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Atari Go Club wins against Yu Go Club and Santa Monica Go Club in revived Traffic Cup Team Tourney

After a seven-year hiatus, the Reiyukai America/Yu Go Club’s Traffic Cup returned on Saturday, May 16, when go players representing the Yu Go Club (by Reiyukai America in Pasadena), and the Santa Monica Go Club visited the Atari Go Club in Arcadia for a team tournament. Each team played two games against other teams. Atari Go Club tied against the Yu Go Club, and defeated Santa Monica, Yu Go tied against both Atari and Santa Monica, while Santa Monica lost to Atari. As a result, the new holder of the Traffic Cup, a traveling trophy plaque, is now in the hands of Atari Go Club members. “I remember playing the first Traffic Cup against Yu Go Club and can’t believe it’s been seven years since then,” said Andy Okun, President of the American Go Association, who played on the Atari Go Club team. “We should not wait another seven years but perhaps we can do this every seven months!”

“This is such a wonderful local go event,” agreed Evan Cho of the Atari Go Club, who also served as the Tournament Director. “The three biggest go clubs in Southern California competing and interacting with each other – we've got to keep it going! Also hopefully, we can have more go clubs and players in the next Traffic Cup! ” “Inter-club tournaments are a great opportunity to interact between club members,” added Toshiro Obara, organizer of Yu Go Club supported by Reiyukai America. “I look forward to more possibilities like this. Definitely our Yu Go Club will challenge the Atari Go Club to get back the plaque!” The attending players were Rintaro Miyamoto 6d, Hendrik Rommeswinkel 1k, Stephen McLaughlin 5k, and Greg Kulevich 7k from the Yu Go Club. Andrew Liu 7d, Seth Cardew 2d, Andy Okun 1d, William Kim 8k representing the Atari Go Club. And Norman Tsai 7d, Daniel Su  11k, Derek Su 17k and David Su 19k from Santa Monica Go Club. photos courtesy Yu Go Club; click here for a photo album from the tournament. For more information, contact Toshiro Obara at 626-356-8055, tobara@reiyukai-usa.org; Yu Go Club website.