Weibin Jin 7p put on a masterclass performance at the 2025 U.S. Open this week in Austin, Texas,
going undefeated at 6-0 to claim the championship in a tightly packed top division. The professional from China displayed steady control and sharp reading throughout the week, holding off a field of top amateur talent to finish alone at the top.
Just behind Jin, a cluster of top amateurs fought fiercely for runner-up honors. Tianyuan Zhang 6d, Daehee Cho 6d, Peter Lee 5d, and Yixian Zhou 6d all finished at 5-1, with tiebreaks determining final placements in one of the strongest amateur showings in recent years.
The depth of talent at this year's Congress was on full display throughout the standings, with several 4-2 performances by high-Dan players such as Edward Zhang, Shu-Hui Lin, and Marco Qin, among others—all demonstrating that the next generation of North American Go talent is pushing hard.
Meanwhile, in the B and C sections, strong records abounded: Felix Huang 4d and Yifu Zhao 3d both posted perfect 6-0 finishes in their sections, while Seth Cardew 3d and Toby Chen 3d each wrapped up their week at 5-1.
Across the board, from the top table to Division Q, the 2025 U.S. Open delivered one of the most competitive and exciting weeks of Go in recent Congress history—highlighted by tight tiebreakers, impressive upsets, and a sense of camaraderie that defines the Congress experience.
CLICK HERE for full results and game records.
photo: Weibin Jin 7p with TD Nick Prince. photo by Chris Garlock