What is the 2008 US Go Congress?
The 2008 US Go Congress is the largest Go event of the year held in the United States. While the event revolves around the multi-day US Open tournament, the Congress also features dozens of smaller tournaments, as well as lectures and game analyses by professional Go players. Check out the events page for information about what goes on during the week of the Go Congress, and head over to the registration page to sign up for the Go Congress.
If you are playing in the US Open: You must be on site and confirm that you are playing in the US Open by Saturday, August 2nd, at 6 PM. If, for whatever reason (flight delays, etc.), you cannot arrive by this time, you must notify the US Open Tournament Director that you are "on your way" by this time. Otherwise, you will not be able to play in the first round on Sunday. The Congress phone number is 503-928-4445.
If your current playing rank differs from your AGA rank, the same timeline applies for notifying the T.D. His e-mail address is: pytd@pytd.org
How does one contact the 2008 US Go Congress?
Mailing a registration check
If you are mailing a registration check, please make it out to "AGA - US GO Congress" and mail it to the following address:
PO Box 8733
Portland, OR 97201
E-mail correspondence If you wish to contact us via e-mail, our addresses are:
- director@gocongress08.org (Peter Freedman and Akane Negishi, Co-Directors)
- treasurer@gocongress08.org (Doug Cable, Treasurer)
- registrar@gocongress08.org (Richard Mann, Registrar)
- webmaster@gocongress08.org (Mark Jefferys, Webmaster)
- tours@gocongress08.org (Cynthia Gaty, Tours)
Where is the 2008 US Go Congress?
The Go Congress will be held at Portland State University, in Portland, OR, from Saturday, August 2 through Saturday, August 10, 2008. Portland is in the heart of the pacific northwest, less than two hours by car from mountainous wilderness areas and the rugged pacific coast. Portland State is part of the State system of higher education, and most distinctly an urban university.
Visit Portland State University here and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association here.
How much does it cost?
Registration Fee If you register by June 30, 2008, you will receive our discounted rates. Starting July 1, our full rates will apply.
For adults 22 and over the registration fee is $360 (discounted fee is $260).
For young adults 19-21 the fee is $200 (discounted fee is $150).
For youth 18 and under the fee is $80 (discounted fee is $60).
Non-players are $70 (discounted fee is $50).
Please note that you are not registered until payment is received!
Meal Plans The meal plan is $190 and includes Saturday 8/2 dinner through saturday 8/9 lunch. If you are coming early or leaving late, you can eat a nearby restaurants. The Closing Ceremonies Banquet (Saturday 8/9 dinner) is $30.
Lodging
The University Place Hotel is operated by PSU, and costs $800/person for a single or $360/person for a double.
A Broadway Dorm room (includes kitchenette) is $520/person for a single and $260/person for a double.
An Ondine Dorm room is $440/person for a single and $220/person for a double.
All dorm rooms at Portland State have private baths.
Checkout date is August 10th at 11 AM for both hotel and dorms.
Can I play for one day?
Can't come to congress for the whole week? Thats all right! Playing costs are $40 a day.
What is the refund policy?
Yes, however full refunds are available only through June 2008. Only a partial refund is available afterwards. See here for details.
How do you get to the 2008 US Go Congress?
Portland State University, Portland, OR is located here. You can view a campus map here. Play will be in Smith Memorial Center, on SW Broadway. The Ondine and Broadway dorms, and the University Place Hotel are nearby.
The Portland International Airport is a 20 minute car ride from downtown Portland. Here is a map of the airport terminal. We plan to have a greeter at the airport in the baggage claims area near the central escalator on Saturday to assist you. The greeter will be carrying a sign that reads "2008 US Go Congress", and will stay until the last MAX train leaves.
You can catch the MAX light rail train at the airport and take it to SW 10th and Morrison. You are now a 5 minute walk from PSU. Or, when you get off the MAX, you can walk 1 block west (the same direction as the train,) to SW 11th, turn left (South), walk one block and cross the street to the Portland Street Car stop, and take the street car South to Market St. and S. Park Blocks, the middle of the Portland State campus.
A cab from the airport to downtown Portland runs about $30. There is also a hotel shuttle service. The airport's ground transportation page is here.
The Portland Tri-Met (public transportation) page, including MAX information, is here. The last MAX train leaves the airport for Portland at 11:57 p.m. on Saturdays, and runs every 15 minutes. MAX costs less than $2.00, and is a convenient way to travel from the airport to downtown. To use: Follow the signs to the MAX train. When you come down the escalator into the baggage claim area, you will turn right and go to the end of the baggage claim area. Purchase an 'all zone' ticket in the MAX ticket machine, go out the exit, and the train is about 50 feet away.
NOTE: All public transportation in the Portland downtown area is FREE...buses, light rail, MAX train!
If, once you arrive you run into a problem, please call 503-928-4445 (Peter Freedman) and we'll do our best to assist you.
What are the facilities like?
