The weekend of March 22-24 was a busy time for the members of the San Diego Go Club. On Friday and Saturday, they manned several tables at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. Thousands streamed into the garden and many found their way next to the koi pond and under the blooming purple wisteria flowers where SDGC members were teaching and demonstrating go. Several new members were added to the club’s roster.
On Sunday, the go club hosted at the San Diego Chess Club the eighth annual San Diego Go Championship. There was a record turnout of 65 competing, with players coming from Vermont, Arizona, and all over Southern California.
Ten players, including two past champions, entered the Open Section to compete for 2019 title of Best Player in San Diego. When the top-rated 9.9-dan player lost in the first round, the title was up for grabs. After four hotly contested rounds, the Open Section ended up with a 4-way tie (3-1 records) for First Place: Hongkui Zheng 6d (2019 Champ), Xinyu Liu 6s, Yi Wang 6d (2018 Champ), Mark Lee 6d (2016 Champ). While all four players shared the combined 1st-3rd place cash prizes totaling $600, Hongkui Zheng was declared the champion based on the GoClubs.org tie-breaking system and awarded the trophy.
Thirty-five more competed in the Handicap Sections and an additional twenty youth played in a 5-round 13×13 competition run by Chinese professional Hai Li and the California Go Association.
Handicap Section Winners:
Dan/High Kyu: 1st: Christophe Humbert 2d; 2nd: Kevin Yang 1k; 3rd: Peter Schumer 2k.
Single-Digit Kyu: 1st: Arunas Rudvalis 6k; 2nd: Warren Andrews 6k; 3rd: Elias Klingbeil 4k.
Double-Digit Kyu: 1st: Lucia Moscola 15k; 2nd: Pasco Kwok 12k; 3rd: Andy Zhou 12k.
20+ Kyu: 1st: George Spellman 23k; 2nd: Enzo Moscola 26k; 3rd: David Saponara 24k.
13×13 Youth Competition: 1st: Addison Lee 20k (Girls’ Champion); 2nd: Angelino Zhao 18k; 3rd: Evan Tan 27k (Boys’ Champion).
The San Diego Go Club is now looking forward to hosting the second annual California Go Championship in the fall. Hopefully, Calvin Sun US 1P will return to defend his championship.
– Ted Terpstra, President, San Diego Go Club
Photos (l-r from top left): JFG Cherry Blossom Festival; SDGC President Ted Terpstra awarding the first place trophy to Hongkui Zheng; San Diego Chess Club with go players; Hai Li (Left) & 13×13 winners: Angelino Zhao, Addison Lee, and Evan Tan. photos by Henry You and Soo Yoon
