Wbaduk

Ishi Go Open beside Lake Léman

2013-04-17

As many people come for touring, Switzerland is a blessed country with beautiful natural environment. One of the famous sceneries I can tell is the Lake Léman. It is located between South Switzerland and North France and surrounded by magnificent White Mountains. Along the beautiful lake, a Baduk tournament is annually held from 2010 in EPFL, the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne. This year was also held on 13th-14th of April, and about 35 people took part in it. The Exact tournament name is ¡®Ishi Open', and Ishi is the name of Baduk Club of EPFL. The current president of Swiss Go Association, Flavien Aubelle, organizes the Open Cup getting sponsored from the bank Credit Suisse.

I joined in the 2012 Ishi Open, but I felt so different about the venue this year. It has a great view which I haven't seen it last time. Same season in the same location, but the weather was different. It made us so pleasant to be there. Thanks to the fantastic weather, we could enjoy the beauty of the campus and the Lake Léman. For example, on the second day of the tournament, I went to the playing room to see the fourth round in the morning and was surprised by the lack of people compared to the previous day. I thought they were up all night having a party and couldn't wake up. That was my mistake which has come from prejudice. The rest of the people were playing outside under the sunshine.Then I thought, why am I writing here inside of the building? I also went outside and enjoyed the warm wind while writing this column.

[Rolex Learning Center]

The most attractive place in EPFL is definitely Rolex Learning Center. As you may guess the luxury watch company ¡®Rolex' sponsored when constructing the building. It has a unique structure with various curved lines which makes it look like a natural park. Especially there are hills inside of the center, so it makes me remind the spaceship in the French noble, 'Le Papillon Des Etoiles' written by Bernard Werber. I wish I could study there.

[Underground bunkers]

Another interesting thing to me was underground bunkers. When I first heard that the bunkers were made to evacuate people safely in case of a war, I thought he was joking, but that was true.
Since my country, Republic of Korea, is threatened by the North, I envied Swiss people for having that safety provided by the government. Anyway, the bunkers were used for tournament participants' accommodation for free.

[The winner, Viktor Bogdanov 3D]

While I was looking around the venue, the tournament went well. Viktor Bogdanov 3D, who was the runner up at 2012 Ishi Go Open Cup, won the tournament! He came from Russia and was in the middle of a Baduk trip. He told me that his next trip is Helsink tournament in Finland.
How good isn't it! But I didn't envy him because from 20th of April, I am also going to have a Baduk trip with Grenoble people!

Wait for interesting stories from our Baduk trip!

[One of the fun prizes]