American Go E-Journal » U.S./North America

By popular demand, the San Diego Go Club has added a 13×13 go tournament to the upcoming King Cup – California State Go Championship weekend.

The 13×13 five-round tournament will be played on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, November 27, 2022, at the San Diego Chess Club in Balboa Park. The tournament is intended for beginner go players (20+ kyu), both adults and youth, to give them experience in tournament competition on a smaller board with faster games. No handicaps will be given in games.

Click here for registration and complete information; registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

There is no entry fee for this tournament, but American Go Association membership is required. “Costs for this tournament will be borne by the San Diego Go Club which believes in encouraging participation in go,” says club president Ted Terpstra. All players will get a free pizza lunch as well as two free go books. Youth will also get a coupon for a free meal at Rubio’s Coastal Grill. Noted Southern California go professional and go teacher, Hai Li, will be the tournament director.

Check-in on Sunday, November 27 is from 9:30-9:45 a.m. Rounds will be at 10 & 11 a.m. and 1, 2, & 3 p.m. An awards ceremony for all sections will follow competition.

The Open and Handicap sections of the King Cup – California State go Championship on Saturday and Sunday, November 26 & 27 already have more than 30 entrants including a 7-dan and four 6-dans competing for the $400 first prize (total prize pool of over $1,000). There is a separate registration for these sections here.

Last weekend’s Vermont Go with the Flow Tournament attracted 26 players from New York and New England. “The weather was perfect, game play almost as good,” reports organizer and TD Peter Schumer. In first place was Micah Feldman 3D at 4-0, while second place went to Nanjia Jiang 10K, also 4-0. “Everyone got a prize!” says Schumer. Top place winners got go sets including first prize of board, bowls, and slate and shell stones from Japan.

The 2022 Chicago Rapid Championship scheduled for Nov. 12 will be bigger and better than ever, according to event coordinators.

“It’s happening!” said organizer Albert Yen. “The Chicago Rapid will be bigger, stronger, and better than ever! Early registration has already surpassed the previous record turnout of 84 players, and we still have almost a week to go!” 

The Championship will feature the longstanding arena-style handicap division for players from beginner to mid-dan, as well as a rapid-format Open division for high-dan players. Other features include:

• Downstairs room available for game reviews, kibbitzing, eating, and Youth tournament

• Professional Tim Song (2018 U.S. Open Champion) and Shawn Ray (Clossius) to give instant reviews in the downstairs room 

• Live streaming of the Open section on Twitch by professional commentators

• Free lessons for youth and their parents by Simon Guo

• Prizes include $500 for first place, $300 for second place, equipment from Yellow Mountain, free lessons with professional Alex Qi and top Go teachers in the U.S.

• Special prize raffles for early bird registrants and those who play 4 games

• Dinner party afterwards at the venue

• 10% discount at Tealicous and Yellow Mountain Imports for all attendees 

Visit the tournament website to register. 

“The question is not whether we’ll hit triple digits” said club president Mark Rubenstein. “It’s who will get a special prize for being the first player #100 at any Evanston Go Club tourney!”

The Seattle Go Center celebrated its’ 27^th anniversary on (date), the Center’s first big event since before COVID hit. “While our members are still returning to our usual open times for face-to-face play, we’ve been having our regular monthly ratings tournaments and finally hosted one of our annual big events,” reports Bill Chiles. “We had a good turnout for both, lots of fun with folks hanging out until 11pm, but the crowd was smaller than pre-COVID.” The event included a handicap tournament and a strong player Open. “We are working on more regular events, such as state championship, Pair Go, and our usual winter and spring tournaments,” adds Chiles.
photos: Intense final open round analysis, set up for the party. 

Jared Nishikawa’s prize for winning the Bodhi Tree Tournament is going to require more care than the usual trophy. Nishikawa took home a Fukien Bonsai tree after sweeping the October 22 Bodhi Tree Tournament dan section in Lakewood, CO. Kyu section winner Matt Murray’s prize was a rare set of suwabute clamshell stones donated by Baduk.Club; Murray was also 4-0. “The Buddhist Association of Colorado hosted us,” reports Jordan Hagen. “Yintong especially was very welcoming. We hope to continue doing go tournaments here in Colorado, as more players become interested we’ll be able to offer better prizes and more interesting tournaments.”

Jeremy Chiu 7D topped the San Francisco Go Club October Tournament, held on Saturday, October 22. Attendees competed over three rounds for cash prizes and certificates. Lunch from Andersen Bakery was included with admission. First-time tournament participants were given prizes and a random participant won a new set of tournament-grade go stones. Tournament results were as follows:

Division 1: 1. Jeremy Chiu 7D; 2. Jonathan Ketner 1D; 3. Amy Guo 6D
Division 2: 1. Evan Shi; 2. Casey Dahlin; 3. Benjamin Lam
Division 3: 1. Shuoyuan He; 2. Gavriel Hirsch; 3. Kyle Lam

Matthew Barcus, President