Neighborhood cafe provides a sanctuary for devotees of traditional Chinese board game

Tucked away on the second floor of a Starbucks along Zhongtan Road in central Shanghai lies an unexpected hub for the game of Go. Where other branches see patrons tapping away at laptops or chatting over coffee, here rows of tables are filled with people intently focused on the Go boards before them. Here, among the rich aroma of coffee, players from multiple countries are engrossed in friendly competition.

While parks and chess rooms have long served as gathering places for devotees of the board game in China, this neighborhood branch of the coffee shop chain from the United States in Shanghai's downtown Putuo district has become an unlikely setting for them. It began simply when a group of local enthusiasts started meeting casually at the venue to play Go a few evenings a week.

"Initially, there were just a few people. We were familiar with each other and lived nearby," recalls Huang Yingxiang, a Go coach who helped establish this informal club.

Finding a suitable place in Shanghai's dense urban environment where Go enthusiasts can regularly gather is no small challenge. After searching for several options near their homes, for convenience, the small group settled at the Starbucks located one block from a founding member's apartment. Word spread and gradually an intergenerational and international crowd has formed, integrating Go devotees both young and old, and from home and abroad. To help organize matches and welcome newcomers, a WeChat group was established which has since grown to host nearly 500 members.

Regular matches draw a diverse set of participants of varying ability, from starters learning the fundamentals of the game, to masters. Professional Go players are also attracted to the spot. So far, the highest-ranked player who has paid a visit is Wu Zhenyu from the Xuhui district, a professional 2-dan (rank) player and Go coach.

The high-level players are always willing to play with those who are not that experienced. To pair players from across the various ranks, a rating system is used. "It is like matchmaking," explains Huang. "If the gap between two players is too large, we will make handicaps, such as giving one or two stones extra, or even three and four."