GOne Tacoma: 2001-2002
This archives 2001-2002 items expired from the
Tacoma go news & info page.
Please send news to
tacomagofiend@yahoo.com.
2002,
2003,
2004,
2005,
2006,
2007,
There have been go (baduk, wei'qi) players in Tacoma before.
Unfortunately, I know little of their doings.
I know that Rick Hubbell (6-dan; died Jan. 2004) grew up in Tacoma, and
Steve Stringfellow (6-dan) has lived and worked in Tacoma for a number of
years. Edward Kim (7-dan and 2001 U.S. representative at World Amateur Go Championship)
lived in Federal Way for some years, and works in Lakewood. "Siege"
Rusk, a mid-kyu player, also has lived in Tacoma for years. From what I've
heard, I believe there's a group of Korean players who meet regularly somewhere
near Tacoma, but I haven't been able to learn more. Anyone who can fill me in
with historic Tacoma go information, please do!
I moved to Tacoma in 1998, and could not find anyone to play. Queries on
the Internet brought a response from Mike LePore, who grew up in Tacoma but
was living in NYC (he later moved back here, but now lives in the DC area).
My brother moved to Tacoma in 2000, and spotted a go set at a local coffeehouse,
called The Usual (located on N. 21st St., at that time, close to University of
Puget Sound). So I began to frequent the place, and ended up introducing the
game to a handful of people.
The Usual lost its lease, and eventually moved to S. 11th St.; but
it wasn't until spring of 2001 that they opened in the new location.
I started this website in the fall of 2001 (hoping to sell Go-related
T-shirts), and in January 2002 an email list for Tacoma- area go
announcements and discussion; and I started teaching Go in the Japanese
classrooms at Sheridan Elementary School.
The new Usual address had much less pedestrian traffic, and soon the coffeehouse
underwent financial troubles and a change of ownership. I placed a few go sets
there, and introduced a few more people to the game, including Craig Egan.
Around Halloween 2001, we thought about having a tournament, which eventually
took place in January 2002.
A few months later, the coffeehouse was closed permanently. (Unfortunately,
the go equipment disappeared, most likely thrown in the trash by a discourteous
landlord.) Go players migrated to Bertolino's coffee, which has the advantage
of always being open. In January 2003, Tacoma Go Club became a chapter of the
American Go Association.
This expired news archive covers much of the Go activity around Tacoma, and
some Go events to which Tacomans traveled, starting with the January 2002
tournament at The Usual. Some events have more detailed reports on the
events reports page.
List for Tacoma Go, 2002-01-13 [posted 2002-02-14]
There is now an email list for people interested in go around Tacoma. I started
it to facilitate discussion of a regular rendezvous for playing go, but I think
it will be useful for other discussions too. If you want to join the list (or get off
of it), please send email to tacomagofiend@yahoo.com.
Tournament at The Usual Coffee & News, 2002-01-20 [posted 2002-02-14]
The Usual Coffee & News at
1005 South 11th Street hosted a go tournament on Jan. 20, 2002 (not
AGA rated). As far as I know, this might have
been the first ever go tournament in Tacoma. Eight players attended, but most were
not able to stay for all of the three regular rounds. In the end, Jason Baghboudarian
defeated Craig Egan in a special tie-breaking round to win the tournament. I will
post photos and complete results soon.
Though some of the expected regulars didn't show, it was nice to see new faces,
and great to see four games going at once. Most players said they would be
interested in setting up a regular time to play. John Hodgson, budding go player
and co-owner of The Usual, said we can probably have another tournament there soon.
Edward Kim opens restaurant in Spanaway [posted 2002-02-14, updated 2002-02-22]
Edward Kim 7-dan is probably the strongest player in the Puget Sound area;
he was the US representative at the World Amateur Go Championship in 2001,
tying for 13th place. His new restaurant is Aloha Teriyaki & Burger,
17024 Pacific Avenue South, Spanaway, WA, 98387; phone 253-538-5188. This is a bit
south of Tacoma -- about 4 miles south of S.R. 512 / Pacific Lutheran University.
