Hi Everyone! I am sorry to say, but this blog is temporarily finished.
From July 2015 I am working as a main editor for European Go News (=EGN) a project of the European Go Federation.

Look for articles and other interesting things about Go in Europe  at a new-designed webpage of the EGF. Visit eurogofed.org

The 10th Slovak Go Festival, which is the biggest Go event in Slovakia was held from 12th to 14th of June 2015 in Kamenny mlyn, Slovakia. The playing place is located about 20km from the capital, Bratislava in a holiday resort where one can enjoy facilities such as swimming pool, volleyball pitch, minigolf, football pitch.
This event lasts 3 days and it hosts 3 tournaments: Rengo tournament (also Pairgo championship of Slovakia), Blitz tournament and Main tournament. I gave a lecture on saturday and Czech 6 dans Lukas and Jan gave simoultaneous games or those who wished. People who once visited this tournament want to come back every year. These days were extremely warm for weather in Slovakia (about 35 degrees) so some of the players enjoyed playing outside. Part of the program is also a dinner together. Two roasted pigs and many other food served by the restaurant near. There's a poker tournament as well and people can have fun even until the next round on the other day. The tournament was finished about 2'o clock on Sunday, so everyone can get home with no worries. This tournament attracts Czech, Hungarian and Austrian players besides Slovaks.
Winners of the tournaments:
Rengo Tournament: Lukas Podpera/Adriana Tomsu
Slovak Pairgo champion: Maros Kral/Sona Smolarikova
Blitz tournament: Pavol Lisy
Main Tournament: Lukas Podpera

The 3rd Vienna INternational Go Tournament, a Bonus Point C Class tournament was held from 6th to 7th June 2015 in Vienna, Austria. The biggest tournament in Austria with 66 participants this year. This is less than last year (97), probably because of smaller sponsorship. The tournament attracted 21 dan players with 10 of them 5d+, the games were broadcasted on KGS under accounts Wien2015 & Wien2015b. Wien2015 was Zhao Baolong, he gave commentaries of the games as well. I managed to win all games, I won the tournament. Second came Tanguy Le Calve 6d from France and 3rd was Viktor Lin 6d from Austria. The tournament was played same as last years at a school in outskirts of Vienna. Food at the playing place and good atmosphere.

Results

From May 23rd to 25th 2015 the 7th Kido Cup was held in Hamburg, Germany. This is probably the biggest tournament in Europe after the EGC. 193 players participated in the tournament this year.
This tournament has a big prize budget of together about 10.000 Euro, thank to a very generous sponsor, Mr. Park Jang from South Korea.
The tournament is divided into two tournaments. The main tournament and Top 8 tournament, where players who had the highest rating in the last year can participate. Thinking time was 60 minutes and canadian byo-yomi 15stones/5minutes. This year, there were many strong players in the tournament, 5 professionals in Top 8 . Tie was also possible, because of Komi 7, Japanese rules. I made one against Alexandre Dinerstein. I didn't do very well in the tournament, especially on the last playing day. Winner of the tournament was Ali Jabarin 1p. We both flew here directly from Beijing, China City League C. I like this tournament and I plan to participate next year as well.

Results