Games

Dear Go Players,

The Spring Tournament  more than a monthly ratings tournament -- we will have prizes and an early start at 10:00 a.m. There will be cash prizes, plus go literature and equipment.  The regular cash purse will be $200. There will be an additional $50 for the youth player with the best results. (In the case of ties, the youth prize will go to the youth player with the higher AGA rating.)   The equipment prizes include a nice folding board (used), and a new set of yunzi stones in wooden bowls.

The sections will be established by the Tournament Director.  We expect there will be an open section for high dan players (even games),  and handicapped sections for dan players, single digit kyu players, and double digit kyu players.  This is a good tournament for players who want to try their first rated games: we expect to have some players in the 15K to 20K range.

Entry fee: $10 general admission, $5 youth and voting members. Registration is from 10 -10:45 sharp.  First round 11:00 a.m., 2nd Round 1:30 p.m., 3rd round 3:30 p.m.  This is a great way to play some intense Go face to face.

This is an American Go Association rated tournament, and AGA membership is required; please make sure your membership is current.  More info on membership at www.usgo.org    If your first game runs long, you do not have much time for lunch.  We recommend that you bring food to the Go Center, rather than planning on going out to get lunch.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 370-1069 (Cell Phone)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Volunteers,

If you would like to play some teaching games with children please consider visiting the Go Center on Tuesday afternoons.  We have a group of 8 elementary students coming regularly from 3:15 – 4:15.  Some of them may stay later. Other parents are welcome to bring their young Go players as well.  On Tuesdays evenings, we usually have 3 or 4 young players.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 370-1069 (Cell Phone)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

One of the reasons we call ourselves the “Seattle Go Center” rather than the “Seattle Go Club” is that we often have more than one event going on at any time.  Today, Saturday, we have three events happening and one that has been canceled.

First, the Saturday meet-up at Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Center has been canceled for tonight only, due to another event happening at the mall.  Next week, both the Thursday and Saturday meet-ups will be held, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Go Center will be open during regular business hours (1-7 pm). Larry E. will be the day manager today.  John Richards will be teaching at Cherry Blossom (more below).  Simon Yu will be playing in an online tournament, so he will not be coming in to teach. The tournament is part of the “City League A” on Pandanet internet go server, and it starts at 6:00 p.m.

The Go Center will also be open this night, until late, to watch (by internet)  the 4^th game of the Jubango between Gu Li and Lee Sedol.  I will set up the digital projector around 7:00 p.m.  This could run late, but Dennis W hopes to watch it to the finish.

We will be doing Outreach at the Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri), in the Seattle Center Armory, from 10-6 p.m.  on both Saturday and Sunday. We could use a few more teachers.  You may also borrow equipment from us, and play a game at another table in the food court. We are located on the main floor, near Starbucks, but on the other side of a red curtained divider, so you cannot see us from Starbucks.  But walk around, and you will find us.  This is the biggest festival of Japanese and Japanese-American culture in Seattle, and it is free, so come visit!

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 370-1069 (Cell Phone)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

We will be watching the 4^th game of the Jubango between Gu Li and Lee Sedol on Saturday, April 26, starting at about 7:00 p.m.  I’ll get the digital projector set up.

Regards,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 370-1069 (Cell Phone)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Due to another event at Crossroads Mall, there will be no Go meet-up this Saturday, April 26.  Frank F. will resume the 5:50-8:30 meet-up on Saturday, May 3.

Regards,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 370-1069 (Cell Phone)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Center Members,

We had a great time teaching Go at Sakura-Con last weekend.  Fifteen members came to help out, and our room was packed on Saturday afternoon and evening.  Most members came to teach a shift or two, but John Richards had over 35 hours of teaching time!

This weekend, we will be teaching at the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Seattle Center.  We will be in a new location in the same building as last year.  We will be on the main floor of the Armory (also known as the “Center House”), pretty close to the Starbucks.  We can use another volunteer for Friday, and four volunteers for Saturday and Sunday, from 10 – 6 p.m.  We will mostly be teaching “capture”, but there will be some opportunities for giving 13x13 and 19x19 teaching games as well.  You can also borrow go sets, and play games at other tables in the food court area.

Please email me if you can help out for part of these times, or talk me today, Tuesday, at the Go Center.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

We are going to try another Saturday night meet-up this April 19 at the Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Mall, from 5:30 – 8:30.  Frank F. and Thane will be there.  If you want to play Go on Saturday nights on the Eastside, please come to Crossroads.  This is an experiment to see if we can gather enough people to make it a regular Saturday event.  The Thursday night meet-ups at Crossroads, also from 5:30 – 8:30,  are doing well, and we expect to continue them indefinitely.  Last week we had 12 players, and we have had as many as 16.  In all cases, we meet at the Game Lane near Uncle’s Games.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

In addition to our outreach at the Sakura Con Festival downtown, the Go Center will be open on Saturday, April 19, starting at 1:00 p.m.  Our local professional, Simon Yu, will be teaching at 2:00 p.m.  Depending on attendance, we may close at 5:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Please be aware that our big Spring Tournament will not be at Cherry Blossom Festival this year.  It will be the week after Cherry Blossom, on May 4, at our Go Center, starting at 10:00 a.m.  In a change from years past, we will not be hosting any tournaments at the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Seattle Center, neither the Saturday rated tournament nor the Sunday Children’s Tournament.   In another change, our outreach will now be on the main floor of the Armory, formerly known as the “Center House”.  In other words, we will be in the food court area.  Cherry Blossom Festival is the weekend of April 25-27, a little more than a week from when I am writing this.

Chris K reminds me that the Cherry Blossom Tournament used to be the main Go event of the year before the Seattle Go Center was founded.  Now that we have many more Go tournaments, attendance at the Cherry Blossom Tournament has dropped off, and it is not attracting any players that are new to us.  We believe that having a Spring Tournament at the Go Center will be more convenient for all involved.

