The San Diego Go Club sponsored its first face-to-face go tournament in over a year on March 31, when the 2021 California Over-70 Go Championship was contested at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park in San Diego.
Players had to be AGA members, over 70 years old, and vaccinated against Covid19. The games took place outside in 83-degree temperatures under the blooming purple wisteria flowers, with all players and spectators masked and socially distanced. There were no entry fees, as usual, for SDGC tournaments.
Ted Terpstra, SDGC president, bested a field of four to become the first O70 champion. Arunas Rudvalis finished second and Dr. George Spellman and David Saponara, president of the San Diego Chess Club, tied for third.
Having hosted four major online tournaments, totaling almost 200 AGA players, since the pandemic began in early 2020, the SDGC was happy to sponsor live competition again. All participants were awarded a redesigned SDGC T-shirt.
Report/photos by Ted Terpstra
