If you are reading this, then you probably know that on this coming Memorial Day Weekend at the Evanston Holiday Inn will be the biggest and most expansive Go Tournament this year (second only to the Go Congress). Of course, as a relatively new player myself, I’ve never worked up the courage to go the Go Congress. Therefore, that comparison doesn’t mean much to someone like me. However, as someone who attended the 2023 Chicago Rapid last November - which, incidentally, was my first ever tournament - I have some idea of what to expect from the festivities. And no, I'm not referring to the actual games. I ended up losing all of my matches at the Rapid after all. If you haven't seen the actual schedule this year, the organizers have divided the games as such. There will be 3 rounds on Saturday the 25th, followed by 3 more on the 26th for a total of 6 games. Most people will be done with their games around 3 each day, and that is due to a special treat for us go aficionados! For the first time ever, an actual pro will be showing up to give us exclusive commentary and game reviews. His name is Kim Ji-seok, a 9P (professional) player from Korea. This is just one of many ways the organizers are planning to give us as close to a Congress experience as possible. With all these exciting new changes to what is already an intense tournament experience, it's easy to forget that this can all be a tiring experience. That was what I remember most from my time at the tournament last November. Many people will be coming from across the country, or even just taking a long drive from the Chicagoland suburbs like Aurora or Schaumburg. You can only imagine what a nightmare it will be with the player count alone. At the risk of rambling on too much, let's just get on to the reason you clicked on this article. You can hear my ramblings there. Without further ado, here are 5 tips to surviving the Chicago Open: 1. Stay hydrated Anyone who has played this board game knows how taxing it can be on the mind. I personally have trouble playing more than 2 games when going to my weekly go club, and this theory was proven accurate when I played 5 games at the Rapid. By the end of the day, I was almost completely drained out. One thing that helped me was drinking plenty of water. That's a very underrated part of playing multiple games a day. If you're a new player, this might be one of the most important tips I can ever give you. Whether you're in a tournament or not, staying hydrated will lead to you making better decisions on the board. For the Open, it will also help you keep your energy for the entire weekend. 2. Take care of your mental health This might not seem like a big deal, but doing things like meditating or getting some light exercise outdoors can ultimately do wonders for your performance. It doesn't have to be much, mind you. You can just take a walk outside and enjoy the surroundings, not thinking about Go at all. I learned that tip while watching Hikaru no Go where the MC was told by his friends that you shouldn't think about anything while having lunch or breaks. We can't all be as fit and trim as anime characters though, so if you know some yoga or moves that can help restore your stamina, don't hesitate to break them out. If the weather doesn't allow for outdoor breaks, you can always take walks in the hotel lobby. Maybe consider not talking to your friends so much and just take some "me time" to help yourself calm down before a match. 3. Plan parking arrangements accordingly (for drivers only) If you plan on driving to the tournament, the organizers will be sure to provide locations for free parking around the Holiday Inn. Otherwise, it will be about $10 for a single day parking ($20 for both days). You may be wondering whether or not to bite the bullet and keep your car within walking distance of the actual tournament or saving money by choosing to park somewhere close by and just walking to the hotel. There’s even a good spot at the Sherman Plaza Self Park; it isn’t far away and usually free on Sundays. What you choose is ultimately up to you, of course, but I personally feel that keeping my car safe in a parking garage is safer than leaving it in a free parking space where any unsavory individuals or ferocious birds could bring damage to your car by smashing them or worse. I think we know which ones I'm more afraid of. All kidding aside, if you do decide to park outside the hotel, make sure you give yourself enough time to get to the hotel in time for check-in. 4. Be creative with your food options You can choose to not listen to this tip if you've already ordered the lunch and dinner options when signing up for the tournament. For everyone else though, here are some tips to keep your stomach full enough for the weekend. If you plan on eating out for some (or all) of your meals, make sure to research ahead of time which places you want to go to. Make sure you find a place that will fill you enough, but not have crazy wait times for the food. Also ensure you give yourself enough time to get back to the hotel in time. Don't wait until the last minute to decide where to eat. You have enough to worry about this weekend, and a little preparation will go a long way to making this experience as hassle free as it can possibly be. Don't ask me about restaurant recommendations, though. I don't eat out much at restaurants. If you're like me in that regards, just prepare all of your food ahead of time and carry some snacks for good measure. Won't it feel better having some home cooked food like chicken biryani for dinner and a nice turkey sandwich for lunch instead of agonizing over finding the best restaurant? You'll have a hard time as it is trying to keep your opponent from breaking your wall down right in front of you. 5. Be courteous to your fellow player I could go on and on about how to survive a tournament, but everyone is different with their various backgrounds and experiences. I can't account for everything that will go on that weekend as I've never seen anything like it. But there is one thing I can point out that will be important for every player regardless of their rank, their gender, their nationality or their playing style. You must treat everyone with kindness and respect. Don't have conversations with your friends after your games while you're in earshot of other people trying to play their games. Don't be a sore loser when you lose a game; most people, even people I know and consider to be the best, have started out with more losses than defeats. That's just the nature of this game, and it is only through perseverance and determination that this trend can be reversed. Until that happens, remember that it's just a game, and not worth the petty squabbles you might have with someone else. I have lost so many games in my years of playing Go, and I can tell you that I have never loved a game more than this one. Now that I'm playing tournaments and becoming part of a community - something bigger than myself - I can see the love and respect everyone has for each other when playing. I ask all of you newcomers to respect this wish of mine and show this respect to everyone when you show up to Evanston on Memorial Day Weekend! Well that's all I wanted to share with you at the moment! Happy reading and viewing, and I look forward to seeing you all on May 25-26th for the 2024 Chicago Open!
