a LOT many years ago, are so impactful to learning. You mentioned Dwyrin, and I watched him too, but very simply Dwyrin is not good at teaching beginners in video form - he hits more of an intermediate target. Whether or not my assessment of Dwyrin is objectively true, that was my experience. Now I am 3d on OGS -- If it weren't for your channel, old school KGS teaching games, and new school availability of professional opponents for free then I wouldn't be this strong.
You made a huge impact on me, my love of go, my learning experience and you entertained me too.
THANK YOU!
Wishing you all the best! I wouldn't play go half as well or maybe at all without your videos. Making videos is a huge commitment and gift but I think people should really want to do it, and not feel pressured. We are all grateful for everything you have done for the game and community (don't sell yourself short), but we definitely won't begrudge you for not making videos. Thank you for everything, Nick! (p.s. My daughter doesn't find go interesting either.... maybe when she is older, and if not I hope she will find something that she is passionate about and will strive with the same intensity I do with my interests)
I have watched probably hundreds of hours of your content. I have listened to more hours of you than most people I know. I can't imagine how much effort it was to produce that. Can't thank you enough for all your effort. Don't feel guilty for stopping for a second, have a great life. Your videos will live on and so will your influence on all of us! ❤
Hey Nick,
I only started playing Go "seriously" (as serious as it can be to a low kyu player 😅) at the end of last year, finally making good use of a goban bought for me by my dad over 10 years ago when I was reading/watching Hikaru no Go as a teen. I can 100% guarantee Go wouldn't be as much of a thing in my life as it is right now without your channel and lessons. Your lessons (even the ones from 13 years ago which I'll probably rewatch more than just a few times) were that one thing that started making things click in my mind, they helped me understand the flow and beauty of the game like nothing else did. At least for me, your contribution is unmatched.
You'll certainly be missed here, but your happiness comes first.
I wish you all the best in your life and in whatever endeavours you're going for next. Love from Brazil
So sad. I was watching your videos and learning go with you. Thank you so much from Moscow, Russia! And good luck!
Found your channel a few years ago and decided to start from the beginning to make sure I see all the episodes. I'm on #298 so years behind but saw this video pop up.
No worries at all Nick! The content you have put out has been a great help to the english speaking Go community. You've done so much for all of us! You certainly don't owe anyone anything - we owe you. On that note, if you ever find yourself around Santa Fe, NM, reach out! I at least owe you a beer and a green chile burrito
I just found GO....you were one of the main sources that opened my eyes to the - one space jump, bad shapes, life and death, etc.... You need to follow your own path, but just remember the path you walked have effected a lot of people for the good and the game GO. Thank you for everything- if you decide to come back...... We'll be waiting.
I started watching you 10 years ago, as a freshman in college. You grew my passion for Go and filled many hours of isolation with fun!
I am very grateful for all of the energy you've put into this channel over your life. I wish you peace. 有難う🧡
Watched so many of your videos. You taught me Go. Thank you.
Hey Nick Sibicky, we don't know each other. 31.600 People filling a Room right now, imagine that..and we are giving you a Standing applause for your real great, funny and nice go lectures. THANK YOU !
Well done youtube. Your unacceptable, invasive, and agressive ad policy has driven off one more brilliant person who shared his passion and knowledge with the world. Thank you Nick. I became a better Go player thanks to you, but i empathise with you and fully respect your decision. It saddens me to see you go, and I will miss your lectures, your quirky humour and your wit. All the best to you and your family for the future. So long and thanks for all the fish :)
Dude i never leave comments in the digital realm. But here it is buddy, Thank you and rock on!!!!
Hi Nick. I started to play Go 30 years ago. At some point I found your channel and I got enthusiastic with your lessons that helped me a lot to improve my game. Then I stoped playing for differente reasons and a few months ago I decided that it was time to come back again, and one of the first things that I did was to look for your channel and I was very happy to see that you still continued with it! I'm sorry that you are quiting now, but I fully understand. I will start to watch all your videos again, from the begining to try to reach the level that I had before I left. Thanks a lot for your dedicacion and for all the positive impact that you had on me! Regards from Spain.
Last week I was combing through Go TH-camrs and your videos had my favorite energy to them. Fun while it lasted, I suppose. Guess I’ll work through the decade+ backlog ❤
Sad to hear, but I get ya. Let me at least let you know you've really helped me progress, and start my love of Go. There's not all that much content for when you just get started in Go (probably been playing properly for about 2 years).
Love you loads man. I hope you find the most fulfillment possible in whatever you choose to do next =)
Thanks for all your time Nick! I really did enjoy watching your style of teaching and videos 😊
Thank you. We all have phases on our lives. You had a beautiful phase teaching us, and we are greatfull. I hope that you keep your head up, because it's obvious that you did a great job.
So, so long and thanks for all the fish
I already have my towel!
