[Note -- this page you're viewing now is not the official Seattle Go Center website; that's at seattlegocenter.org (also linked below.)]

Seattle Go Center

Iwamoto-sensei, principal founder of the Seattle Go Center, was playing this game when the U.S. bombed Hiroshima with a nuclear weapon. 700 NE 45th Street (2nd floor)
Seattle, WA 98105 (USA)
Telephone: 206-545-1424; Fax: 206-545-1268
Yahoo Map locating Seattle Go Center

By bus: King County Metro bus routes 7, 26, 44, and others stop near the Go Center. You may use Metro's trip planner to find the best bus route for your visit. (Put 700 NE 45th St into the box labeled "2. Where does your trip end?")

Seattle Go Center is one of four Go Centers worldwide founded by Iwamoto Kaoru (brief biog.; games), the famous Japanese professional go player, author, and teacher. Seattle Go Center happily continues Iwamoto-sensei's legacy, promoting peace and understanding through the game of go. The sister Go Centers are in New York City (alternate), Amsterdam, and Sao Paulo. (He also founded a Go Center in London in the 1970s. Perhaps ahead of its time, it closed after a few years.)

In January 2004, Seattle Go Center was the place to see live television coverage as Yamashita Keigo and Hane Naoki played the first game of the Kisei title match. The same week, SGC hosted the West Coast portion of the Toyota / Denso North American Oza. (report and pictures forthcoming)

In April 2002, Seattle Go Center kids visited China. You can see the fundraisier "Go Friend" T-shirts that were sold to help make the trip possible.

(More pictures are available at the Seattle Go Center website.)

Ji Li 7-dan critiques a game
Jon Boley watches Joey Hung, Jie Li, and Rick Hubbell reviewing an informal game in March 2002. At the time, Jon was about 5-dan and mangager of the Go Center. Joey was also about 5-dan, and had flown to Seattle for a tournament and went on to represent the US at the World Amateur Go Championship in 2006. Jie Li was Joey's teacher, and one of the strongest players in North America. Rick was about 6-dan.

2002 midwinter tournament
Here are photos from the Seattle Go Center's 10th anniversary party in August 2005. There were a lot of professional go players on hand because the U.S. Go Congress was happening in Tacoma. Connie Hayashi oversaw the catering of a wonderful spread (including sushi, which disappeared in record time), and Leigh Stringfellow played harp.
Chinese professional go players at Seattle Go Center, August 2005
Ma Dong with Chinese professionals at the Seattle Go Center 10th anniversary party in August 2005.

Leigh Stringfellow on harp at Seattle Go Center 10th Anniversary
Steve Stringfellow's daughter played harp at the 10th anniversary.

Nakayama-sensei at Seattle Go Center 10th Anniversary
Nakayama-sensei is acknowledged at the 10th anniversary party.

Playing go during the party

Tacoma Go Club - Puget Sound Go venues

Seattle Go Center - American Go Association - International Go Federation
Click here or the stones die! American Go Assn.

Last updated 2002-09-09
Begun 2002-03-05