Update 2002-06-25 -- I'm told that Mr. Kim's restaurant has closed.
I'm sad that I never got to eat there.
Go in the Schools, ongoing [posted 2002-02-14; added photos 2002-04-20; updated 2002-06-25]
Beginning October 2001, with the expert guidance of Jon Boley of the
Seattle Go Center, I taught
go to 5th-grade, 4th-grade, and 2nd-grade students at Sheridan Elementary School.
We started with "First Capture" on the 9x9 board. Some of the 5th-graders
and 4th-graders are now playing real go. A big thank you to
Takada-sensei, Kohjima-sensei, Hallinan-sensei, and Mr. Ingram for letting us
into their classrooms; and to the kids for their patience and enthusiasm!
Tacoma Public Schools
are on vacation until September. Hopefully, some of the kids will be able to
visit the Seattle Go Center
during the summer. So far, six Sheridan teachers have expressed interest in
having go instruction this fall; and Kohjima-sensei has said she will lead an
after-school go club.
Fundraiser T-Shirts, $15 [posted 2002-02-22, updated 2002-03-28]
Several Seattle-area families with go-playing children will visit China in April 2002 --
call it a "GO-will tour". T-shirts are for sale to help defray the cost
(pictures). They are 100% cotton and available in
white or teal (but only in Medium, Small, or kids' sizes -- Large and XL are sold out),
with attractive calligraphy on the front that translates as "wei'qi
friend". The back reads "Seattle Go Kids Go To China". The shirts are
available for $15 at the Seattle Go Center.
Jie Lie in Seattle March 2-3 [posted 2002-03-05; corrected 2002-07-06]
Amateur 7-dan Jie Li, winner of the western section of the
2001 North American Toyota/Denso "Oza" tournament, visited the Seattle
Go Center with one of his students, Joey Hung, the first weeked of March 2002.
Saturday, he gave a lecture. I wasn't there for it, but those who were agreed
that it was very informative, and given in a clear and easily understood manner.
Sunday, Mr. Li observed Joey playing in the monthly ratings tournament with
Scott 1-dan, Jon 5-dan, and Rick 6-dan, and gave public critiques afterward.
I have to agree, Mr. Lie is an excellent teacher, and I look forward to his next
Seattle visit -- possibly in a few months.
Tacoma AGA chapter? [posted 2002-03-19, updated 2002-03-28]
Based on recent email and face-to-face discussions with four other Tacoma go
players, some of us have a growing desire to start a go club in Tacoma; perhaps
even an AGA chapter. Despite reservations
about how much work may be involved, I now support the idea myself. Though
excellent, the Seattle Go Center is 45 minutes away (if traffic
is light), and we rarely get up there. More importantly, there are Tacoma
resources that we might utilize and complement most effectively if we were
organized as a Tacoma club -- for example, the
Tacoma
Sister Cities program, the Public Library,
Tacoma Public Schools, the forthcoming
Asia Pacific Cultural Center, and
World Trade Center Tacoma.
Un Usual [posted 2002-04-09]
The Usual Coffee and News is defunct. It will probably re-open in a new location
in late 2002 or early 2003. Meanwhile, some players have suggested the coffee shop
next to the Grand Cinema as a place to stash a board and some joseki books. I
haven't been there myself; anyone want to second the nomination (or propose
another location)?
Sakura [posted 2002-04-23]
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival tournament was Saturday, April 20, at
Seattle Center. Mike LePore was there, and won 3 of his 4 games, playing
as 2-kyu. Congrats, Mike!
I was at the children's lightning tournament on Sunday. The kids seemed
to have a lot of fun, and won gift certificates to the festival gift shop
for their participation. Jon Boley from
SGC was there, just
back from China. I didn't get to see any photos, but I saw some of his
booty -- beautiful jade go stones and marble bowls.
