The Go Player's Guide

The Go Player's Guide to Seattle
May 6, 2003
by Chris Garlock

The Seattle Go Center is one of just three full-time go clubs in the United States (the others are in San Francisco and New York City). On a recent Tuesday night, the Center buzzed with activity as the excited chatter of beginners swirled around oblivious stronger players immersed in the interplay of black and white stones. 

Go master Kaoru Iwamoto founded go centers in Seattle and New York as part of his effort to promote peace. Iwamoto was playing a championship game just outside Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. The game, which was completed after the players set up the board again, is one of the most famous in go history, and is recreated on a huge board on the outside of the Seattle Go Center, which was founded in 1995. (the complete game is attached to this week's E-Journal)

Iwamoto would certainly be heartened to see the way his Center has brought together people from around the world as Koreans, Japanese and Chinese mix easily with westerners. And in a sign of the times, female players are very much in evidence, as well as youngsters. In fact, in a go club first for this reporter, I was astonished to hear the chortle of a baby amid the clatter of stones. The player, fortunately, was the mother, not the tyke, who I'm sure we'll be seeing on the board soon enough.

The Center maintains a busy schedule year-round. In addition to monthly ratings tournaments (except for August, when they break for the Go Congress), there's a Cherry Blossom tournament in April, a pre Go Congress Tournament, Anniversary Tournament in September and a Mid-Winter Tournament. In addition, they bring up Yilun Yang for a popular workshop every year. The Nihon Kiin sends professionals to the Anniversary Tournament, and the Center hosts special events with them. 

Tuesday night is Beginner's Night and attendance is usually over twenty, sometimes hitting thirty. Manager Jon Boley arranges lessons and games. "Several families have started coming in on Tuesday nights," says Boley, "contributing to a real community feel. Sometimes there's more political talk than go talk going on." Thursdays many of the local Japanese players turn out, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are also busy, with more than 20 players a night. Saturday nights Boley, a newly-minted 6 dan, plays simuls, followed bya lesson given by volunteer Rick Hubbell (check rating). Boley gives a lesson on Sunday night that is usually well-attended. 

Members of the Center recently met to elect directors and Boley's outreach to schools is paying off with recent increases in attendance by youngsters. "Seven kids show up for the Sunday lesson, ranging from 7 to 20 kyu. My objective is to help them to shodan." Boley and Center volunteers regularly put on presentations for area schools, and have helped set up go clubs in half a dozen area schools. On a recent Wednesday afternoon at the club, I knew that school had let out when a gaggle of students dumped their backbacks on the floor and spent the next couple of hours hanging out at the club. 

Special thanks to the entire Kirschner clan for their endless hospitality and good cheer. Find out more about the Seattle Go Center at http://www.seattlegocenter.org/
700 NE 45 St., Seattle, WA 98105; 206-545-1424. Hours: Closed Monday; Tues-Fri 3-11P; Sat-Sun 1-11P. NO SMOKING. 

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