Road to WAGC 2025 – Part 1
While China and Korea continue to dominate the top ranks at the annual World Amateur Go Championship (WAGC), recent years have shown just how competitive the global field has become. At the 2024 WAGC, Thailand’s Pongsakarn Sornarra placed 4th, Hungary’s Csaba Mero took 6th, Romania’s Cornel Burzo landed 9th, and Lukas Podpera of the Czech Republic finished 10th—proving that challengers from around the world are closing the gap.
As the 45th WAGC kicks off this Saturday in British Columbia, here are three players we’ll be watching closely:
Benjamin Dréan-Guénaïzia 7D (France)
Benjamin (top right) started playing Go at age 13 and reached 3-dan within three years. The introduction of AI tools reinvigorated his training, and he’s since become a five-time French Champion, European Champion, and five-time European Team Champion. Now ranked 7-dan, Benjamin is one of Europe’s most decorated players heading into WAGC 2025.
Fernando Aguilar 7D (Argentina)
A legend in Latin American Go, Aguilar (bottom right) competed in the very first WAGC in 1979. He placed 5th in 1982 and 3rd in 2008. Now a teacher of both Go and strategic thinking, he returns to the WAGC this year as a respected veteran with a long history of international success.
Bende Barcza 3D (Hungary)
Bende (left) began playing Go at 7 and became the youngest-ever U12 European Go Champion shortly after. A standout on the European youth circuit, he’s won the SEYGO Youth Cup series three years running. Representing Hungary again in 2025, he returns to the WAGC after an impressive 23rd place finish last year—as the youngest player in the field.
This is the first in a series of spotlights on key players at the 2025 World Amateur Go Championship.
👉 Check out all the 2025 WAGC player bios here.
👉 Watch our livestream coverage on YouTube and Twitch