Registration open: REGISTER (see already registered users here)

Description

The Romanian Go Federation has the great pleasure to invite you to attend the special edition of the Balkan Go Congress and Championships.

What is special about this event?!

The tradition of a Balkan Championship is being restored after a long break. This initiative comes as the result of a very encouraging development of the Go game in the Balkan area. With Romania regaining its position as one of the most active European Go playing countries, young Serbian talents aiming at European top level positions, a fast developing young generation in Turkey, new players from Bulgaria and Greece , we feel the time is ripe for a higher level of interaction between our Go Associations. This Congress will be the first important step towards achieving this goal.
Another special treat of this year's event is the extended duration of tournaments. Defying the usual ¡®over the weekend ¡® playing style , the organizers chose a period of 5 days as appropriate for the purpose of fully enjoying the event. Combined with the choice of a wonderful location, a meeting point with 100 people capacity where activities can be extended until late in the night, the aim is to achieve maximum satisfaction and level of friendship through playing Go.

Time and place :

The event will take place from 19th to 23rd of May, 2010 and it will be hosted by Mogosoaia Palace , a must see historical place situated on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania.

Martha Hotel will provide besides accommodation the supper for everybody at a very convenient price as well as the terrace that will be our meeting point during the event. The hotel is situated just few minutes walking distance from the palace.

http://www.hotel-martha.ro/index.html

Depending on players request we could organize transportation from Bucharest to Mogosoaia by renting a minibus, otherwise regular buses are available.

Food and drinks :

Since the event is pretty isolated from the big city life and its facilities, we strongly recommend that you take up our offer as it follows :

Breakfast and supper : at Martha terrace and restaurant. Breakfast is included for people already lodged at Martha Hotel, otherwise you can choose to order it, possibly two separate menus available. For supper , you will also be able to choose from two separate menus . Full menu that includes soup, main dish, salad, desert and soft drink will cost about 7 euro .

Lunch will be available at Mogosoaia Palace restaurant , menus and prices will be updated soon.

Also, the drink prices list at Martha restaurant as well as the food menus will be updated as soon as we receive the information.

Schedule

There will be a main tournament of six rounds and in parallel a tournament for children under 16 and with less than 10kyu rank. Also, team tournament, blitz, pair Go , beer tournament ( over 18 year old) are on the program, as well as free playing in the evening. On players request simultaneous games with top players are a possibility, as well as game comments and big board commentary in the evenings. All evening activities will take place at the Martha terrace.

Main tournament will be held at a pace of one round per day, starting 9:30 in the morning, with the sole exception of two rounds on Friday, second round is scheduled to start at 15.00 pm.

The other events will take place in the afternoons, the exact order will be announced soon. The beer tournament is an adult fun oriented tournament that will take place in the evening at the terrace.

A welcome party is scheduled Wednesday evening and a farewell party Saturday evening.

The meeting of Go Associations representatives with the purpose to discuss the terms of founding a Balkan Go Association ( BGA) is scheduled for Thursday evening.

Entry fee and prizes :

Entry fee is 20 euro per adults and 10 euro for children, free for children under 12 years old. Registration deadline is 8th may 2010. For people who register after this date the entry fee is 25 euro for adults and 15 euro for children. The registration will close by 15th may 2010. We would like you to know that the money raised from entry fees will be used entirely for prizes .

There will be prizes in objects sponsored generously by Nihon Kiin ( fans, Go theme inscribed cups, Go postcards etc.)

There will be money prizes as well for the top places in all tournaments. Since the size of prizes depends entirely on sponsors and number of participants we ask for your patience until we are able to announce the exact figures.

Accomodation

The best place to seek accommodation is Martha Hotel, since most of the activities will be held there or at the nearby palace playing halls. The price per person is 22 euro by night . On registration please specify as well the number of people you wish in your room ( family size rooms are available). Accommodation at Martha will be paid through FRGO. Also, please notice that since the places at Martha are quite limited ( about 60 person capacity) , we will give priority to registration order.

Contact balkango2010@gmail.com