News / Articles

Go Expo Day a Big Hit in NorCal

Bay Area Go Players Association held the third annual Go Expo Day on March 11 in Oakland, CA, and once again it was a big success. Over 50 people from diverse backgrounds converged on the Oakland Asian Cultural Center to learn how to play go, pick up a free 9x9 go set and Way to Go booklet, and watch games in the monthly AGA ratings tournament taking place in the room next door. "We need more teachers!" exclaimed Jay Chan, Go Expo Day co-organizer, as inquisitive adults and children poured into the room and filled all available seats. A few tournament players heeded the call for help, generously pausing their rated games and stepping in to teach until more go instructors could be brought in.

Teacher Ernest Brown summed the day up nicely when he commented, "It was just so great to see so much interest and enthusiasm for go." Based on the success of this and previous outreach events, Bay Area Go Players Association will hold the next Go Expo Day during the September monthly AGA ratings tournament instead of waiting until 2013. "The great teaching supplies available from the American Go Foundation store make it a lot easier to teach go to beginners at our regular monthly tournaments," explained co-organizer Roger Schrag. Photos by Steve Burrall and Roger Schrag.