Tales From The US Go Congress

[wineandgolover]

Is anybody interested in a thread where L19'ers attending Congress can post their stories, whether they be happy or sad? Game records would be welcome, as well as non-game related adventures. Brevity would be cool. More importantly, are any L19'ers willing to contribute?

[Joaz Banbeck]

I suspect that no L19 members were directly involved, but last year some signs appeared in the men's bathroom in an Asian language about how to use toilets in the US. Apparently someone from a very rural area had some confusion and misused the facilities in a manner that distressed others. I am relived to say that I do not know the details.

[Bonobo]

In many parts of Asia squat toilets have been used for centuries, so maybe you’ve seen something like these?

[xed_over]

the toilet posts were kind of a thread killer..

One of the biggest highlights of the congress for me was playing game of 5 min sudden death speed go with Nakano and not running out of time. Of course I lost by a large margin (25+ points I think).

We were hanging out at a nearby coffee shop late Saturday night after the final awards banquet when Nakano and his wife dropped by and joined us for a couple of pick-up games.

[Bonobo]

the toilet posts were kind of a thread killer..

[Joaz Banbeck]

the toilet posts were kind of a thread killer...

Sorry. I didn't mean to set the standard too high.

[daniel_the_smith]

Top memories in no particular order:

3-2 in lightening, beating everyone older than me and one person younger than me (IIRC, the winner of my section of the open!). Winning in the open vs. one half of the winning pairgo team. Winning a 2 stone self-pair vs. a 4d. Pairgo halfway up Mt. Rainier with James Sedgwick, Daniela Trinks, and others (Sedgwick and I lost by a point). Last second pairgo on Thursday. Local beer with old and new friends. Drinking games with a dozen or so (including Takemiya and Maeda). Subsequent well deserved US Open loss (thanks to lindentree). Bowling and staying up all night after the (excessively terrible) awards banquet. (I passed out around 4:30 PM yesterday and did not wake up until this morning.)

[skydyr]

I played a 5 stone game against a 6 dan at that coffee shop which I won that had the ugliest shape I've ever seen in a game. So bad I was laughing through half the game. Squeeze here, squeeze there, tombstone here, play an empty triangle and a 4 stone dumpling to keep it contained...

We taught Maeda how to play lottery go at the cafe. We started with 20 stones each mixed in, but halfway through he insisted on a handicap of 20 more and promptly got crushed. It was fascinating to see him adjust his strategy as the game was going on to account for the chance of playing one of my stones. Lots of attachments, which were severe but not too good for me.

Hiking on Mt Ranier was spectacular.

Meeting people from here that I've played games against in the past, or spoken to.

Bowling Saturday was surprisingly good. I don't think I actually got to sleep until 5 AM, and I know at least one person ended up missing his flight the next morning and had to get it rescheduled.

[jdl]

after the (excessively terrible) awards banquet.

What's this about?

[daniel_the_smith]

after the (excessively terrible) awards banquet.

What's this about?

It's always bad, but this was like previous years, only more so.

[skydyr]

after the (excessively terrible) awards banquet.

What's this about?

It's always bad, but this was like previous years, only more so.

I was a little baffled by the decision to have dessert on the table first, and the actual food come only later.

[often]

We taught Maeda how to play lottery go at the cafe. We started with 20 stones each mixed in, but halfway through he insisted on a handicap of 20 more and promptly got crushed. It was fascinating to see him adjust his strategy as the game was going on to account for the chance of playing one of my stones. Lots of attachments, which were severe but not too good for me.

Which one was you?

[skydyr]

I'm the one not in the picture (on the left)

[dumbrope]

I don't know if it's a highlight, but Takemiya Masaki stopped by during one of my U.S. Open games during scoring and helped count the score. Can a pro 9p make better rectangles than I can? The answer is yes. He was very creative.

I knew I had lost the the game anyway, so no objection...

[Koosh]

Drinking on a dry campus and spreading cheer wherever I went...I think.
Some amazing US open games - put a little time into your opponents' hands and see what comes out.
Meeting good friends from the past few years, L19 goers, new faces, and pros alike!
Having the opportunity to interpret a series of basic go lectures for the wonderful fans of Maeda-sensei and Sasaki-sensei!

and...

First ride on a boat lock.