News

Thanksgiving Week Hours

We have a few changes at the Go Center this week to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday.

  • – Open as usual Monday (6:30-8:30 PM) and Tuesday (1:00-10:00 PM).
  • – Open a little later Wednesday (6:30-9:00 this week), and Drew Barnett’s “Basics” class is canceled this week. (Larry Eclipse will cover for Drew.)
  • – Closed Thursday (which is Thanksgiving).
  • – Closed as usual Friday.
  • – Regular hours Saturday (Michael Brown will cover for Dennis Wheeler).

As of Monday evening, I don’t yet have a full picture of our outreach locations. I will update this when I have more info. For now:

  • – Wednesday Uwajimaya Go meetup is canceled ahead of Thanksgiving.
  • – Thursday Go meetup at Hurry Curry is canceled, because the restaurant is closed for Thanksgiving.
  • – Thursday Go meetup at Couth Buzzard is canceled, because they are closed for Thanksgiving.
  • – Zoka Coffee / Greenlake will be open, and at least one or two Go players will be meeting there, 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon. (They’re closing early — 1:00 PM.)

–Mike M.

Lending Library Literature Listed

Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Frank Brown, the items in the Go Center’s lending library are now listed online! Paying members (Lifetime, Annual, Quarterly, or Ten-Visits Card) members may borrow up to two books at a time, for up to a month. Check with the Day Manager to sign a book out.

To see the items currently available:
www.seattlego.org/books-in-sgcs-lending-library

Click the top of a column to sort by that column. Click again to reverse the order.

The lending library catalogue is a work in progress. There are plans to add keywords like “tsumego” and “beginner” to roughly group books by subject.

–Mike M.

Party and Silent Auction

This October marks the Go Center’s 23rd year.  To celebrate, we’re throwing a party this upcoming Saturday, October 13!  The monthly “Second Saturday Speed League” tournament will run as usual.  (Register in person, 1:15 – 1:45; three rounds; first round starts at 2:00; relatively short time limits mean we finish around 4:15 or 4:30.  Come join the frenzy!)

The party will be 5:00 – 7:30 PM.  There will be Thai vegetarian food and Korean barbecue.  There also will be several uncommon donated items at a silent auction fundraiser — two sets of Go postcards from the Nihon Ki-in, a set of Go stones in boxes marked with something that looks like Mickey Mouse, a “Picnic Magnetic Baduk” set with ornate decoration, and a few other items.  Be sure to tell your friends who collect Go stuff!

Here are some of the items that will be up for auction.

Shell and slate Go stones with wooden bowls.

Silent auction — thin slate and shell stones

White and black Go stones in cardboard box decorated with an iconic rodent.

Silent auction — Go stones in original boxes

Black plastic Go case with intricate decoration.

Silent auction — Picnic Magnetic Baduk

 

See you Saturday!

23rd Anniversary Tournament

Sunday, October 7, 2018, the Go Center held a three-rounds tournament to celebrate our 23rd anniversary.  32 players attended, a quarter of whom have Youth memberships in the AGA!  The “Open” section was limited to eight players maximum, all vying for the First Prize of $150 cash.  It was won by Alex Xinlei Liu 7 dan with a 3-0 record, who has been a strong contender here, even winning the Seattle Go Center Spring Tournament Open in 2017.

Go players focused on their games

23rd Anniversary Tournament, Round 1

Tournament Director Bill Chiles handled clock malfunctions and consequent pairing delays with aplomb, and Daniel Top stepped in smoothly to render assistance.

The twenty-four players in the “Handicap” section all had games with handicaps of 3 stones or less, and all but two games were at 2 stones or less.  “Handicap” players who won all three of their games were awarded prizes of Go books and equipment.  In addition, there was a cash prize for the Youth (under 18) player with the best win-loss record, which was divided among three Youth who went undefeated!

Open Section 3-game winner:  Alex Xinlei Liu 7 dan

Handicap Section 3-game winners: Yao, Zhihong (2 dan), Chen, Xiangnan (3 kyu), Brown, Frank (6 kyu), Lu, Lucas Wu (9 kyu), Schmitten, George (9 kyu), Lu, Yulissa Wu (10 kyu), Ling, Amy (15 kyu).

