From: Fassil Bekele MINDSPRING COM> Date: 26 sep 1998 Subject: Upcoming events in New York This message by George Fernandez is being forwarded to Shogi-L Dear Shogi Players and Shogi-L subscribers, It gives me great pleasure to announce various Shogi events taking place in New York City from October 14-18, 1998. This posting is intended as a brief outline of these events with more details coming in subsequent postings as they become available. To make things clear I will divide the information into five parts, as follows: 1. The first game of the Professional Ryu-O Match. 2. A speech by Mr. Kunio Yonenaga, Eisei-Kisei (Lifetime Kisei title). 3. The 1998 New York Open amateur tournament. 4. The Shogi Federation of America Founding Meeting. 5. Suggestions for accommodations in the New York City area. 1. As some of you may have heard, the first game of the Professional Ryu-O Tournament Final Match between titleholder Mr. Koji Tanigawa and challenger Mr. Takeshi Fujii, 7Dan will take place in New York City on October 15-16 at the Kitano Hotel, located on Park Avenue at 38th Street. The Ryu-O title along with the Meijin title are the two premier major titles among professional shogi players in Japan. In recent years, the Yomiuri Shinbum, the promoter of this event has sought to help in popularizing shogi abroad by bringing the first game of this special event to various countries including Thailand, England and the U.S. On Wednesday, October 14, in the evening, there will be a welcome party held at the Kitano Hotel. This will likely be the only chance to meet either of the two principal players in-person. US Shogi players and individuals interested in attending this event are required to make prior arrangements. Please notify either your club organizer or me directly at (718)956-5382 by October 5, 1998 if you want to attend. Please note that jacket and tie is required at this event. Otherwise this event will be closed to the public. As for the game itself, it is played over two days with a time control of 9 hours plus 1 minute byoyomi each. Of course there are scheduled breaks during both days. On Thursday, October 15, the first day, the action is usually quite slow with both players typically taking a few hours each to play out the opening. The actual game room is closed to the public and it's not likely that spectators will be allowed in at any time during the game. Usually, there is an analysis room where professionals and members of the media, which will be quite large, review the game in-progress and relax. Access to this room or some alternate site for amateurs is not yet arranged but I expect this will be a good day for us amateurs to try to play shogi with the other visiting professional players not directly involved in the match while we follow the slow action in the big match game. The second day, Friday 16, will certainly be more exciting. On this day, at another location yet to be determined, a large display board will be set-up and there will be ongoing analysis and commentary by a top professional. If there is sufficient demand a translator will be appointed and we can gather in a section of the room to follow the game there. Other professional players expected to attend at this time are: Kunio Yonenaga, Eisei-Kisei; Kenji Kobayashi, 8Dan; Kenji Waki, 7Dan; Masataka Sugimoto, 5Dan; Yusuke Ina, 4Dan and Miss Akiko Nakakura, Ladies 1Kyu. Additionally, Mr. Kiyoshi Ohnogi, Foreign Relations chief at the Nihon Shogi Renmei will also be attending through Sunday October 18. On Saturday morning most of the professionals and media will be travelling to Atlantic City for a few days, before returning to Japan. For this reason I suggest that US participants in this event who want to meet and play shogi with many of the visiting professionals come either on Wednesday afternoon or early on Friday. 2. Mr. Kunio Yonenaga, Eisei-Kisei will give a one hour speech on Thursday, October 15, at 7:00 PM at the Nippon Club, located at 145 W57th Street in Manhattan. Mr. Yonenaga is one of the game's most popular players, a colorful character and a noted author. He is also one of New York Shogi Club's Honorary Teachers. Subject matter and additional details of this event are forthcoming. 3. 1998 New York Open Amateur Tournament Special Guest: Professional 5Dan player Mr. Takeshi Sugimoto Date: October 17-18, 1998 Place: Hamaya Restaurant, 2nd Floor 152 E 46th Street (between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Time: 10 AM to 6 PM Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday. Format: 5 Round event open to all players. Swiss System on Saturday On Sunday a Special Elimination Tournament for top American qualifiers will be held. Other side events on Sunday to be announced. *** Mr. Sugimoto 5Dan will be available to play teaching games on both days.*** Entry fee: $20. Guests and spectators are welcome. Prizes: Top 2 players, holders of American passports, will be invited to participate in The First International Shogi Tournament, to be held in Japan in June, 1999. Transportation, accommodations and other expenses will be paid by The Nihon Shogi Renmei, ANA and other sponsors. Trophies to: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Top 2Dan, Top Shodan and Top Kyu . Time limit: 20 minutes, followed by 30 seconds byoyomi in rounds 1-3. 20 minutes, followed by 40 seconds byoyomi in rounds 4-5. 4. The Shogi Federation of America Founding Meeting Date: October 17, 1998 Place: Hamaya Restaurant, 2nd Floor 152 E 46th Street (between Lexington and 3rd avenues). Time: 6 PM to 8:30 PM or when all necessary business is completed. This meeting is open to all. Please refer to previous and future postings on Shogi-L or subscribe to the mailing list regarding this matter at: http://www.listbot.com/ . 5. Suggestions for accommodations in the New York City area As most of you can imagine, getting a bargain hotel room rate in NYC is not easy and while I would normally encourage everyone to shop around I warn you about things "... that sound too good to be true!" If you're driving and don't mind to stay just outside the city in New Jersey, I recommend the Red Roof Inn 1(800)THE-ROOF, in the Meadowlands, Secaucus, NJ. Located six miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel. The rate there is $83.99 for 1 King size bed, double occupancy, or $74.99 for a single room. I have a few rooms reserved at this location, so please call me at (718)956-5382 if you find that they're full. In the city, NY Shogi Club President Mr. Minoru Hayashi can arrange for slightly discounted rooms through his touring company. At present the best deal seems to be at the Wolcott Hotel, located at 31st Street and 5th Avenue (212)268-2900, where the rate is $115 for a double room, all inclusive. At present a couple of players have reservations there and it would be convenient for transportation, etc, to have most of the people staying at the same place. Again, if you want to stay there please call me directly as soon as possible. Other suggestions: Manhattan East Suites, 1(800)ME-SUITES, six locations in Manhattan; The Milford Plaza, located at W 45th Street and 8th Avenue, (212)869-3600. I hope to see many of you there, old friends and new friends alike. Best Regards, George To reply please call, use the postal address below, or send e-mail to: fbekele mindspring com George I . Fernandez 28-30 34th Street, Apt. #6-O Long Island City, NY 11103 Telephone: (718)956-5382 Pager: 1(800)SKY-PAGE, Pin# 1149515