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National Go Center heading for April 29-30 opening

With work on the new National Go Center in northwest Washington DC "coming along nicely," the Center is on track for its grand opening the weekend of April 29-30, reports Center executive director Gurujeet Khalsa. "Area go clubs and volunteers have come together with sponsorship from the Iwamoto North America Foundation to make the new Center a reality," Khalsa (right) told the E-Journal during a tour of the Center on Sunday, March 12. The photo at left shows the main playing space as demolition work concluded just over a week ago; in the photo at right, from March 12, finishing work has progressed rapidly. Plans for the grand opening include a 4-round AGA-rated tournament, a children's 12-and-under friendship match over Skype with children from Mexico City, and a performance by composer Haskell Small of composition "A Game of Go," setting a classic Shusaku game to two pianos and a video. More events are planned for the NGC's grand opening but with just over six weeks to go, Khalsa says "volunteers of every stripe are urgently needed," including carpenters to help build shelving, and anyone willing to donate tables, chairs, go books and equipment. Contact him at gurujeet.khalsa@nationalgocenter.org. photos by Gurujeet Khalsa (left) and Chris Garlock (right)