Thirty four Go enthusiasts gathered in Silicon Valley last Sunday, Sept. 1, for a day of intense
competition. The rising enthusiasm of dan-level players all over the Bay Area resulted in a near-equal number of participants between Open and Handicap sections, so the Open section was divided into two 8-player divisions: one for 5D+ and another for 2-4D, with even games played within each division.
In Open Division 1, Eric Lee 6D, who also serves as the lecturer of Tech Time’s single-digit-kyu class, emerged victorious with a flawless 3-0 record. Eric reflected on his win and emphasized “Don’t get discouraged by failure” and “Exercise is important”. Amy Guo 6D followed closely in second place, with her only loss to Eric in their tight game. Kenny Jin 6D from Seattle earned a well-deserved third place.
One of the most surprising moments came when Tianyi Li 5D, the former dominator of AGA Girls Cup, defeated Chao Xie 7D, one of the top players in the state. Chao missed a critical 
opportunity to secure a corner kill, allowing Tianyi to escape and hold on to her victory.
In Open Division 2, Liam Liu 4D claimed first place after hard battles against runner-up James Lou 3D and third-place finisher Xinzhou Song 4D. The secret to Liam’s success lies in his "tenacious fighting style," grounded in his continuous practice on life-and-death problems.
The event was hosted by Tech Time Go Club, with Peixuan Wang 8D serving as TD.The club’s next event, the 2024 Tech Time Fall Tournament, is scheduled for November 10th; all Go enthusiasts are welcome to participate.
- reported by Dash Zhang