diff --git a/pyfpdb/Database.py b/pyfpdb/Database.py
index 72b41336..bf071782 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Database.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Database.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import Configuration
 import SQL
 import Card
 import Tourney
+import Charset
 from Exceptions import *
 
 log = Configuration.get_logger("logging.conf")
@@ -602,7 +603,8 @@ class Database:
             
     def get_player_id(self, config, site, player_name):
         c = self.connection.cursor()
-        c.execute(self.sql.query['get_player_id'], (player_name, site))
+        p_name = Charset.to_utf8(player_name)
+        c.execute(self.sql.query['get_player_id'], (p_name, site))
         row = c.fetchone()
         if row:
             return row[0]
@@ -615,7 +617,8 @@ class Database:
         if site_id is None:
             site_id = -1
         c = self.get_cursor()
-        c.execute(self.sql.query['get_player_names'], (like_player_name, site_id, site_id))
+        p_name = Charset.to_utf8(like_player_name)
+        c.execute(self.sql.query['get_player_names'], (p_name, site_id, site_id))
         rows = c.fetchall()
         return rows
             
diff --git a/pyfpdb/Filters.py b/pyfpdb/Filters.py
index dc2e4859..3a25c1f1 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Filters.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Filters.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import gobject
 import Configuration
 import fpdb_db
 import FpdbSQLQueries
+import Charset
 
 class Filters(threading.Thread):
     def __init__(self, db, config, qdict, display = {}, debug=True):
@@ -238,6 +239,7 @@ class Filters(threading.Thread):
         print "DEBUG: %s was toggled %s" % (data, ("OFF", "ON")[widget.get_active()])
 
     def createPlayerLine(self, hbox, site, player):
+        print 'DEBUG :: add:"%s"' % player
         label = gtk.Label(site +" id:")
         hbox.pack_start(label, False, False, 0)
 
@@ -254,13 +256,17 @@ class Filters(threading.Thread):
         completion.set_model(liststore)
         completion.set_text_column(0)
         names = self.db.get_player_names(self.conf)  # (config=self.conf, site_id=None, like_player_name="%")
-        for n in names:
-            liststore.append(n)
+        for n in names: # list of single-element "tuples"
+            _n = Charset.to_gui(n[0])
+            _nt = (_n, )
+            liststore.append(_nt)
 
         self.__set_hero_name(pname, site)
 
     def __set_hero_name(self, w, site):
-        self.heroes[site] = w.get_text()
+        _name = w.get_text()
+        _guiname = Charset.to_gui(_name)
+        self.heroes[site] = _guiname
 #        print "DEBUG: setting heroes[%s]: %s"%(site, self.heroes[site])
 
     def __set_num_hands(self, w, val):
@@ -417,7 +423,8 @@ class Filters(threading.Thread):
             vbox.pack_start(hBox, False, True, 0)
 
             player = self.conf.supported_sites[site].screen_name
-            self.createPlayerLine(hBox, site, player)
+            _pname = Charset.to_gui(player)
+            self.createPlayerLine(hBox, site, _pname)
 
         if "GroupsAll" in display and display["GroupsAll"] == True:
             hbox = gtk.HBox(False, 0)
diff --git a/pyfpdb/GuiGraphViewer.py b/pyfpdb/GuiGraphViewer.py
index 9daa940f..4534920a 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/GuiGraphViewer.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/GuiGraphViewer.py
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ class GuiGraphViewer (threading.Thread):
                 if sites[site] == True:
                     sitenos.append(siteids[site])
                     c = self.db.get_cursor()
-                    c.execute(self.sql.query['getPlayerId'], (heroes[site],))
+                    _hname = Charset.to_utf8(heroes[site])
+                    c.execute(self.sql.query['getPlayerId'], (_hname,))
                     result = c.fetchall()
                     if len(result) == 1:
                         playerids.append( int(result[0][0]) )
diff --git a/pyfpdb/GuiPlayerStats.py b/pyfpdb/GuiPlayerStats.py
index 889988c5..140ed30b 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/GuiPlayerStats.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/GuiPlayerStats.py
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@ class GuiPlayerStats (threading.Thread):
                 sitenos.append(siteids[site])
                 # Nasty hack to deal with multiple sites + same player name -Eric
                 que = self.sql.query['getPlayerId'] + " AND siteId=%d" % siteids[site]
-                self.cursor.execute(que, (heroes[site],))
+                _hname = Charset.to_utf8(heroes[site])
+                self.cursor.execute(que, (_hname,))
                 result = self.db.cursor.fetchall()
                 if len(result) == 1:
                     playerids.append(result[0][0])
diff --git a/pyfpdb/GuiSessionViewer.py b/pyfpdb/GuiSessionViewer.py
index d8cd7042..b5ca0867 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/GuiSessionViewer.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/GuiSessionViewer.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import fpdb_import
 import Database
 import Filters
 import FpdbSQLQueries
+import Charset
 
 class GuiSessionViewer (threading.Thread):
     def __init__(self, config, querylist, mainwin, debug=True):
@@ -181,7 +182,10 @@ class GuiSessionViewer (threading.Thread):
         for site in sites:
             if sites[site] == True:
                 sitenos.append(siteids[site])
-                self.cursor.execute(self.sql.query['getPlayerId'], (heroes[site],))
+                _q = self.sql.query['getPlayerId']
+                _name = Charset.to_utf8(heroes[site])
+                print 'DEBUG(_name) :: %s' % _name
+                self.cursor.execute(_q, (_name,)) # arg = tuple
                 result = self.db.cursor.fetchall()
                 if len(result) == 1:
                     playerids.append(result[0][0])
diff --git a/pyfpdb/GuiTableViewer.py b/pyfpdb/GuiTableViewer.py
index c730f962..c5b843f1 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/GuiTableViewer.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/GuiTableViewer.py
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ class GuiTableViewer (threading.Thread):
         #then the data rows
         for player in range(len(self.player_names)):
             tmp=[]
-            tmp.append(self.player_names[player][0])
+            p_name = Charset.to_gui(self.player_names[player][0])
+            tmp.append(p_name)
             
             seatCount=len(self.player_names)
             if seatCount>=8: