HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Go Club introduced dozens of festival-goers to the ancient
board game of Go at the Chinese Community Center of Houston’s Lunar New Year Festival on February 14, 2026, welcoming a steady stream of visitors throughout the day-long celebration.
Club volunteers Michael Bloom, Rin Bomba-Bloom, Peter Lee, and Skyler Kim staffed an outreach booth, teaching attendees the fundamentals of Go, known as weiqi in Chinese, baduk in Korean, and igo in Japanese. Participants of all ages stopped to learn the game, with many trying it for the first time, while others were reconnecting with a game familiar from family or cultural traditions.
Using compact 9×9 boards, volunteers helped beginners quickly grasp the rules and begin playing. The smaller boards allowed new players to complete games in a short time while experiencing the strategic depth that has made Go one of the world’s oldest continuously played board games.
The Chinese Community Center of Houston hosted the festival, an annual event featuring cultural performances, food, and community activities celebrating Lunar New Year and Asian heritage. The center is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, cultural, and social service programs to the Houston community.
Houston Go Club organizers said the event provided an opportunity to share Go with new audiences and strengthen connections with the local community.
- reported by Michael Bloom