Newspapers publish SGC article [posted 2002-05-07; updated 2002-09-09]
The Sunday, May 5, 2002 edition of
Tacoma News Tribune featured
Associated Press coverage of the Seattle Go Center. The article seems
no longer to be in their archives; but it was also published by the
Seattle P-I, which has
Legacy of Giving Peace a Go archived still. In Tacoma,
the article was on the first page of the popular "SoundLife"
section. It is well written, with a description of the game (and a
photo), quotes from several Seattle players, and a couple paragraphs on
Sensei Iwamoto Kaoru
(the professional 9-dan and Hiroshima bomb survivor who founded the
Seattle Go Center, and several other go centers around the world).
SGC expands 2002 Summer hours [posted 2002-05-07; updated 2002-06-05]
Beginning June 26, Jon Boley will open the
Seattle Go Center at 8 a.m.
on Wednesdays, so parents can drop off their kids in a safe yet intellectually
stimulating and culturally enriched environment. Think of it as a sort of a Go
"accelerated learning program" one day a week. Lunch arrangements are
the parents' responsibility. Don't count on the Go Center to open early the
week of the annual Go Congress (this year in Chicago, August 3-11).
Weekend in review [posted 2002-05-14]
Saturday night, I found Craig studying joseki at Bertolinos. We played
and I lost by a point or two. Some watching Chinese and Japanese
students from TCC said they knew how to play at a beginner level, and
we had a couple teaching games with them. After Craig left, I taught
another interested observer. I hope to play these folks again.
Sunday afternoon, Mike L. trounced me at the Kickstand Cafe. Then
Jason B. came down from Seattle, and got his butt kicked by Mike
L. a couple times while they were explaining the game to interested
onlookers. Mike left, and Jason and I moved outside to enjoy the
spectacular view of Mt. Rainier and Commencement Bay, and took turns
kicking each others' butts. Over the afternoon, three people sat down
with us to learn on 9x9 boards. One student from Stadium High School
played for over an hour, working down to a 4-stone handicap on 9x9;
the others played for a while, and seemed open to playing more in the
future. I'm planning to visit Kickstand Cafe (in the "Merlino
Arts Bldg.", 604 S. Fawcett Av.) on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each
month. Hope to see you there.
Club at UPS [posted 2002-05-14]
There is a (fairly new, I think) go club at the University of Puget
Sound in Tacoma. I've heard that students and two of the math
professors participate. Jon Boley from
SGC will be
giving them some instruction on Wednesday May 15. After that, I
understand the club will wind down to focus on final exams.
Hopefully, we can play them over the summer and when they return
in the fall.
Sunday, Sunday [posted 2002-06-05; updated 2002-07-03]
Thanks to David Ma of the Chinese Go Club
for his generous hospitality, and thanks to all the players for the fun
games Sunday 06-30 in Federal Way. Jeff Horn, Mike LePore, and I were
convincingly defeated several times (those guys are strong,
especially that kid Jeffery Wang); then we had a delicious dinner, played a
bit of pool, and paired off for a brief rengo match to end the night.
Fabulous, simply fabulous.
Sundays at Kickstand Cafe continue to be popular -- excellent fun
watching Steve (5-dan) fight a tight match with Mike (maybe 1k)!
I like the Kickstand Cafe, but I don't like being exiled to that
dim (though spacious) room in the back on a sunny afternoon. Some
folks have suggested Shakabrah as an alternative
Sunday meeting spot. All in favor say
"hai!" At Kickstand on the 23rd
and the 30th, we didn't get chased into the back room; it may not
be an issue after 2 p.m. Of course, there were only 3 of us...
We'll see how it goes in the future.
