Website of The International Go Federation

The European Women’s Championship took place in Strasbourg on 13–14 May, bringing together 45 participants from various countries. The winner was Li Ting 1p, who remained undefeated in all five rounds.

Below you can see a record of the game she played against Ariane Ougier 4d, the runner-up.

Report by Artem

Yang Yaoling 6d

The 50th edition of the Paris International Tournament, one of the oldest annual European competitions, took place in the French capital on April 8–10 and brought together 200 participants from 20 countries. The winner was Yang Yaoling 6d, who remained undefeated in all six rounds. He was followed by a group of seven players with four wins. According to the tie-breakers, the runner-up was Vsevolod Ovsiienko 5d and the third place went to Cornel Burzo 6d.

Below is a record of the game between the winner and the runner-up.

Report by Artem

28th EYGC prize winners

The 28th European Youth Go Championship (EYGC) took place on 22–25 March in Ankara, Turkey, and brought together 87 players from 11 countries. Traditionally, separate tournaments were held for the three age categories: U12, U16, and U20. After six rounds of intense struggle, the results were as follows (top three in each age category):

U12

1. Alper Sulak 2d
2. Ryan Zhang 2d
3. Bende Barcza 1d

U16

1. Vsevolod Ovsiienko 5d
2. Yuze Xing 4d
3. Olesia Malko 3d

U20

1. Denis Dobranis 5d
2. Arved Pittner 5d
3. Ufuk Emre Yıldırım 1d

For more information, visit the website of the 28th EYGC.

Below can see a record of the game, played in the U20 category in the third round between the two leaders,  Denis Dobranis 5d and Arved Pittner 5d.

Report by Artem

The first stage of the 7th European Professional Qualification took place in Brno, Czechia, on February 25–26. The eight invited participants played out the best-of-three quarter-final matches:

• Lukas Podpera 7d 2 – 1 Elian Grigoriu 6d
• Oscar Vazquez 7d 1 – 2 Jan Simara 6d
• Cornel Burzo 6d 1 – 2 Benjamin Teuber 6d
• Jan Prokop 6d 0 – 2 Dominik Boviz 6d

The second stage – the semi-final and the final – will take place at the same location on March 10–11. Same as in the first stage, the games will be broadcast live and commented on the EGF Twitch channel. For more information, visit the web page of the event.

Below you can find a record of the third game of the quarter-final match between Elian Grigoriu 6d and Lukas Podpera 7d.

Report by Artem

The International Society of Go Studies (ISGS) held their founding ceremony on February 17th at the Korea Baduk Association (KBA) in Seoul, Korea. The event was attended by about 60 people, including many officials of Go organizations, such as the former president of the IGF, Park Jungchae; Secretary-General of the Asian Baduk Federation, Kim Hyuanghee; Secretary-General of the Korea Baduk Association, Yang Jaeho 9p; the president of the Korea University Baduk Association, Kim Jinhwan; the president of the Korean Women’s Baduk Association, Lee Kwangsoon; and the head coach of the Korean National Team, Mok Jinseok 9p, to mention only a few.

Nam Chihyung, dean of the department of Go Studies at Myongji University, was inaugurated as the president of the International Society of Go Studies. In her inauguratory speech she said, ‘So many people in Korea and abroad contributed to founding the society. I would like to thank all who have helped us including today’s distinguished guests.’ Along with her thank-you message, she explained the background and reasons for the establishment: ‘Upon facing the crisis of the possible closing of the Department of Go Studies, we have been encouraged and supported by Go lovers around the world, which made us realize that Go Studies is not just for Korea, nor just for the Go department at Myongji University. This has led us to decide to establish the ISGS.’

Photo: ISGS president Nam Chihyung (Courtesy of Oh Myeongjoo/KBA)

The new society succeeds the Korean Society for Baduk Studies (KSBS) which actively promoted Go research from 2003 to 2018. Following the footsteps of the KSBS, the newly founded International Society of Go Studies aims to promote academic research on Go, activities that help spread and teach Go, host academic research presentations, publish an academic journal, as well as foster exchange among research institutes, organizations, and businesses. The inaugural volume of the Journal of Go Studies consists of six research articles in Chinese, Korean, and English, along with an essay, and a book review of an academic Go book. The journal is expected to be published twice a year, with the next volume to be published in August.

Photo: Founding ceremony of the International Society of Go Studies (Courtesy of Oh Myeongjoo/KBA)

Former KSBS presidents Lim Seongbin, Park Woosuk, and Jeong Soohyun will serve as ISGS Honorary Advisors, and endorsed the new organisation’s endeavors in their speeches. Additionally, foreign video congratulatory speeches were conveyed from ISGS Vice-President Sun Yuan 3p (China), Honorary Advisors Tanioka Ichiro (Japan) and Korsak Chairasmisak (Thailand), LG Cup winner Chou Chun-hsun 9p (Chinese Taipei), and directors Xu Ying 5p (China), Wu I-Chen (Chinese Taipei), and Silvia Lozeva (Australia).

Quite differently from the KSBS, the ISGS executive is of international background, as listed below:

• President Nam Chihyung (Korea)
• Vice-Presidents Sun Yuan 3p (China) and Ohashi Hirofumi 7p (Japan)
• Auditor Kang Nayeon (Korea)
• Secretary-General Kim Chaelim (Korea), Secretary Kim Donghan (Korea)
• Honorary Advisors Lim Seongbin, Park Woosuk, Park Jungchae, Jeong Soohyun, Kim Dalsoo (Korea), Thomas Hsiang (USA), Tanioka Ichiro (Japan), Korsak Chairasmisak (Thailand)
• Directors (Korea, China, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Croatia, Australia)

For the complete list of the executive and other information on the ISGS, contact Secretary-General Kim Chaelim at badukstudies@gmail.com, or check out the website (to be opened soon).

Report by Daniela Trinks (Dep. of Go Studies, Myongji University)