Game play, the Opening Ceremonies, meals, and the banquet will all take place in Smith Memorial Center. We expect the Ondine to have a room available for late night gatherings. Please note: Alcohol is only permitted in guest rooms, and not in other PSU areas unless served by PSU. Guests cannot BYOB to the common areas. The Cheerful Tortoise is right by the campus, as are other facilities where you can hang out and have a drink.
Housing is a short walk from the playing sites, and the topography is flat.
What is the weather like in early August?
Expect weather in the 70's and 80's during the day, and cooler at night. It can go into the 90's, and record highs are in the low 100's (Farenheit).
Full weather services for the area can be found at weather.com.
Will there be a chance to see more of Portland during the conference?
For Wednesday we have planned trips that will give you a taste of Portland and its environs. One all day trip goes up the Columbia Gorge and then makes a right turn to Mt. Hood. Another goes to the coast. Our third planned event is a tour of Portland, including both the Chinese and Japanese gardens.
Our area has a fine collection of vineyards not far from the city, and by car you can tour some of these and add to your cellar. Check out one of our vineyards here.
See more detail on what's available on the tours page.
More information on things to see and do in Portland here.
I can only stay from Tuesday to Friday. What do I have to do? Can I play in the US Open?
Yes, you can play in the US Open regardless of your length of stay at the Congress. For those who are staying for only part of the Congress, we ask that you please contact the registrar, Richard Mann, and we will handle such issues on a case-by-case basis.
Are accommodations available prior to Saturday, August 2nd? What if I want to leave one day early?
Accommodations at PSU can be guaranteed only for August 2nd through August 9th. If you wish to arrive earlier, or leave later, please make the request with your registration. If rooms are available, we will notify you and you can rent them at the Congress rate. We cannot give you a refund for leaving early unless we can book the room with someone else.
What are the differences between dorms, suites, and hotel style rooms?
Note: Rooms in the Ondine and Broadway are sold out! If this is where you'd like to room, and you did not get in, please book a room at the University Place Hotel, and write or e-mail the registrar to put you on a wait list for the Ondine. Should we have an opening later we would make it available on a first come, first serve, basis.
All rooms are non-smoking.
Dorms All dorms rooms have two twin beds in the same room.
A single dorm room will have just one occupant, and a double dorm room will have two occupants. There are no TVs in the dorms. Linen service (sheets, pillowcases, and towels) will be provided.
All rooms have private baths.
The PSU Hotel: University Place PSU took over a Ramada Inn and runs it as a proprietary hotel. Go here for information about the accomodations.
Can a beginner play in the US Open? Can pros play in the US Open? Can non-US-citizens play in the US Open?
Beginners and professionals alike may play in the US Open. You may play in the US Open regardless of your citizenship status.
Are there vegetarian / vegan food options on the meal plan?
Vegetarian meals will be part of the meal plan.
Will Internet access be available at the Congress?
All congress attendees will have wireless access with a Congress password. Portland also supplies free wireless Internet access downtown.
Where can I park my car, and how much will it cost?
Information on parking at PSU is here. We will post parking rates for the different garages shortly. On street parking in downtown Portland costs $1.25/hour.
Is there a list of hotels available if I wish to stay off-site?
For those who wish to stay off-site, a listing of hotels in the area can be found here.
The Heathman and the Hilton are a short walk from PSU. The Mark Spencer is less expensive but a bit further away. (You can walk anywhere in downtown Portland in 30-40 minutes.) The Portland Inn City Center is close to campus and inexpensive, but is undergoing management change, so we cannot predict its rates at the time of the Congress. The Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront is about 10 minutes from the campus and overlooks the Willamette River.
Will professional players be attending the 2008 US Go Congress? Which ones?
Individual invitations will be sent out to all the professional Go players in North America asking them to attend the 2008 US Go Congress. The Nihon Kiin, Kansai Kiin, Taiwan Chinese and Korean professional associations will be approached to send representatives.
Will I be able to get my game analyzed by a professional player while at the Congress?
Yes, this is one of the many highlights of the Congress experience! Sign up for available slots or volunteer your game at a lecture.
Every day, the professional players will be performing a number of free services while at the Congress, including playing simultaneous games, presenting formal lectures on Go theory, and giving analyses of actual Congress games from audience members. There will be opportunities to have your game analyzed by a professional Go player.
Will I be able to take private or group lessons from a professional player while at the Congress?
Yes! The AGA is establishing a standard lesson fee for private or group professional lessons at the Congress, regardless of which professional player is giving the lesson.
Fees for individual and group lessons with pros:
- Individual lessons will be $35.00 for 60 minutes and $50.00 for 90 minutes.
- Group lessons (two or more participants) will be two-hour sessions and will cost $35.00/person.
The scheduling of lessons and the collection of fees will be coordinated by the Congress organizers. Fees will be paid to the professionals at the end of the Congress.
The fees will be the same for all professional instructors.
Sign-up sheets for professional lessons will be available at the Congress and lesson times will be arranged by the pro coordinator.