Hey Nick,
I just wanted to thank you for all your work. I'm a low DDK player and never really plan to get much better. I just don't have the drive or time to play a lot of games. I've watched your videos not so that I can't get stronger, but because I like your perspective on the game and personality. You have helped me to better understand the beauty and complexity of Go.
If this is your last video, that's ok. There are still many of your videos that I have left to watch. If you decide to post one video every year or two or five, it will be a pleasent surprise for the day. Some of my favorite creators don't post regularly, which is totally fine. I've been subscribed to your channel for years, and don't plan to change that.
I hope this channel has brought you joy and I hope whatever you do next will, too.
Nick! I'm grateful for all your content! You have taught me so much about Go and Life! Today, you reminded me that it's okay for us to cry sometimes when we don't have that "fire anymore"! I recently just quit my music after 12-ish years because I believed my fire in music has died. But you reminded me that it's okay for all of us to let go of the things we loved to learn new things! The fact that we cry is so Truthful and Honest to ourselves in our hearts, even though it hurts so much that I really have so much respect for you! Because of letting go and being able to feel this emotion, I was able to find something new to believe in... recently I've been trying to get into Game Development and Coding/Programming! Something I've always wanted to do as a backup plan after my music would fail when I was a kid! I almost forgot I had a fire for this when I was young, but it took me to remember what else I always wanted to do in life to spark the fire in my heart again! It was really hard to start a new fire for a new hobby again, but it all began... from really letting go of my music. I had to really tell myself hey... Come on Calvin, you already mastered this skill! You are a great musican, and you know it! But I want you to enjoy discovering more beautiful things in life! And this gave me enough confidence to continue to move on! It was so hard... But I have really learned a lot from you and music and you will both always be with me in my heart along my future journey! These Memories are our treasures to keep forever!
How did I miss this? You were my first teacher that I found good videos on it. Will be missed. Good luck on your new journies, and it was fun when it was here.
Let me also thank you for the awesome ride you took us with.
You are arguably the most authentic, humble, loyal and uncorrupted person on TH-cam, and definitely a role model for me.
I really hope the legacy you've created will live on forever. I'm still watching the early videos and so might future generations.
Our relationship might be parasocial, but I genuinely care about your well being and can only wish you the best for your future.
Thank you Nick for everything you've done for us!
My interest in Go became a passion when I found your videos. The professional games where you talk about specific moves and talk so passionately why these are amazing moves are my favourite memories of my years as a Go player. Thanks for that!
This is the first thing of yours I've ever seen and I think it's really cool of you to be so decisive and serious about whether or not you want to be doing this. You're not letting the system define how you should behave, you're making choices and responding to your own wants. That's rad as heck.
Nick! I’ve literally been watching through every single one of your videos, as you mentioned. It’s the last thing I do before I fall asleep. You have near-single-handedly brought me up several stones and given me new passion for the game after 20 years of playing. I know it’s weird, because you’ve never so much as seen me, but your helpful, positive, vivacious attitude has been one I look forward to seeing. I feel like I have a friend in you, despite not having met.
I’m more or less alone in a small town where very few people play Go, and even fewer play around my level. It can be disheartening to feel so alone in this game, and your videos have seriously helped me.
I’m sorry you’ve had to go through the long slow slide of losing motivation, and damn, TH-cam, advertising! As someone else who finds advertising straight up detestable I can’t believe they did that to you. You didn’t deserve that buddy.
For a while now it’s been on my wishlist of things to do to track you down and beg a game with you. Maybe I’ll still get so lucky in the future at a Go Congress or something.
I hope you’re able to get a rest from all that wears a person down in this industry-not just because I hope to see more content from you in the hypothetical future, but because you deserve a rest. What a legend you’ve been, teaching students new ways to enjoy the game! If you ever do make more videos I hope it’s because you’re too excited by the idea to not do it. If you ever do I’ll be watching! (Maybe by then I’ll have finished the huge volumes of videos you’ve made…)
I wish you the best as you process the change, and I’ll miss your wonderful attitude on screen!
I've enjoyed watching your videos and learning many aspects of Go. I'm glad you decided to make this channel. I'll definitely be revisiting from time to time. 500+ videos, and I've definitely not finished even a quarter of them. 😄 I hope you enjoy taking a long and deserved break. If you ever decided to post videos sporadically down the line. I'm sure you'll still have people show up.
You were my main teacher when I first learned Go and I may lose more than win against the AI but it’s still fun. I wish I was there for your in person lessons. Gonna miss you, Nick. Best wishes for the future!
Hey Nick. For all the sh*t youtube's algorithm deserves, one thing it did well was bring me to your channel some 5-6 years ago. Loved your teaching content and genuine bright personality. It made me pick up go myself, join a nearby club, and I'm still enjoying it today. I still occasionally point new clubmembers to those Seattle teaching days. No worries about halting the regular videos; I think everyone here would want you to be happy and enjoy life with you family. Obviously I'll stay subscribed and hopefully we do see you check in once in a while when you feel like doing a small video (a feeling I'm sure will come, it's how humans work). Thanks for the years of videos, Nick. All the best.