US Go Congress results [posted 2002-08-13]
According to the AGA E-Journal,
our Seattle friend Jason Baghboudarian placed third in the 7-8k division
at the U.S. Open in Chicago. Ryan Grant (also from Seattle) placed second
in the 9-12k division. Good job!
If you just played, you may already be in atari... [posted 2002-08-21; photo, date correction 2002-08-28]
Peter hosted Tyler, Mike, and Mike in his beautiful house Sunday Aug. 18.
We tried 4-way go, and it was quite a trip! When the dust settled, Mike
LePore had the most, closely followed by Peter, who used his indomitable
thickness to good advantage. "Negotiator" Tyler managed to make 3
living groups (4, if you count the seki he made with Mike LePore inside my
former territory) -- no easy feat, when any single stone played may be only
one turn away from capture. We'll have to try it again some time for a
change of pace. Thanks, Peter!
Much going on [posted 2002-09-07; updated 2002-09-09, 2002-10-01]
I'll add detail below as I have time, but there's a lot going on
as we swing into autumn.
-
Roy, Mike, and Mike had a great time at the Canadian Open over Labor
Day weekend, along with about a dozen players from the Seattle Go Center.
Plus, I finally met Dimitri. Reports Mike LePore:
Mike M, Mike L (me), and Jason went up together. None of us won trophies
(top three in our division) but there are some unofficial awards that were
given.
Most Excuses for a Loss Award -- Me. Easily.
Easiest Win Award -- Jon Boley, who never came close to breaking a sweat in
his third game.
Seattle vs Tacoma Award -- Seattle gets it this year, as Jason Beat Mike M.
The So Close Yet So Far Award -- Jeff Horn of Kent, who went 3-0 on day one
and then lost three consecutive super close games on day two.
Vancouver was fun -- Dinner at a Chinese restaurant with a Chinese wedding
celebration. Beautiful skyline. Nice weather. I hope it comes back to
Vancouver soon so we can do it again.
Hear, hear. Photos forthcoming.
- Peter went to the Tacoma-Kitakyushu Sister Cities Committee
meeting (September 11 at 4 p.m., 747 Market St., 9th Floor Conference Room),
and reports "They suggest we send them a proposal of what we want to do,
and present it at the next full committee meeting on the 25th. I'll write up my own
various visions (no I don't know what format they will look for, sorry) and share them
with you. Any or all of you are encouraged to do the same, but as we get a pool of
ideas I'd like feedback on what you could support or at least find interesting...."
Let's help Peter set up a trans-Pacific Go event with our municipal siblings in Japan.
If anyone has a Go contact in Kitakyushu, or is active with the
Asia Pacific Cultural Center
or the Chinese Reconciliation Park project, please let us know.
(Kitakyushu home page;
Kitakyushu Kicks.)
- David Ma has proposed that we host a three-board tournament vs.
the Federal Way players; now slated for
Sunday September 22 the
afternoon of Sunday October 20 at Roy Hayashi's.
- The Seattle Go Center Anniversary Tournament on 9-28 was well attended; and
seven of us from Tacoma and University Place were there (Roy, Steve,
Craig, John, Tyler, Greg, Mike M.). Next year, we'll take some prizes, too. ;-)
- Tyler reports that the University of Puget Sound Go Club meets regularly
again, Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the UPS Student
Union rotunda. So far, fifty (!) UPS people have expressed
interest. "If you're interested in joining us, and perhaps helping
new players to learn the game," contact Tyler - TSellon [at] ups.edu -
for directions to the meeting place. "This last week we had about twelve
people show up (four or five who'd not played, or at least didn't really know
the rules), including Roy and Craig. Fun was had by all." Strength of
recent attendees ranged from 30k to 5d.
- Mike M. is teaching Go at Sheridan Elementary in the
Japanese Immersion 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, on Thursdays and Fridays; and an
after-school go club is in the works. If anyone can spend an hour helping kids
learn to see and remove libertyless stones, it would be welcome. There are
about half a dozen schools with some kind of Go program in the Seattle area.
