Vancouver, BC — China’s Tianfang Ma 8d emerged as the 2025 World Amateur Go Champion on
Wednesday after a dramatic finish saw three players tie with 7-1 records at the close of the final round. Tiebreakers were required to separate Ma from Japan’s Minoru Ozeki 7d and Korea’s Sawoo Kim 5d in one of the most closely contested championships in recent memory. Click here for complete final standings; Michael Redmond 8P reviews Round 7 and 8 games here.
Ma’s stellar performance across the 4-day tournament was backed by the highest SOS (Sum of Opponents’ Scores), giving him the edge in the final standings. His precise reading, calm under pressure, and polished endgame proved decisive against a field of 52 national champions from across the globe, and earned him an 8d diploma from the Nihon Ki-in, in addition to the top trophy.
Ozeki, representing Japan, took second place by the narrowest of margins, edging out Korea’s Kim on the third-level SOSOS tiebreak. Both also demonstrated top-flight play throughout the tournament, including wins over other top-10 finishers.
Just behind the top trio, Taiwan’s Yu-Cheng Lai 7d and Hong Kong’s Nai San Chan 6d finished strong at 6-2 to round out the top five. Czechia’s Lukas Podpera 7d, Singapore’s Xiaofan Xu 5d, and France’s Benjamin Dréan-Guénaïzia 7d also posted impressive 6-2 and 5-3 records, showcasing the strength of European and Southeast Asian Go.
Canada’s Brady Bei Ming Zhang 7d and the U.S.’s Alan Huang 7d, both finishing 5-3, led the North 
American contingent, while NZ’s Chahine Soyaume Curpen Koleejan 5d turned in a strong 5-3 result as well.
With Go continuing to grow globally, the 2025 WAGC proved once again to be an impressive annual celebration of international excellence and sportsmanship. The 45th World Amateur Go Championship was made possible through the generous support of the International Go Federation, Iwamoto North America Foundation, American Go Association, Pandanet, and the National Go Center. The Nihon Ki-in provided key supervision and game broadcasts were sponsored by Pandanet and the AGA’s E-Journal. Their commitment to promoting the game of Go worldwide ensures the continued success of this prestigious international event.
photo (l-r): Tianfang Ma, with Chief Referee Michael Redmond 9P. Report/photos by Chris Garlock/American Go E-Journal . Click here for more photos.