Thanks for the go videos. I never made it to 1 dan but I did make it to 3-4 kyu for a while on ogs back in 2017. Hopefully you can post update videos at least once a year that aren't go related. Go is what brought me to your channel but your spontaneous commentary is what kept me coming back.
For me, 2020 was the year of my cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, in addition to the pandemic anxiety and isolation. So I went looking for a strategy game I could play at home by myself to distract myself with battle the debilitating brain fog that came along with my treatments, and found online Go. And your Seattle Go Club lecture videos were the first ones I watched beyond basic how-to instructionals to help me figure out wtf was going on with this crazy game and how to play beyond the bare minimum of rules and basic moves.
Thanks to you, I kept my interest and kept playing long enough to actually start to feel like a real (albeit really terrible) Go player. I still play today, and can genuinely say your videos are what introduced me to what Go **could** be - the strategies, the tricks and traps, that bobs-dammed Lee Sedol Ladder of Doom playthrough that made my chemically-impaired little high-kyu brain explode 😆
Thank you so very very much for all the great content you've put out over the years, and for introducing this brain-fogged, pandemic-scared old fart to a whole new world and community. Never doubt that you and your work has changed lives for the better. I hope you enjoy whatever's next as much as we've enjoyed what came before.
You did good, man. You did real good.
😞 Unsure if upvotes or downvotes are more appropriate
Seriously though- thank you for all you've done. You're probably the first channel I watched regularly, and I learned a lot from you :-)
Onward and upward Mr. Sibicky! It's been nice to visit you here on occasion and I'll continue to do so... as for 'free-loading', have you ever really browsed youtube??? This channel is a shining beacon of quality content that will live forever and help people long after you've forgotten about it, so don't fret. Best of luck on the next chapter of your life!
I can't tell exactly when since it's been so long since I discovered your channel, but it was during my last years of high school; I was born in Ecuador and migrated to Canada with my mother and it took me nearly a decade to really integrate to "Canadian/western" culture. I was a rather troubled teen, and few things really spoke to me enough to catch my attention and invest my time into: Go was one of those few things that I became very curious and almost enamored by back in the day; man, I watched so many hours of your content back in the day. I'll admit from the get-go that Go, unfortunately, did not ultimately become something I fully managed to grasp, let alone be good at, however, you better believe that since my final years in highschool to current-day 2023, 22 years old now, I've had your notifications and that God damn bell turned on for EVERY single video you've posted. Filthy casual/poser as I may be, I still believe Go is one of the coolest games that I could have possibly discovered, and seeing you teach your class and have a good time with that one guy that used to come by and play with you as a guest made me kind of illusioned with finding a place like your class and learn how to play Go like you guys did. Yeah, man, the world keeps on spinning, and there is an absurd number of people on this website that will eventually overshadow this rather "small" channel, but it's not like that means that the people that have been watching your channel aren't there! I'M one of the lower common denominators when it comes to this stuff, filthy casual!! There is PEOPLE out there who STILL after 12 or 10 or 5 years have been actively following your channel!!! Whenever I see a notification from your channel, it brings me the itch to whip out my old Go board back up and start solving problems that should not be difficult for me to solve given the fact that I've known of the game for most of my stay in Canada.
At the end of the day, I'm just a rando to your TH-cam channel and someone who can't even say that they really play Go, but holy crap man, YOU are the one that introduced the game to me, when I was working on my capstone project for graduation YOUR content was the one that I studied and used as reference. Your channel may be eventually overshadowed by the infinite number of channels that exist and WILL exist in the future BUT that does not take away from the value that you've brought with this channel!!! I'm super bummed to see this notification when I got off work, and I'm just telling you that I'm seriously going to think back on your classes and sandbagging series SUPER fondly- and hell, once I've got less on my table and have some free time from work and family I promise you I'll make the effort to graduate from a filthy casual to someone who can at least play the game semi-competently.
Best of luck man, thanks for introducing me and getting me passionate about this game, and PLEASE, don't be too harsh on yourself. Your content rocked!
Time for the 500+ videos rewatch marathon!
Thank you for everything Nick. I learned Go from you, just wanted you to know. Wish you the best, love from Turkiye!
it's been special treat for 12 years, following from Turkiye. Still checking old vids and sharing to new players about what they are looking for.. it's been a great journey. Thanks for all your effords.
I've been following you since 2015 even though this maybe first time im commented on your video.
But i really love how your videos since back then.
Its been a honor, and thank you for every video you create. Its been great help for me and many others since then.
Bye, and see you!
Thanks for all the videos. Been watching you for almost 10 years now and it's been a great time. Sorry that TH-cam forced ads on your videos.