Jaewoo Park won the San Francisco Go Club’s Cherry Blossom Tournament on April 15th. The event was part of the 56th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, and go players from all over the region gathered to compete at the event. The tournament had three divisions, and after three rounds of intense competition, winners were crowned in each division.
The Division 1 winners were Jaewoo Park, Jason He, and Brian Wu, who took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively. In Division 2, Alexander Lo took 1st place, followed by Liam Liu in 2nd place, and Dave Marvit in 3rd place. Finally, in Division 3, Nathan Wallace came in 1st place, with Kenneth Chow and Benjamin Lo taking 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
“In addition to the thrill of competition, players were treated to delicious rice bowls from neighboring restaurant Waraku for lunch,” reports San Francisco Go Club president Matthew Barcus. “The combination of high-quality gameplay and tasty food made for an excellent experience for everyone involved.”
Winners received both cash prizes and certificates, which they could take home to commemorate their achievements. “However, even for those who didn’t come out on top, the tournament was an opportunity to connect with fellow go enthusiasts and strengthen their skills,” Barcus adds, noting that “Overall, the San Francisco Go Club’s Cherry Blossom Tournament was a great success. It brought together players from all over the region to compete, enjoy good food, and have a great time. We look forward to seeing even more excitement and engagement at future tournaments.”