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. In the second installment of our series, we introduce you to the competitors, their backgrounds, and what drives their passion for Go.
THIS JUST IN: Tune in after each round for a brief recap – Michael Chen 1P at 12:30P -- and then at 8P for daily tournament highlights/recaps with Michael Redmond 9P! Available on both YouTube and Twitch.
WANQI ZHU (New York, NY)
A research scientist at Cursor, Wanqi (lower left) first played as a child, took a break, and then returned to the game after AlphaGo reignited his interest. Now 26, he delights in discovering mind-blowing tesujis and shares his love of games with his wife through Magic: The Gathering and Teamfight Tactics. Wanqi favors Japanese food and enjoys films like Inside Out 2 and Her Story.
EVAN TAN (CA)
At just 12, Evan (top right) has already been playing Go for five years. Introduced to the game in elementary school, he was amazed by its depth and strategy. Evan especially enjoys life-and-death problems, and his hobbies include soccer, math, piano, and painting. Pizza is his favorite food, and he’s a fan of Minecraft and Ne Zha 2.
YUAN ZHOU (Germantown, MD)
Yuan Zhou (top left) has been playing Go for 44 of his 50 years. He learned from his father and still loves the game’s endless variations. Off the board, he enjoys movies, tennis, and seafood. A stalwart of the U.S. Go scene, Yuan simply says, “I love Go.”
EDWARD ZHANG (Fairfax, VA)
With 35 years of experience, Edward (bottom right) was taught by a family friend and quickly became a competitive player, later representing the U.S. at the WAGC and winning U.S. Pair Go championships in 2008 and 2025. A financial services executive, the 45-year-old values Go as a perfect blend of science and art. His interests include basketball, reading, and travel, and he loves hotpot and Korean food.