This weekend, the Seattle Go Center will be returning to U District Street Fair. Last year we reach over 80 people and this year we are looking to reach even more. We will be at University Way NE booth number 303 from 11am-6pm on 20th-21th. We love to see you there.
This May 17th at 7:00pm, Chris Wells will be hosting a series of workshops. These workshops aim to help SDK-DDK get better at understand Fuseki, Joseki Choices, and the Opening in the Modern AI Era along with general ideas and concepts of the game. The workshops will consist of lectures, game discussions and take home problems for those who wish to dive in deeper to the subjects. After the workshop, there will be an hour of free play to practice what you have learn, ask more questions or just enjoy some games.
This class will hopefully be the first of several lectures. If you are a strong player that would like to host a class/workshop. Please reach out to us at Programs@seattlego.org to learn more.
The Seattle Go center has to major events coming up this April, and we need help from you. This April 7-9th, we have one our biggest events in Sakura Con. We are looking for 10-20 volunteers to help manage the room and promote the game of Go. We also need 2-4 volunteers that would be willing to help with set up on Friday and take down on Sunday. All volunteers that sign up ahead of time will be award badges to the event. Be aware that volunteers will have to follow the Sakura Con Masking and Vaccine policy.
Also this April 14-16, we will be returning the the Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival. This a moderately size event and We are looking for around 5-7 Volunteers to help manage our booth. We also like to have 2~ volunteers to help set up the event.
To learn more about this event or to sign up for one of these events please email programs@seattlego.org or contact Kyle Burg.
This March 25th, the SGC is hosting our first lighting tournament. We will have 5 rounds of lighting fast game play to test your gut level evaluations and fast reading skills. Along with the joy of winning, Players can also get book prizes. Entry is free, and no AGA membership is required because the games will not be submitted for ratings.
Registration:
1:00pm-1:45pm
First game starts at 2pm
Tournament settings:
Handicap
5 rounds
5 mins 3 byo 10 second
Standard Saturday hours apply during the tournament.
This February 18th, the Seattle Go Center is hosting our first Winter Plum Blossom Tournament. We will have an Open Tournament for our top 8, and a Handicap Tournament everyone else. We will also give out prize and providing pizza for the day (thanks to our AGA members).
Registration: 9:00am-9:45am
The Entrance fees: $20 for non-voting members $10 for voting members $10 for children
Pizza: 12:30 pm
This December 3rd and 4th, Seattle Go Center is hosting the first Washington AGA State Championship. The tournament is 5 rounds (3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday), with three pairings brackets (prizes in each bracket):
Top Bracket: Open (no handicap) bracket for top rated players to determine our State Champion.
Upper bracket: McMahon pairing (no handicap) bracket for high-ranked competitors if we have enough players. If not, it will be handicapped..
Lower bracket: Handicap bracket for lower Kyu level players.
The top scoring Washington State player from our top bracket will win with the 2022 Washington State Championship trophy. To qualify for champion, you need to have been a WA resident for the last 6 months and be employable in the US. Prizes for the Championship section will be $500 – $250 – $125, Others will depend on registration. Youth Prizes dependent on registration.
You must have a current AGA membership. Please renew ahead of time to make registration easier for everyone. Go to AGA membership join/update page to check your membership status, or join.
Early Registration: Please fill out the form at https://www.seattlego.org/washington-state-championship-2022 or email Programs@seattlego.org with your name and AGA number and a way to contact you. Early registration will help us more smoothly set up the tournament and have a faster start.
Covid Policy: Because of the increased exposure risk that our game presents, and the expectation of a mild Winter surge, we require masks during tournament games to minimize risk. Please bring your own. We will provide hand sanitizer and masks as needed. We will not be checking vaccination status, but do encourage all to maximize their protection by getting updated.
Registration time: December 3rd, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Saturday First Round Starts: December 3rd, 10:30 AM
Sunday Fourth Round Starts: December 4th,10:30 AM
Entry Free: Open/Upper Section $25, Handicap Section $20, Youth Free (under 18). Spectators are free.
Game Time controls:
Open/Upper Bracket: 45 mins with 5 byo-yomi periods of 30 seconds.
Handicap Bracket: be 30 mins with 5 byo-yomi periods of 30 seconds.
Rules: AGA counting, Komi 7.5, with the passing stones
Tie-Breaker: SOS, SODOS, F2F
For more information please reach out to programs@seattlego.org or call at 701-610-6236
This year, we will be returning to Bellevue College for their “Japan Week” event. This event will be taking place on September 24th from 10am-5pm at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA 98007).
We still are looking for people to help teach attendants the basic rules of the game. If you have the time and would like to help out, please message us at programs@seattlego.org to get more information.
This August 6th, 2022 is the 77th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Our generous benefactor, Mr. Kaoru Iwamoto 9p, was almost killed by this bomb. His Honinbo championship game with Mr. Utaro Hashimoto was moved at the last moment to the outskirts of Hiroshima, about 10 kilometers upwind from the center of the destruction. The blast disrupted the beginning of the last day their three-day game, but nobody in the playing room was badly hurt, so they set up again and finished. Only later, as they walked to their host’s house, did they get the terrible news of what happened as refugees came streaming from the center of Hiroshima.
Iwamoto Sensei’s wartime experiences motivated him to continue to share and teach the game of Go as a pathway for international understanding.
[ Read more… ]
The SGC will be hosting weekly lectures aimed at helping SDK players reach the Dan levels.
These lectures will take place between 7pm and 8pm, Tuesday evenings in the SGC tatami room, and be given by Haichen Zhu, amateur 7-Dan, and experienced teacher.
All members are welcome to attend.
For more information, please e-mail us at operations@seattlego.org.
Beginning Wednesday, August 3rd the Seattle Go Center will host a four-week course aimed at young beginners. It will cover the rules and basic strategies for the game of Go. Those 18 and under are invited to participate for free, but anyone with a membership or day pass is welcome.
The course, run by Chris Wells, will be Wednesdays, August 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th from 4:30pm to 6:00pm at the Seattle Go Center (700 NE 45th St 2nd floor).
Participants are encouraged to plan on attending all workshops, as each will build on the foundations of those that came before, but complete attendance is not required.
If you or your child is interested in participating, please let us know in advance by e-mailing programs@seattlego.org.