News

Goban Tables at Seattle Go Center

Dengda Tang and Edward Kim smallerSome friends from the forum lifein19x19 were interested in how we used our gobans (floor boards) in the main playing room.  The low tables are simply made with plywood, so we have covered them with tablecloths.  The little side tables for stones help a lot. This photo is from the 2015 Jin Chen Tournament.

Korean Pro visiting this week

Chihyung Nam at the Go Center in 2012

Chihyung Nam at the Go Center in 2012

Korean Pro and Myongji University Professor Chihyung Nam is visiting Seattle this week.  She will be playing simultaneous games at the Seattle Go Center on Tuesday, Feb. 7, starting at 6:30 p.m.  On Wednesday, at 7:00 p.m., she will be lead a discussion of her book “Contemporary Go Terms”.  On Thursday, she will be visiting the after school Go Club at McDonald International School.  Welcome back, Chihyung!

Youth 19×19 this Sunday Jan. 22

The Youth 19×19  Go Tournament is this Sunday, starting at noon.  We will have treats, and book and equipment prizes. The tournament is free, but players need to be AGA (American Go Association) members.  It is $10 a year.  You can sign up with the AGA  online.  We expect to finish around 5 p.m.  Players should be comfortable with playing on the big 19×19 board, but they do not have to be advanced players.  (Parents: we often use the smaller 9×9 and 13×13 boards in our Go Clubs, so make sure your child is OK with the bigger 19×19.)
If you know you are coming, and you haven’t told me already, please send Brian an email.  The actual registration isn’t until Sunday, so last minute sign-ups are welcome.
I know that we have at least three kyu players in the 20 – 10 kyu range (“double digit kyu players”) coming to the tournament.
Looking ahead, we also have Youth 19×19 tournaments scheduled for Sunday, March 12, and Sunday, September 10.  We will also have a fun tournament on 9×9 and 13×13 boards in the spring.

Our Biggest Tournament of the Year

2016 Jin Chen Tournament

2016 Jin Chen Tournament

The 2017 Jin Chen Memorial Tournament will be this Sunday, January 8, with registration between 10 and 10:45 a.m.  Please make sure your American Go Association membership is up to date.  General admission to the tournament is $15; while youth and voting members of the Seattle Go Center pay $10.  We have plenty of parking on Sundays.  Please bring food, as you may not have much time to go out between games.  We hope to see Sunday!

Open Tuesdays and Thursdays Throughout the Holidays

Since Christmas and New Years are on Sundays this year, we will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the holidays.  Our Thursday evening Beginner Class will also continue.  We will not be open on Saturday, Dec. 24 or Saturday, Dec. 31.  Our more advanced classes will also take a holiday after Christmas.  For the full schedule of classes, please check our events page.

Our weekly schedule is posted on the right hand side of the home page.

Fourth Annual Pair Go Tournament

pair-go-publicity-facebookJoin us for this great holiday event, with two rounds of Pair Go.  Ten dollars general admission, five dollars for voting members and youth (under 18).  We will be following International Pair Go Rules.  Each pair must be of different gender, of any age.  Registration will be from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the day of the tournament, Saturday, December 10; we will finish around 10 p.m.  This is not an official Pair Go competition, so formal dress is encouraged, but not required.  Remember, no moxibustion! (Check the rules.)

Nihon Ki-in Chairman visits Nick Sibicky Class

mr-hiroaki-dan-gives-a-greeting-to-youtube-audienceThe Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nihon Ki-in, Mr. Hiroaki Dan, gives a greeting in Japanese at the beginning of Nick Sibicky’s Oct. 10 lecture.  Mr. Dan was in the United States on personal business, and he enjoyed a one day layover in Seattle.  He spent the afternoon and evening with Seattle Go Center board members, and attended the beginning of Nick Sibicky’s class, which was on Go Seigen.  Nick has posted the lecture on YouTube (Lecture #223).  Later, while enjoying Dungeness crab, Mr. Dan said he was impressed with the quality and amount of teaching done by volunteers at the Seattle Go Center.  report/photo by Brian Allen.

Closed Due To Bad Weather Sat Oct 15

The Seattle Go Center will be closed on Saturday, Oct 15, due to the bad weather predicted.  We are particularly concerned that high winds will cause problems for travelers.  Keep Safe!

Donate To Our Go Board Relining Project

Before refinishing and relining, and after (two different boards)

Before refinishing and relining, and after (two different boards from the same group)

Over the last 21 years, we have worn down most of our original 2″ table boards, which are made from an excellent wood, yellow cedar.  We are now getting them refinished and relined in Japan by the same firm that the Nihon Ki-in uses.  The first 3 boards are now back from Japan, and they look great.  For more information about this project, and to help with a donation, please visit our board relining page.

Increased Hours in September

Snapback from Janice Kim, Vol. 1

Snapback from Janice Kim, Vol. 1

Now that it is fall, the Seattle Go Center will open at 2:00 p.m. Thursdays.  Lucy will usually be your host in the afternoon.  She is also available to teach beginners. Thursday evenings will continue to have classes for complete beginners with Larry Eclipse.  Other players are welcome on Thursdays evenings as well.

The Single Digit Kyu class returns on Wednesday evenings, from 7-9 p.m. with Peter Nelson and Andrew Jackson.  This is our more advanced class, for players 9 kyu and stronger.  Many of these classes are recorded on Youtube, so you can be part of the live audience. Peter Nelson also has game analysis at longstridebaduk.

The Double Digit Kyu class,  will start up October Sept 19 with guest teacher Jonathan Cheng.  Nick Sibicky will return Oct. 3.