Last weekend, a joint chess tournament was held at the Starbucks Go corner on Zhongtan Road, and the second floor of the café was packed with chess players of all ages. After the Go corner became popular, it aroused attention and controversy from all walks of life. More voices believe that a café can overflow with the fragrance of chess, which proves that the return of Go culture and traditional culture to the spiritual life of citizens is a good thing to be encouraged. I hope to take advantage of this atmosphereLet the people-to-people exchanges of Go be more abundant and benefit more citizens who love Go.
The group of chess friends will grow again
Last Friday afternoon, a joint chess tournament initiated by Yike Go ended at the Starbucks Cafe on Zhongtan Road. In addition to the Yike Media team, the other three are the Starbucks first and second teams, and the Xiangyi old Koehler team. Han Jun, the organizer of the Go corner, said that he sent a message in the group, and chess players signed up by themselves, and the quota was on a first-come, first-served basis. Yu Di of the Yike Media team found that the opponents he met were all of a good level, "I feel like there is a wild fox 8 duan." ”
Why is the huge Shanghai Tang, where this small Starbucks is full of chess? Han Jun said that here every week.
First, fourth, and sixth afternoon activities, chess friends from the wild fox level 18 to the 9th section, for example, the last time, there were many wild fox 9 sections, and three amateur 6 sections, playing chess, you will definitely be able to find a suitable "chess partner".
Chess friends told reporters that Han Jun is at the level of Wild Fox 9 Duan, and he is happy to be asked for him to play. Han Jun clarified: "I often go 7D mainly 8D, and occasionally go on 9D. The main thing I like to play handicap and joint chess is relaxed and enjoyable, and there is no pressure. ”
Everyone went home happy, and then word of mouth, more people came to visit, and after coming, you can meet like-minded chess friends and expand the circle of Go friends. There are more than 500 people in the chess group managed by the South Korean army, and it also undertakes the function of information exchange. For example, there are Go training institutions recruiting teachers, and chess friends are entrusted to ask in the group. A few days ago, as soon as the information about a school in Qingpu District recruiting a part-time Go teacher was revealed, someone responded in seconds.
Face to face, good atmosphere
This Starbucks is naturally not the only stronghold of chess players. Wang Shijie works as a Go teacher at the Putuo Branch of the Shanghai Chess Academy, and when she is not in class, she will make an appointment with her friends to play chess in the Xiangyi Huacheng Community Public Welfare Go Room, which provides chess sets and chess clocks, which are not far away. "People of about the same age, they are all familiar chess friends. If it's a newcomer, report the wild fox rank, and you can find a partner. Wang Shijie said, "And the atmosphere of Go here in Putuo has always been good, and some small competitions are often held, and everyone is highly active." ”
At one time, Shanghai's "chess room culture" was popular. For example, the "304 Go Activity Room" on Huangpi North Road, and later the Go Room of the Municipal Workers' Cultural Palace. In the 80s of the last century, Rui Naiwei, Qian Yuping, Wang Qun and others could often be seen in the Go corner of Xiangyang Park, and the young Chang Hao also had the experience of learning chess there. Yu Di said: "Playing Go, face chess is more interesting than online chess. Wang Shijie said: "Let's focus more on chess." You can play slow chess and think seriously. Especially in places where there are many people, there must be masters who are stronger than themselves, and after playing, you can simply talk about chess and learn some knowledge. ”
In the view of Liu Shizhen, president of the Shanghai Chess Academy and secretary general of the Shanghai Weiqi Association, the popularity of the Go corner proves that the traditional culture represented by Go is still an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of citizens. "After the emergence of the online platform, the crowd that loves Go has diverted. But Go requires face-to-face communication. Social attributes are one of the essences of Go culture. ”
On weekdays, look forward to chess matches
Some people also asked, Shanghai has held a lot of Go competitions, why are chess players still not satisfied? For example, the upgrade tournament hosted by the Shanghai Weiqi Association is open to chess players of all ages in Shanghai. However, the reality is that some adult chess players may be afraid to compete with young chess players, and eventually give up on signing up.
As for whether it is possible to set up a separate senior group in the promotion tournament, the fact is that the number of adult chess players who sign up for each competition is small and the level is uneven, so it is impossible to organize a separate competition. Liu Shizhen said that in response to the different needs of chess players, the Shanghai Weiqi Association has launched the "Amateur Go Ranking Tournament Intelligent Examination Room" for registered chess players to participate in the ranking competition through offline human-computer games.
As for other mass Go competitions, such as the China-Israel Cup Go Invitational Tournament and the Leyi Cup Shanghai Go Championship, they all have a good reputation. The Tangqiao Cup Shanghai Community Go Championship has been held for more than 10 sessions, and has been expanded into a national community Go tournament, attracting amateur world champion Wang Chen 8 Duan and others to participate. But the chess players still did not quench their thirst. One of the contradictions is that tournaments are usually scheduled on weekends, and on weekdays chess players also want to play chess. It is understood that the Shanghai Weiqi Association is cooperating with the Weiqi associations in various districts to further improve the information database of Go enthusiasts, hoping to plan more suitable chess competitions and activities for everyone in the future.
Fantastic collision
Another focus of the debate over the Starbucks Go corner is whether such a format is appropriate. In fact, the Go corner has been around for a while, and although the clerk declined to be interviewed, Han Jun said: "The clerk still takes good care of us, and the relationship is very good." ”
The vitality of Starbucks Go corner proves that the vitality of community and space can inspire new ideas, generate new combinations in urban life, and reassign value. Starbucks' Go corner is a café that defines a new consumption situation and provides a different experience in addition to food and service.
Go is quietly underground, coffee is carefully sipped, and the two cultures collide wonderfully here. In fact, Starbucks is also observing, exploring, and finding a balance between social responsibility and business value. Many chess players who have been to this Starbucks have said that the experience of playing chess in the café is better. In the discussion on the Internet, the comment "As a chess house, Starbucks is still cheap" received the highest number of likes.
Probably, the café's environment is suitable for younger, more fashionable Go enthusiasts. Outside Starbucks on Zhongtan Road, a Costa café in Pudong New Area is also a place of exchange for Go enthusiasts. Some chess friends said that if they left halfway through the game, the clerk would help keep the board and chess pieces. In last weekend's joint chess tournament, chess players used coffee beans to draw lots. During the event, Starbucks staff also distributed some new products for everyone to try.
Cities connect people, businesses, and spaces, generating new meanings and values in interactions. I don't know, will the collision with Go give birth to a new model of coffee economy?
Text: Jin Lei.