We are committed to doing outreach and teaching at the Cherry Blossom Festival all three days.  Our classes for school groups on Friday are increasing.  One of our classes will have 40 students!  I am sure there will be plenty of informal Go games as well, so look for us in the food court area of the Armory.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Outreach Volunteers,

Sakura Con weekend is almost here!    We will be doing outreach and teaching on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,  April 18-20, in room 305 of the Washington State Convention Center (downtown on Pike St near 6^th Ave).  This is the same room as last year – just go up the escalator to reach us on the third floor.  Turn left when you reach the 3^rd floor.  We are between the “Cosplay Repair Station” and Mahjong.  You do not need a convention pass to reach us.

Volunteers who are getting presenter badges need to pick up them up from the “Press and Industry Office”, room 213 on the 2^nd floor near the escalator.  Bring your I.D.  Volunteers who are not getting badges can come directly to our room.  Our volunteer schedule looks pretty balanced, so new volunteers can come when it is convenient for them.

Our official hours are: Friday, April 19, 10 am to 8 pm; Saturday, April 20, 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday, April 21, 10 am to 4 pm.  We will probably stay open much later on Friday and Saturday evening than our posted hours.

Here is the Sakura Con website:

http://www.sakuracon.org/

We have a 13x13 Tournament on Sunday, starting at 10:00.  Everybody can play, but the prizes are reserved for the regular Sakura Con attendees.

We hope to see you there.  It’s a lot of fun!

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Last Saturday, we had 25 players at the Seattle Go Center.  They ranged from children and beginners to a couple of 6 dan amateurs.  We will have the same three teachers available this Saturday, April 12: professional Simon (Ximeng) Yu at 2:00 for the strong players, John Richards for the children, and Dennis Wheeler, the day manager, for everybody else.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Since our Thursday meet-ups at Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Center have been so well attended, we are now trying Saturdays.  We will be in the Game Lane, near Uncle’s Games,  from 5:30 – 8:30, starting on Saturday April 12.  Frank F. will be the lead volunteer.  Also, we thank Uncle’s Games for their support of the meet-up!

Regards,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Tonight, Wednesday, April 9, we will be playing and teaching Go at the Uwajimaya International District Store, in the food court, from 6-8 pm.  Look for Dennis Wheeler.  Our other regular Wednesday event is the Single Digit Kyu Player’s class with Andrew J. at the Go Center, from 7-9 pm.

Our Meet-ups at Crossroads Bellevue Shopping  Center have been very popular, so we are now meeting two nights a week, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Game Lane near Uncle’s Games.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

We are now open from 1-10 p.m. on Tuesdays.  This will be our regular schedule. Things usually start slowly, with a few people looking at books from the library,  but by 3:00 there are games underway.

This Tuesday, we will have a group of 7 students coming at 3:15  from McDonald Elementary, so we are looking for members to play teaching games with the kids on the 9x9 and 13x13, and other children to play them.  The McDonald kids will be leaving around 4:15, but we have other children who come later in the day.

The late afternoon is a good time for kyu players, including double digit kyu players.  English is our main language, but Japanese and Chinese are also spoken. By 6:00 we have players of all levels,  up to about 3 dan.  In the evening, we often have a 6 dan with us, and this week, we will have a 5 dan from Japan visiting.  Some of our evening members also speak Korean, German and French.

Chris K. will be baking fresh bread for us to share, and we order take-out pizza at 6:30.  We hope to see you at the Go Center.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

This Saturday, April 5, we will have 3 teachers at the Go Center.  John Richards for the children, Pro Simon Yu for the strong players (at 2 pm), and Dennis Wheeler for everybody else. Saturdays are getting bigger.  Usually we have about 15 people, and everybody can find a game.

On Sunday, we will have the Ratings Tournament, with registration from 12:00 – 12:30.  More info here: http://www.seattlego.org/events/

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Here’s a friendly reminder that the Go Center sponsors a meet-up at Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Center from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, in the “Game Lane”.  We have players at all levels.

We are also looking forward to a Saturday Meet-up, starting April 12, from 5:30 – 8:30.  That is more than a week away, but we thought you might want some advance notice.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)

Dear Go Players,

Our Monthly ratings tournament is coming up soon – this Sunday, April 6, at the Go Center.  Last month, we had players from 2 dan to double digit kyu.  Registration is from 12 pm to 12:45 pm, and the games usually end around 6:30 – 7:00.  You do not have to play all three rounds, just tell the Tournament Director what your plans are.  This tournament is free, but if you are using a 10-visit card, you should punch out one of your visits.

Our big Spring Tournament will be on Sunday, May 4.  It will have both equipment prizes and cash prizes. Registration for the Spring Tournament will be at 10:00 am, and the fee is $10 general admission, $5 youth and voting members.

Two reminders:

1. You need to be an current AGA member in order to play in these tournaments.  If you are not an AGA member, you can sign up on-line at https://www.usgo.org/members/join.  If you are already a member, you can manage your account online at https://www.usgo.org/members/login.  If you just want to find out if your membership is current, you can check that on the ratings page as well, and that does not need a password: http://www.usgo.org/ratings (and then click “ratings”).  We can update memberships at the Go Center, but please come early if you need to do that.
2. If your game in the first round runs long, you will not have much time for lunch.  It is a good idea to bring food with you to the Go Center.

Cheers,

Brian

Brian  Allen

Manager, Seattle Go Center

Nihon Ki-in Go Institute of the West

700 NE 45^th Street

Seattle WA  98105

206 545-1424 (Go Center)

206 632-1122 (Office at Home)

manager@seattlego.org (e-mail)

www.seattlego.org (website)