On Saturday, March 28, the familiar click of stones filled the Fletcher Free Library during the
2026 Vermont Mud Season Self-Paired Go Tournament.
A dozen spirited players gathered in the library’s architecturally striking Beaux-Arts building in downtown Burlington. The field included many regulars from the Vermont Go Club, along with new faces—among them students and first-time tournament players from the University of Vermont.
The self-paired format offered flexibility and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Players selected their own opponents and time controls from a range of preset clocks, making it easy to drop in for a single game or settle in for a longer stretch of play. Some participants played just one quick match, while others completed as many as four rounds. Snacks and refreshments helped replenish the brainpower needed for challenging board positions.
The event wrapped up with a prize drawing, thanks to generous support from BOARD N’STONES, Yunguseng Dojang, Shelburne Farms, Go Magic, Skinny Pancake, and Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.
The 2026 Six Seasons of Vermont Go series continues on Saturday, April 25, with the Vermont Spring Go Tournament at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center on the Lake Champlain waterfront; register here.
- report/photos courtesy Jack Cary