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THE TRAVELING GO BOARD: St. Petersburg, Russia

“I recently traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, for my job,” reports former American Go Association President Mike Lash (r, in photo). “It was my first return since 2006, when I found the International Saint-Petersburg Go Club and met its dedicated manager Maxim Podolayak.

 He welcomed me back and I visited his club on a very snowy cold night. Since it took me 70 minutes in a taxi while I could have walked there in 35 minutes, I only played one game with a local player. Maxim was kind enough to take me back to my hotel via the subway -- a mere 15 minute walk/ride -- before he returned home.  Pictured are my game and Maxim (facing the camera, at left) in one of his teaching games.”