Swiss Go Association

It is with deep sorrow that the swiss go federation learnt of the passing of Alan Held. He was one of the players which truely spread the game, not only in Switzerland where he was president of the federation for several years but throughout Europe where he was secretary / president of the European Go Federation from 1988 to 1997.

In September, Brian Kleiner represented Switzerland in the 17th Korea Prime Minister Cup (KPMC), in Gwangju. There were players from 53 countries present, with 6 rounds over three days of play. The organisation from the hosts was excellent from start to finish, the late summer weather was ideal, and a good spirit reigned throughout. The long bus rides were rewarded with attractive views of the country-side, explanations from the guides, and several memorable visits – first to a beautiful bamboo forest park, and then to a Baduk (Go) factory, museum, and shop for souvenirs. Equally memorable was the excellent Korean cuisine, for carnivores and vegetarians alike.

The devotion of the Korean people to Baduk was on display everywhere, from the reception and closing events, to the round-the-clock Baduk television stations. There were many hard-fought games at the tournament, with the best final results from the strong Korean 7 -dan player – an excellent and happy reward for the generous hosts! As for Brian, his performance was not stellar, but not abysmal either (3/6 wins). After the event, each player was treated to a personal drawing made by the visiting French artist Zoé Constans.