Yesterday, as a step towards carrying out the mission to popularize the game, the  Polish Go Association inaugurated with Ministry and Warsaw City government officials free Go game workshops for beginners, where than 507 persons signed up! 

The inaugural meeting, thanks to the Capital Sports Center "ACTIVE WARSAW"  (Budgetary unit of the City of Warsaw) took place at the Palace of Culture and Science and gathered together nearly 200 participants for the opening ceremony.

Opening by Goverment and City officials

More than 200 persons attended the opening ceremony

The workshop was opened by Ms. Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz, Minister for Senior Citizenship Policy, Ms. Renata Kaznowska - Deputy Mayor of Warsaw and Director of Active Warsaw, Ms. Katarzyna Łęgiewicz.

Ms. Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz, Minister for Senior Citizenship Policy, Ms. Renata Kaznowska - Deputy Mayor of Warsaw and Director of Active Warsaw, Ms. Katarzyna Łęgiewicz with Tomasz Andrzejewski, President of Polish Go Association

We started with a presentation at the podium of the teachers-volunteers, as they will devote their private time to teach others, we introduced the legend of the game of Go, talked about its history and purpose. Participants were presented with the journey they can take: from learning in the workshops at the Warsaw Go Club, playing rated games at Warsaw Go League or Internet Go League , attend the 4th "China Town" Weiqi Cup in Warsaw in October (where every rank and tournament debutants fight for cash prizes! Total 10 000 EUR prepare for the upcoming European Go Congress 19.07-03.08.2025. Both events are sponsored and strongly supported by our Association Ambassador & Sponsor - Mr. Hongyun Chai from network of China Town restaurants in Warsaw)

The journey explained - from workshop to club, league, tournaments to EGC in Warsaw in 2025!

We also had the honour of hosting Mateusz Surma, who told his story and shared photos and stories from his life as a professional player 🙂 and Jan Frączak who shared what it was like to travel to China for the 43rd World Amateur Go Championship (WAGC) in Shenzhen. 

Jan Frączak, 3 dan, sharing history about WAGC last year

Mateusz Surma, 3 pro, sharing his personal experience

After an hour and a half of presentations, questions and answers from the participants, they dispersed to the stands where teachers were starting to present the game. 

Teachers presenting playing equipment and explaining the game. Some participants went with teachers to Warsaw Go Club near by and stayed till 11 pm(!)

Over the next 3 months, until the summer holidays, we will give lessons in Warsaw to 507 persons who signed up (65 kids <12y, 58 teens 12-20y old, 134 adults 20-30y old, 201 adults 30-50y and 48 50+y old). We are looking forward to that adventure and hope that we will end up by welcoming more active players in Poland!

Our teachers-volunteers - great skills, great hearts and great sense of humour!