The road to becoming a U.S. professional Go player is as challenging as it is
inspiring. This year’s NAGF Pro Qualification Tournament – August 17-22 at the National Go Center in Washington, DC -- brings together a diverse field of players—ranging from young prodigies to seasoned veterans—each with a unique journey into the game. Over the next few installments, we’ll introduce you to the competitors, their backgrounds, and what drives their passion for Go.
JAE DONLEY (Columbus, OH)
An Uber driver and software developer, Jae (bottom left), 28, has been playing Go for 14 years since discovering Hikaru no Go and learning on KGS. Drawn to the game’s complexity and variety, Jae likens Go to programming—both involve experimenting, problem-solving, and finding what works. Outside the game, Jae enjoys coding, reading Xianxia/wuxia manga, and authentic Xi’an cuisine like Liangpier and Ruojiamuo. Jae is also studying Chinese at University of the People.
QIYOU WU (Toronto, ON)
Introduced to Go by his father, Qiyou (top left) has played on and off for 15 years. An IT professional, the 29-year-old thrives on the “brilliant moves” and seemingly impossible puzzles Go offers. When not playing, Qiyou enjoys badminton, chess, and Chinese food, and is a fan of the TV series Person of Interest. This year, he’s excited to compete again.
ERIC YODER (Columbus, OH)
Eric (bottom right) started playing 14 years ago on a friend’s recommendation—helped along by Hikaru no Go. A warehouse sortation worker, he loves reading deep variations and piecing together clues to find the best move. The 31-year-old’s hobbies include rock climbing, reading, and Scrabble, and he’s a fan of The Apothecary Diaries. Cheesecake is his go-to treat.
GUANYU SONG (San Jose, CA)
A machine learning engineer from Canada, Guan (top right) has played Go for more than 15 years after falling in love with the game as a child. He’s inspired by the infinite variations that arise from simple rules, which he compares to the beauty of math and nature. Guan, 24, enjoys climbing, billiards, karaoke, and spicy Chinese Chuan hotpot, and recently watched the thought-provoking film Ghost in the Shell.