Over the weekend 40 players gathered at Portland State University to compete in the Oregon State Go Tournament.  Christophe Humbert from California swept the Open Division, with the highest placing Oregonian Steve Zhang taking 3rd place in the Open and claiming the title of new Oregon State Champion.  We had three additional divisions with players ranging in rank from 2dan to 18kyu.  Top three finishers in each division (including the Open) took home cash prizes and donated prizes from sponsors Shoguns Gallery, AI-Sensei and SmartGo. Our new Oregon champion took home a beautiful antique floor Goban and Stones donated by Shoguns Gallery.  Many were excited to be playing in the recently confirmed venue for the 2024 American Go Congress.  

Players came from all over Oregon and our neighboring states (and even one from D.C.).  Four different Oregon clubs had members place in the top 3 of at least one division.  Attendees wandered the Portland Farmers Market between rounds and enjoyed the foliage in the beautiful Park Blocks.  Play consisted of three rounds Saturday and two rounds Sunday, with the Open and Division 1 games played even based on Swiss pairings and Division 2 & 3 played with rank-difference based handicap stones in a modified McMahon pairing system. Top finishers in each division, as well as the requisites for competing in each were as follows:

Open (8 top ranked entrants): Christophe Humbert (San Diego GC), Steve Stringfellow (Tacoma GC), Steve Zhang (Corvallis GC).

Division 1 (2d-2k): Mike Kurrels, Jim Levenick, Ethan Frank (All three from the Portland GC)

Division 2 (3k-6k): Leif Wiebe (Bend GC), Bradley Fujan (Eugene GC), Avik Hardy (Portland GC)

Division 3 (7k-18k): Thomas Montgomery (Eugene GC), Kyle Flashman (Eugene GC), Axle Feldman (Portland GC)