News

We would like to thank all our members, both those who could and those who couldn’t show up to this years 30th Anniversary Party.

From new and older members, beginners, kyus and dan level players, you have all help the Seattle Go Center grow and develop into one of the most loving and caring communities that I have the fortune to be a part.

Looking forward, we may not know what will come next but I know with your hardwork and support the Seattle Go Center will continue to thrive and bring people together through the game of Go

We will have a party 04 OCT, Sat, at 6pm and a two-day workshop with a pro from the Nihon Ki-in (Komatsu Daiki Sensei who runs a strong program for kids in Osaka) starting at Sat and Sun 10am-5pm.  There won’t be a ratings tournament that weekend due to the Nihon Ki-in sending someone for our anniversary (we’ll have the Anniversary Tournament later in OCT).  We’ll cater some food (spring rolls, chicken skewers, stirfry), have a nice birthday cake, Chris may make Japanese shokupan milk bread for us, and we’ll have nihonshu (you can bring your own beverages too).

The pro workshop will be free to voting members (annual or lifetime) and cost $30 for others.  That’s $30 for two days or about 12-14 hours of pro teaching and Q&A.

We are glad to announce our upcoming 30th Anniversary Tournament October 12th.  We will have both and open (all even games) and handicap tournament. The open tournament is for the 8 strongest players and will have a cash prize of $100 for the player winning 3 games.  Our handicap tournament will also have some cash prizes for those who win 3 games (or divided over those who win 2 games if no one wins 3).  There is also our usual kids prize of $25 for the person under 18 years old who wins the most games (playing with a higher ranks break ties).  

We will also not be having our regular monthly tournament.

Registration:

9:00am-9:45am (an hour earlier than monthly ratings)

The Entrance fees:

$20 for non-voting members

$10 for voting members

$10 for youth under 18 (entrance fees will be paid by the AGF)

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR AGA MEMBERSHIP IS UP TO DATE AHEAD OF TIME.  If you are not an AGA member when we pair the first round, you cannot play.

We will also order pizza if participants want.  It costs $15, and we will order 4 slices per person.

This year is Seattle Go Center’s 30th birthday.  Seattle was very lucky to be anointed with one of Iwamoto Sensei’s Go Centers.  It was a close decision with other cities being considered.  We’ve been grateful to him and the Nihon Ki-in for supporting Go in the Seattle area, both at SGC and the remote meetups we’re able to help out.  

We will have a party 04 OCT, Sat, at 6pm and a two-day workshop with a pro from the Nihon Ki-in.  There won’t be a ratings tournament that weekend due to the Nihon Ki-in sending someone for our anniversary (we’ll have the Anniversary Tournament later in OCT).  We’ll cater some food, have a nice birthday cake, Chris may make Japanese shokupan milk bread for us, and we’ll have nihonshu (you can bring your own beverages too).

More details to follow on the pro that will visit and the Anniversary Tournament this year.

This year “From Hiroshima to Hope” is coming up this August 6th at Green Lake Bathhouse Theater.

at 6pm, We will be replaying and remembering the game that Iwamoto Kaoru played and was inspired by to start the Seattle Go Center and spread peace through the game. If you are in the area, please say hi and remember with us too.

These last 2 weekends have been really busy for us at the SGC as we were double booked with event for both. With CID, Japan Fair, North Bend and Bon Odori, we have taught over 550 people the game of Go. This would not be remotely possible without the hard work of our volunteers, our lovely event hosts, and our communities endless support.

So from us at the SGC, Thanks to All of You.

Because we are busy with several events this and next weekend, We are closed this sunday of July 13th and 20th. We will return to normal hours after the 20th and we will still be open on Saturdays at normal hours.

Some members asked about organizing a low-key Pair Go time.  As a pure fun and goofiness event, it is great to bring life partners, significant others, beginners, etc., to make Go accessible and fun to them.  Technically, it is rengo, and pairs can be any gender mix.  There is no special entry fee or AGA membership required. 

Hopefully 32 or 40 (or more 😊) folks show up and join in for fun.  You can bring a pair partner, ask someone during registration time, or we can make pairs from people registering solo.  Pair Go works best with multiples of 8, so that each table with two boards can have two games and a clear winning team that won both games.  We can make multiples of 4 work if need be.  PLEASE come and play!!!

Event time is 28th June, Sat — registration 1-2pm, round 1 is 2-3:30, and round 2 is roughly 3:30-5:00.  There will be 40 min of main time with no byouyomi.

Cho Seokbin (first name is Seokbin) is a former Korean insei and one of the strongest amateurs currently.  He held the Japan Amateur Kisei title.  He started a Go school in 2013 in Japan, and six of his students became pros.

Seokbin is visiting Seattle, 21-22 JUN, and he agreed to do a two-day workshop at SGC (thanks to one of our volunteers for connecting us).  SGC will be closed on Saturday, 21 JUN, for general game play (open only for the workshop attendees).

We will have our usual format:

 * Start time Sat and Sun is 10am.  Registration from 10-10:30am Sat with mingling and visiting with Seokbin.  We’ll go until about 5pm each day.

 * We will break for lunch roughly around noon or 12:30, and we will order pizza.  Pizza costs $15/day, choice of either cheese or pepperoni, and we will order enough for four slices per person.  You can also bring your lunch.

 * The class costs is $30 per day for non-voting members (or $50 for both days) and $20 per day voting members (lifetime or annual).  

We hope to see you there.  Studying with pros and strong insei is a great way to get new insights into Go.

For more information please email programs@seattlego.org

This May 24th, we are hosting another Lightning tournament from 2pm to 6pm.  This is a casual, lots-of-fun handicap tournament with fast time control (1 min main time with 5x10second byouyomi).  They say lightning Go is about instinct, not reading, so abandon the intensity of reading for more cutting and crashing and burning and laughter.  There will be 5 rounds with an estimated 20-30 min per game.

I look forward to seeing you there and lets us start the year with some lighting fast games.