(pictures from last year)
- Yilun Yang seminar, December 14 and 15; see SGC for details. [archived 2002-12-26]
- Potluck party at SGC December 28, starting 6:00 p.m. -- thanks and fare-thee-well, Scott and Shiloh! [archived 2002-12-31]
Tacoma goes to Portland [posted 2002-10-15]
Mike LePore reports that he, Roy Hayashi, Steve Stringfellow, and a recent 2-dan
transplant to Lakewood all played in the Portland Fall Tournament, October 12 - 13.
Bill Schubert (programmer of CGoBan and Kiseido Go Server)
won all five of his games... Congratulations, Bill!
Go Party at the Hayashi-Smith residence, in University Place!
Sunday October 20, 1 p.m. until ?? (Please RSVP to Mike)
Go teachers meeting, Sunday October 20th, 6 p.m.
Iwamoto Friendship School Team Tournament for elementary, middle, and
high school students Saturday October 26 at 11 a.m. Each 3-member team must
be of mixed gender. Free. Prizes for all participants.
Happy Holidays [posted 2002-12-11]
Sheesh - I haven't updated this in two months?! Well, here goes. Past:
- Roy's party October 20th was great -- good to see the guys from Federal
Way again, and several new faces besides; and Connie and Dance provided some
wonderful food and hospitality. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. :-(
- Iwamoto Friendship Tournament for kids -- I took two 4th-graders from Sheridan
to the tournament at SGC on October 26; they had a blast, and became even more
enthusiastic about go.
- Mike LePore took a trip to Hong Kong, and got in some good board time there.
I hear he got some nice photos, too.
Present & future:
- Yilun Yang will be in Seattle, Dec. 14 and 15, teaching a seminar at the Go Center.
I believe it is not sold out yet -- contact the Go Center if you want to attend.
(I think Mike L. is going; any others?)
- There are a few more players on the email list, including Mark in Olympia. His
group meets Sundays at 2 and Wednesdays at 7, at the Barnes and Noble on Black Lake
Blvd. Mark and a few other players from Olympia may visit the University of Puget
Sound go sessions soon; and I'd like to pay them a visit, too (in January?).
More Happy Holidays [posted 2002-12-26]
Mike LePore says Yang-sensei's seminar a couple weeks ago was great. (I believe
him... one of these years, I'll get to go...) Other Seattle news -- there will be
a party at the Seattle Go Center on
Saturday 12-28, in honor of Scott and Shiloh and their service to the Go Center
over the past few years. Potluck; it should be a grand time. And the first
SGC ratings tournament of the new year will be on Sunday, Jan. 5.
I'll be there if I can, and at the Salem Winter Tournament on Saturday,
Jan. 11 -- carpool, anyone?
I've been reflecting on the past year. It has been an active one. Back in
January, I ran my first tournament
(more like walked it, actually... quite a learning experience) at The Usual Coffee
and News (now defunct, unfortunately). And with Jon Boley's help from the Go
Center, I've helped introduce our game to about a hundred kids in classes at
Sheridan Elementary. I've played in tournaments from
L.A. to B.C. this year, and several points in between. I missed the US Go Congress,
but several of you made it there and had a great time. As a convenience for myself,
I started an archive of the E-Journal, and judging by
the server logs, other players also find it useful. I made a bunch of
go-theme t-shirts, and got rid of all but a few
(thanks, Jason!). Best of all, I got to befriend a bunch of go players in and
near Tacoma whom I'd never met before.
All in all, this has been a great year for me. I feel incredibly lucky to have had
so much fun with go this year. I hope the coming year brings more of the same, for
me and for everyone reading. Akemashite, omedeto gozaimasu! Gung hay fat choy!
Sae hae bok manhi bat u se yo! Happy new year!
Thanks for reading! Best wishes; - Mike Malveaux
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Begun 2002-12-26
Split by years, 2003-08-08