 

Introducing Go at Bellevue College Japan Week

Saturday, October 6, 2018, several volunteers from Seattle Go Center attended the Bellevue College Japan Week final day to demonstrate Go to attendees.  From 10 AM to 5 PM, volunteers engaged with approximately sixty people, furthering appreciation of this great game.

Volunteers teaching Go to children and adults

Teaching and Learning Go at Bellevue College Japan Week

Thanks to the great volunteers — Rodney Deacon, Bert Ortiz, Yulissa Lu Wu, Keyi Zhou, and Kyle Burg!

Game of Go Inside, Taiko Drums Outside

Go Center Volunteers at Bon Odori Festival

The weekend of July 21 and 22, 2018, volunteers from the Go Center conducted outreach at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple’s annual Bon Odori festival. Over the two evenings, volunteers played go with several dozens of new players and a few veteran players.

Go players around a long table

Seattle Go Center volunteers teaching Go

Between shifts at the demo table, volunteers got to enjoy the Bon Odori festival!

Festival at night

Bon Odori dancers and onlookers

DDK class: Nick Sibicky vs. Andrew Jackson

Monday, Sept. 10, Nick Sibicky resumed his series of classes for double-digit kyu players. He was joined by Andrew Jackson. They played a game on the demo board, discussing their moves and showing variations for the benefit of the students. The session was recorded, and is posted on Nick’s YouTube channel.

Go students watch as Go teachers discuss the game.

Andrew Jackson and Nick Sibicky explain their game.

Andrew also shared stories of his latest work with the computer AI MiniGo; and Nick regaled everyone with stories of his experience playing the Facebook AI ELF at the Go Congress earlier this year.

The Go Center now is open Mondays, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, for the DDK class.

Labor Day Weekend and Beyond!

The Go Center will be open Saturday (September 1, 2018) as usual, 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM. (Instruction will be available for beginners.)

Sunday (September 2, 2018) is the monthly ratings tournament — three rounds of Go intensity! Register in person, 10:00 – 10:45 AM. First round starts at 11:00 AM. There’s no charge to play (though you do need AGA membership, and Go Center admission policies apply). More details: www.SeattleGo.org/events/

Monday (September 3, 2018) is Labor Day, and the Go Center will be closed. Also, the Go games hosted at Hurry Curry in South Lake Union are canceled for Labor Day. The Hurry Curry restaurant is open though. Go games will return the following Monday.

Tuesday (September 4, 2018), regular operations resume, and the Go Center will be open 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM for the largest weekly gathering of Go Players in North America!

The following Monday (September 10, 2018), 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Nick Sibicky returns with his series of classes structured for players ranging roughly from 20 kyu to 5 kyu! Nick posts many of his lectures on YouTube, so come be part of the live studio audience.

Yang Yi, 6P, simuls in July

Saturday, July 7, 2018, Seattle Go Center was honored and delighted to receive a visit from Mr. Yang Yi, Chinese Professional 6-dan and Vice Chairman of Chinese Weiqi Association.  Mr. Yang is a widely respected Go player and teacher in China. Many famous Chinese Go players, including Gu Li, have benefited from his instruction.

The simuls event on July 7 was very successful. Mr. Yang engaged seven players in simultaneous games of Go, and reportedly won all games. The Go Center is very grateful to Mr. Yang for making time to visit and teach!

One Go player faces off against six other players seated at a U-shaped table arrangement.

Mr. Yang Yi, 6P, playing simuls at Seattle Go Center

Open Mondays; New Class: “Go Basics” (for new and DDK players)

Seattle Go Center is again open on Mondays!  The Center is open for casual games, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.  Come on down, and bring some friends!

Also, Drew Barnett will teach a series of classes aimed to help double-digit kyu players play better Go.  The Go Basics classes will be Mondays in July and August 2018, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.  Registration is not required — just walk on in — and there is no cost (aside from the usual Go Center membership costs).

Man in forest gazes at camera

Go Teacher Drew Barnett